Phoenix Coyotes are outta here!!!

[BostonAJ]

They're going to be the Arizona Coyotes. The city of Glendale isn't crazy about paying for the team and dishing the credit over to Phoenix.

In return for its $197 million, Glendale gets to keep the rink occupied, a promise from Commissioner Gary Bettman to host the N.H.L. All-Star Game by 2014 and a pledge from Hulsizer to change the team’s name to the Arizona Coyotes.

Also in the article, Quebec wants the Thrashers.

Meanwhile, Quebec replaces Winnipeg as the Canadian city clamoring loudest for an N.H.L. team. Fans of the old Nordiques have their eyes on the attendance-challenged Atlanta Thrashers.

The Thrashers did not cover themselves with dignity last week. In a ticket-sales tactic that reeked of desperation, they staged a low-speed chase that ended in the arrest of their mascot for stealing a Zamboni.

I bet New Jersey wants the Thrashers right now, too.


Take Coyotes Off List of Teams Likely to Move - NYTimes.com

 

[HonusWagner66]

Arizona Coyotes?


No. Bad, Hulsizer. Bad.

 

[dash]

Does the league still have the provision in place that you need a minimum average attendance of 14,000 in order to qualify for revenue sharing? No more excuses, Glendale, Phoenix, Arizona, or whatever you're calling the team these days, time to put up or shut up.

 

[TiLoBrown]

I'm all for state over city on team names. And someone the Devils are still out drawing Atlanta, so I dont think NJ wants them....

 

[SLY]

That sounds very lame... Phoenix Coyotes blends well. Arizona Coyotes just sounds... lame.

 

[BostonAJ]

Does the league still have the provision in place that you need a minimum average attendance of 14,000 in order to qualify for revenue sharing? No more excuses, Glendale, Phoenix, Arizona, or whatever you're calling the team these days, time to put up or shut up.

I wasn't aware of that provision. That puts Columbus, Atlanta, the Isles, and the Yotes out of revenue sharing. The Isles and Yotes are just over 10,000 in attendance. Is that rule really fair? Cuz those teams are pretty desperate for help.

I'm all for state over city on team names. And someone the Devils are still out drawing Atlanta, so I dont think NJ wants them....

I was just razzing your boys for the quality of team since "the trade", not the attendance. Little kick when they're down.

 

[Automattic]

I love having hockey in Arizona. I'm gonna retire one day and where the fuck you think I'm gonna snowbird? Quebec?!

 

[dash]

I love having hockey in Arizona.

A round of golf in the morning, a swim in the afternoon followed by a hockey game in the evening is a pretty nice way to spend a day...

 

[jstewismybastardson]

That sounds very lame... Phoenix Coyotes blends well. Arizona Coyotes just sounds... lame.

well they dont play in the city of Phoenix so Arizona sounds ok to me ... try to build the market and draw from different areas by making it the states team (I know its a stretch)

my big question is, if it came down to it what would bettman prefer seeing on the big marquee as you enter MSG

NHL HOCKEY TONIGHT

RANGERS vs GLENDALE COYOTES

or

RANGERS vs WINNIPEG JETS

 

[SLY]

I'd def go with B. Canada needs another team. Just don't like the idea of moving teams around in the divisions.

 

[SLY]

well they dont play in the city of Phoenix so Arizona sounds ok to me ... try to build the market and draw from different areas by making it the states team (I know its a stretch)

my big question is, if it came down to it what would bettman prefer seeing on the big marquee as you enter MSG

NHL HOCKEY TONIGHT

RANGERS vs GLENDALE COYOTES

or

RANGERS vs WINNIPEG JETS

I agree with trying to get the whole state involved. But its pretty evident that they just cant fill that arena... I definitely see BUST in the near future, not that its not there already.

 

[SLY]

TB can hold a team down. I truly think they need to make one more shift in teams before they cement everything. FLA/ATL/NSH/PHX all should be moved. NYI have a passionate fanbase, but they just can't put anything together, fans def seem to be losing interest.

 

[dash]

I should clarify my post above, all teams that are in the bottom 15 of revenue in the league with a tv market of 2.5 million or less homes qualify for revenue sharing. If the average paid attendance for the team is 14,000, then the team receives full revenue sharing (i.e. a bigger piece of the pie).

 

[TiLoBrown]

I was just razzing your boys for the quality of team since "the trade", not the attendance. Little kick when they're down.

Ah, well yea I hated the trade when it happened and I hate it even more now

 

[pixburgher66]

I hate that Gary, being so desperate and proud, must bribe these freaking cities to keep a team. So, why should a team like that get the All-Star game before other cities that haven't had it in years and deserve it by selling out games. Why does the entire league have to suffer for these teams that no one is fighting for? You can't pretend that they haven't been given time. Phoenix has had success, and still they haven't gained a consistent following. They had Gretz there to try to draw fans, and that sure didn't work...I mean, I hate the idea of moving teams, mostly due to the experience of the past seasons, but if the area has basically proven that it WON'T support a team and is hurting the league, why not at least CONSIDER the possibility of moving them?

 

[jstewismybastardson]

I hate that Gary, being so desperate and proud, must bribe these freaking cities to keep a team. So, why should a team like that get the All-Star game before other cities that haven't had it in years and deserve it by selling out games. Why does the entire league have to suffer for these teams that no one is fighting for? You can't pretend that they haven't been given time. Phoenix has had success, and still they haven't gained a consistent following. They had Gretz there to try to draw fans, and that sure didn't work...I mean, I hate the idea of moving teams, mostly due to the experience of the past seasons, but if the area has basically proven that it WON'T support a team and is hurting the league, why not at least CONSIDER the possibility of moving them?

while I know that cdn teams were a drain when the dollar was in the dumps, (dash has brought it up before), back then, why wasnt bettman doing all he could do to keep teams in canada ... the cdn equalization plan was never this good ... i guess turnabout is fair play

Id love to be in the room when the bookkeeper comes in to Francesco Acquilinis office with the cheques for him to sign over to these teams with no fans (theres an HBO 24/7 show idea)

 

[pixburgher66]

while I know that cdn teams were a drain when the dollar was in the dumps, (dash has brought it up before), back then, why wasnt bettman doing all he could do to keep teams in canada ... the cdn equalization plan was never this good ... i guess turnabout is fair play

Id love to be in the room when the bookkeeper comes in to Francesco Acquilinis office with the cheques for him to sign over to these teams with no fans (theres an HBO 24/7 show idea)

That's what really gets me. I mean, normally the excuse is that "It's a business, people step on toes, people make tough decisions to make profit" when referring to the CAN issues of the past. Yet, NOW, when a team literally has no fan base and has a city that clearly has reservations in keeping them there, it's okay to sacrifice good business (which would be moving them to a more suitable market...hell, I hear KC is nice this time of year) to keep a team where it is? It's hurting the bottom line, and suddenly that's okay...because it's Gary's baby.

 

[dash]

Is Bryz injured because I've been seeing quite of bit of LaBandaid between the pipes for the Yotes? Coincidentally, the Yotes haven't looked very good of late.

 

[dash]

Just my opinion, but I think Gary is getting considerable heat from NHL owners about how quickly the salary cap has risen since coming out of the lockout (mainly from the smaller market teams would be my guess). Thus, it doesn't make sense to move a team to Quebec City where it would be successful and add additional league revenue which would drive the salary cap ceiling (as well as the salary cap floor) even higher.

Pierre LeBrun was saying that he heard from an NHL owner (didn't reveal the name) that if they don't get this salary cap/league economics fixed in the next CBA, he's done (he's throwing in the keys and walking away).

 

[BostonAJ]

Weren't the Flames a few inches away from moving to Houston? And the Sens couldn't make their payroll a couple of times? I really don't think there's any anti-Canadian bias going on. Some questionable expansion decisions, but it's not anti-Canadian.