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Category: Phoenix-Coyotes

Would A Minor League Team Do Better In Phoenix?

by Paul on 11/06/09 at 05:08 PM ET
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from Mark Sunnucks of Phoenix Business Journal,

Some sports business experts and Coyotes fans believe Phoenix is less of an NHL market and more of a minor-league hockey market in terms of fans’ demand for tickets and interest in the sport.

The American Hockey League is hockey’s equivalent to AAA baseball. AHL teams serves as feeders to NHL parents. The league has teams in some larger cities such as Houston, Toronto and Milwaukee, and in some smaller markets including Syracuse, N.Y., Hershey, Pa., and Austin.

AHL ticket prices are lower than the NHL’s. Coyotes tickets run from $15 to $100. Lower-level seats with extra perks, including club and suite benefits, run $180 to $330.

By comparison, tickets for the San Antonio Rampage (the Coyotes’ AHL feeder) range from $10 to $40. The AHL’s Houston Aeros price their tickets between $13 and $70, and the Texas Stars charge $9 to $65.

Rich Ettenson, a business professor and sports marketing expert at the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, said AHL teams do not have the cost pressures of player salaries that hit NHL team’s bottom lines.

“They don’t need to fill a stadium of 15,000 or so to make it a go,” said Ettenson, adding there can be enough loyal hockey fans to support a AAA team.

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Not Surviving In Phoenix

by Paul on 11/03/09 at 08:26 AM ET
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from Damien Cox of the Spin at the Toronto Star,

First, it sure looks like this team is moving somewhere at the end of the season. When the NHL governors convene in December, Gary Bettman will deliver a status report on trying to find local buyers, and this time around the questions are going to be tougher when he tries the “all is well” speech.

Second, any sex appeal this team had is gone because Wayne Gretzky is gone. Dave Tippet’s a heck of a good hockey coach but he’s not Gretzky and the media interest there once was in the Coyotes because of Gretzky is now gone.

The team is 9-5-0 despite last night’s loss, a terrific start by all measures. But the Coyotes play in a tough division and a playoff berth seems unlikely.

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The News OF The Day From Phoenix

by Paul on 11/02/09 at 05:10 PM ET
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NEW YORK (November 2, 2009)—Bill Daly, Deputy Commissioner of the National Hockey League, released the following statement today regarding the U. S. Bankruptcy Court Order approving the purchase of the Phoenix Coyotes by the NHL:

“We are pleased and very encouraged by today’s developments in court. Now that approval of the proposed sale has been entered by the Court, the National Hockey League will work to close the transaction quickly and assume full control of the Coyotes’ business operations. The League also will engage immediately in a process to identify—and expedite sale of the franchise to—new ownership that is committed to the Club’s long-term success in the Phoenix/Glendale area. We do not intend to comment publicly on that process.

“The NHL thanks Coyotes fans for their continued support of the franchise and hopes that today’s developments will provide fans further reason to embrace the Coyotes in order to ensure the team’s long-term future in Arizona.”

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Pay Wayne

by Paul on 11/01/09 at 08:36 AM ET
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from Larry Brooks of the NY Post,

...the NHL does seem to be offering words in support of Gretzky, even if action speaks louder. The league at this point appears to be offering talk, which obviously is much cheaper than $8.2 million.

“The decision was made this summer when the League decided to make a bid to purchase that it couldn’t assume Wayne’s contract. That was discussed with Wayne and his people before we filed our bid and they understood the rationale,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an e-mail to Slap Shots on Friday night.

“That doesn’t mean he has to go it alone. We committed to him that we would do everything possible to get him paid outside the bankruptcy process,” Daly added. “We have suggested our willingness to pursue claims on his behalf and assist him in pursuing his own claims. And he remains able to seek recovery out of the pot of money that will be paid to the bankrupt estate.”

So the NHL claims it will assist the greatest assist man who ever has laced up a pair of skates but it will not guarantee he will get his money even after all of the untold revenue he produced for the league both directly and indirectly in the form of expansion fees from warm-weather markets made possible by Gretzky’s success in Los Angeles.

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 Tags: Wayne+Gretzky,

Paying Gretzky

by Paul on 10/30/09 at 11:16 PM ET
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from Elliotte Friedman of CBC,

Right now, the NHL’s bid provides for between $11-$12 million to three potential creditors – Gretzky, Moyes and the city of Glendale. Gretzky isn’t thrilled that there is no certainty of collecting. Apparently, he is not asking for all of the money up front or in some lump payment, but an acknowledgement that, at some point, he will collect.

One league source says that will happen.

“We recognize that a lot of us have jobs because of what he’s done for a long time. What has happened this summer has been totally unfair to him, but, because he’s Wayne Gretzky, it all ends up on him ...This is important, and we realize it is important.”

That is 100 per cent the proper philosophy. But, there is one concern.

At this time, it was not possible to get the board of governors to vote on raising the purchase price from $140 million to $148 million. And, there may be slight resistance to doing so. Some of the governors are apparently unhappy with Gretzky’s public disappointment, and could let that affect their decision.

That is a ridiculous attitude.

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 Tags: Wayne+Gretzky,

Morning Line

by Paul on 10/29/09 at 07:20 AM ET
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“I see the sun every morning in Phoenix, and that’s a nice thing.  You have to remember, I’ve seen Siberia.”

-Phoenix Coyotes Assistant Coach Dave King.  More on King from Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Columbus Blue Jackets, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Dave+King,

Don’t Expect A Quick Sale Of The Coyotes

by Paul on 10/28/09 at 08:22 AM ET
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from Sean Fitz-Gerald of the National Post,

While it expects to complete its purchase of the Phoenix Coyotes next week, the National Hockey League has not committed to a timeline of when it will flip the troubled franchise to another buyer, with the NHL deputy commissioner saying a re-sale is “not imminent.”

Bill Daly also said the Coyotes, mired in sometimes heated bankruptcy proceedings since May, have attracted more than one suitor. Ice Edge Holdings, a consortium of Canadian and U.S.-based businessmen, has publicly confirmed its interest in the team, and met league commissioner Gary Bettman earlier this week.

“Ice Edge isn’t the only horse in the race,” Daly wrote in an email yesterday.

continued

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Phoenix/NHL Deal Could Be Finalized Next Week

by Paul on 10/26/09 at 08:56 PM ET
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via NHL.com,

The National Hockey League has purchased the Phoenix Coyotes from owner Jerry Moyes in a deal that could be finalized by early next week.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly made the following statement about the pending deal on Monday night:

“In Phoenix today, a tentative agreement was reached among the parties to amend the NHL’s offer to purchase the Coyotes franchise out of bankruptcy, and a proposed order, mutually agreed to by the parties, will be filed with the Court seeking approval of the NHL’s amended bid.

“If there is no objection from the parties involved, and subject to any potential objections and a hearing if necessary, the parties hope to close the sale of the Club to the NHL by Monday, Nov. 2.

“It remains the NHL’s intention upon taking control of the Club to stabilize the Club’s operations and, as quickly as possible, to re-sell the Club to a new owner who is committed to operating the Club in the Glendale/Phoenix market.”

Filed in: NHL Teams, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Phoenix Fans Would Like To See More Discounted Tickets

by Paul on 10/23/09 at 06:22 PM ET
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from Mike Sunnucks of the Phoenix Business Journal,

Coyotes personnel and fans at Jobing.com Arena hopes the team’s 6-2 start, including Thursday’s overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings, will help boost attendance. Canadian sports network TSN ranks the Coyotes the third-best team in the NHL right now, behind only the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Fans at the Coyotes-Red Wings game also wanted to see the team offer more discounts and make lower-level seats less expensive in general.

Lower-levels seats at the Glendale arena run $55 to $95 each, while upper-deck seats are between $15 and $35. The team runs some upper-level ticket discounts that include food for $25 to $30 per person.

On opening night, lower-level seats were discounted to $25 and upper-level tickets were $15. The Coyotes sold out that game, with 17,532 fans in the seats. In contrast, Thursday’s game drew 11,900, with the upper level substantially fuller than the lower bowl—and a fair number of Detroit fans in attendance.

Maria Maskell, a 10-year Coyotes season ticket holder, would like to see the team do more promotions to help fill the lower levels and suites.

read on

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Coyotes Prepare For Wings

by Paul on 10/21/09 at 09:32 PM ET
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from Jim Gintonio of the Arizona Republic,

A Coyotes victory would make them the first team to beat both Stanley Cup finalists - they handed the Pittsburgh Penguins (8-1) their only defeat earlier this season.

“They have the ability to dictate games, so how you play against them as a group can say a lot about your play and how you’re going to play together,” Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. “We have to be ready to play a fast game, a very hard game.

“Detroit is a team that competes very hard, and their top players compete very hard, so if you’re not willing to match that, you’re gonna be behind in the game.”

Teams hosting Detroit often find their arenas jammed with Red Wings fans.

Coyotes forward Scottie Upshall said it creates an atmosphere and buzz in the building. He said the Coyotes will use their own fan base as a momentum builder against a team that has a loyal fan base across the country.

The venue for a Red Wings game, he said, could be anywhere, and the excitement would be there.

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