Sam Mills 51 said:
JC said:
PCLoadLetter said:
Can't imagine they would really lose that much in TV revenue by losing the Phoenix market. Yeah, it's the 12th biggest market... but the NHL has a shirtty TV deal anyway, and I suspect the Phoenix ratings are pretty damn poor. I bet the league is losing a lot more by propping up the team. Glendale paid $25 million to cover losses, but the league is on the hook for the rest, and the losses topped $37 million.
Spot on
Yup. Glendale is worried that losing the Coyotes would be both a loss of a major professional gig for its area, and that the arena would be an even bigger financial albatross than it is now.
And it might be. I worked in an area that was faced with a similar dilemma. Lost two hockey teams in a few short years ... so either spend money to tear down large arena (considering regional population and relative affluence) or spend more money for maintenance and upkeep. Messy either way ...
With all due respect to PCLL and the diehard fans in the area, I still argue it would be more prudent to move the organization. But Gary Bettman won't admit that some of his prized non-traditional markets aren't what he envisioned.
Sam, if it were strictly an arena issue I think Glendale would have cut bait already.
It's the entire restaurant/retail/entertainment/residential complex that's attached to the arena, which is next door to University of Phoenix Stadium.
Without the steady dates the Coyotes provide, all of those restaurants and bars turn into ghost towns. That's a problem in and of itself... but it also affects the football stadium, which could greatly screw up the Fiesta Bowl and the chance of future Super Bowls, which is a very big deal for the city.