Kukla's Korner Hockey
Will Hockey In Phoenix Ever Succeed?
by Paul on 05/18/09 at 07:59 AM ET
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from Craig Harris and Jim Gintonio of the Arizona Republic,
Ray Artigue, executive director of the MBA sports-business program at Arizona State University, said being a non-playoff team and playing in Glendale makes it difficult to regularly attract fans throughout metro Phoenix, especially those on the other side of the Valley.
Moyes, through a spokesman, declined to comment. But Jeff Shumway, the team’s former chief executive, said the Coyotes mounted numerous efforts to stimulate interest, were competitive much of last season, but still couldn’t attract fans and lost millions.“At this point in time, hockey isn’t financially viable here,” said Shumway, who ran the team from April 2006 to January 2009.
He said an NHL official told him a team needs to make the playoffs four out of five years to generate a loyal following….
Unable to meet minimum paid attendance and revenue-growth figures in 2007-08, the NHL docked the team at least $3.6 million, or 25 percent of a full revenue share. This past season, the Coyotes again failed to meet those standards and received a 40 percent cut, or more than a $6 million reduction, according to Shumway.
The NHL last year told the Coyotes to “do whatever they needed to do” to hit the minimum requirements and receive a full share, Shumway said. The team, through an accounting move, then sold Moyes about 1,000 tickets a game and deducted the cost from the millions of dollars in loans he provided the team.
Daly said the NHL, which has contended it has been in control of the team since November, became aware of the situation in January and told the Coyotes to stop.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
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