Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

The City Of Glendale Starts Playing Hardball

06/11/2015 at 3:09pm EDT

from Rick Westhead of TSN,

The city of Glendale will contact venue management companies in coming days to start booking dates at Gila River Arena for this fall and winter, according to Glendale's vice mayor.

On Wednesday night, Glendale city council voted 5-2 to cancel the agreement that sees the city pay $15-million per year to the NHL team to manage the arena.

Glendale Vice Mayor Ian Hugh told TSN the Coyotes were also tenants in the city-owned arena under terms of that agreement. Hugh said now that council has cancelled the arena management deal, the Coyotes are without a place to play their home games.

The vice mayor also told TSN that while he still hopes the Coyotes and city are able to reach a new agreement for arena management contract and tenancy, Glendale needs to begin making other plans in case the two sides don't settle their differences.

Coyotes spokesman Rich Nairn did not respond to an email requesting comment.

The city and NHL team seem to be headed for the courtroom, not a negotiating table.

continued

added 3:42pm, from Dave Naylor of TSN,

If a pro sports franchise in any market can't survive on its own on a cash-in, cash-out basis, then it shouldn't exist. End of story.

And anyone who tells you these kinds of arrangements are actually investments that reap economic benefits for the municipalities that hand them out, well, tell them to consult an economist. And preferably not one hired by a team or a league to draw foregone conclusions.

The Coyotes have stayed in Glendale longer they should have because the NHL didn't want to be perceived as giving up on a city that has extended itself to such extremes for professional hockey.

But now that city wants the NHL to go away. And it's time the Coyotes, like any good house guest, acquiesce.

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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