Mark2010 said:
It still strikes me as more of a management screw up than anything else. What are their options for selling the team? Or are things so past screwed up, that no decent businessman would touch it?
Management screw up on who's part? The NHL owns the team and has been trying to sell them to anyone with a nickle to their name for the past, what 4 years? heck, they even tried selling it someone who didn't have a nickle to his name -- Jamison.
It's a no-win situation, it's why everyone who comes near this thing is demanding big bucks out of the city to help underwrite their losses. Absolutely there is the greed aspect there, but I'm going out on a limb in assuming the team has not made a profit since moving to the desert? certainly not in the last decade.
It hasn't been just one owner in place since then, there have been several, and no one could make a go of it. Location kills them and lack of a loyal fan base is the second big blow. Again, I'm sure there are some loyal, die hard fans, but not enough to get the business community excited about backing the team and not enough that are willing to fill the building 41 dates a year even at cheapo prices, whether they live in Glendale or are driving across Phoenix from Scottsdale.