Council meeting hot ticket

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This article was published 11/05/2011 (4342 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If Phoenix Coyotes hockey was as popular as City of Glendale council meetings, there would be no money worries for the troubled NHL franchise.

While millions of Canadians tuned in to Stanley Cup playoff hockey Tuesday night, there was also a crowd with its eyes on the soap operatic ways of Glendale’s councillors as they pondered weighty issues such as liquor licenses and the plight of the Coyotes.

Thousands took part in a Winnipeg Free Press live blog and thousands more tuned in to the council session’s live video feed. If only NHL commissioner Gary Bettman could have collected pay-per- view receipts.

Glendale city council was faced with a vote on the issue of supplying the NHL with another $25 million to cover Coyotes losses for the 2011-12 season.

The NHL purchased the Coyotes out of bankruptcy in 2009 and has since owned and operated the team. A new buyer has been sought for 24 months.

The only true cash offer for the team in that time has come from True North Sports and Entertainment. True North made the offer last spring with the intention of moving the team to Winnipeg.

The deal has never been taken off the table, with Bettman keeping it handy should Glendale representatives decide they’ve had enough and give up their fight for the Coyotes.

The league’s deal with Glendale gave it the option to sell the team for relocation if a buyer was not found by Dec. 31, 2010. But Bettman has not sold the team saying he believes a deal in Glendale can be reached. A failed vote Tuesday night would likely give Bettman the impetus to cut ties with Glendale, thus the interest from Winnipeggers.

The league is not willing to continue covering expenses while a buyer willing to stay in Arizona is sought and has charged Glendale with meeting that burden.

The vote had not been cast at press time but was expected to go in favour of the measure, despite a last-minute surge of opposition to the use of taxpayer dollars to subsidize the Coyotes.

Bettman took a pass on the proceedings but sent his deputy Bill Daly, who was joined by Coyotes GM Don Maloney and a handful of other hockey executives.

Prospective buyer Matthew Hulsizer was not present. Hulsizer has offered to put up $70 million of the NHL’s $170 million asking price if Glendale would come up with the other $100 million.

This arrangement was deemed illegal by taxpayer watchdog The Goldwater Institute and its threat of a lawsuit stalled the sale.

It’s unknown if Hulsizer is still interested in purchasing the Coyotes due to conflicting reports regarding his status.

The council chamber was filled with Coyotes fans in jerseys and the mood ran hot with one speaker telling council another attendee spit on him as a result of differing views.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Glendale city council was still meeting at press time Tuesday night.

For details please see www.winnipegfreepress.com