CosmicQueso
Member
Happy trails, Coyotes. It's been real. I wish you well in your future endeavors.
AZ Republic Op-Ed
Nothing to do now but plan for the moving trucks. It was inevitable. Still sad.
On Tuesday, the Arizona Coyotes and National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman on Tuesday threatened to move the franchise out of Arizona if the Legislature does not approve $225 million in public financing for a new arena in downtown Phoenix or the East Valley.
"The Arizona Coyotes must have a new arena location to succeed," Bettman wrote in a letter. "The Coyotes cannot and will not remain in Glendale."
AZ Republic Op-Ed
The Coyotes want $225 million in public money to help pay for a new arena complex either in downtown Phoenix or the East Valley. Team owners moan that they just havent been able to turn a profit on the west side.
I wonder Is the teams inability to turn a profit because this Valley wont support hockey? Or is it because this Valley wont support bad hockey?
There is no doubt (never has been, in my mind) that the Coyotes made a critical mistake when they went racing off to the west side, abandoning their east side fan base because Glendale was offering the team the world.
Glendale made a mistake and is paying for it.
The Coyotes made a mistake and are paying for it.
What I cant figure out is this what mistake did the rest of us make, that we should be muscled into turning over $225 million in future tax revenues ... or else?
This isnt the 1990s, Mr. Bettman, when team owners (and league owners) can make noise about leaving and cities snap to it, giving teams whatever they want. (Something, perhaps, for the Diamondbacks to remember.)
A recent statewide poll indicated that 68% of Arizona voters oppose the Coyotes plan to create a special taxing district in order to build another arena. In Maricopa County, 71 percent of voters panned the idea.
Nothing to do now but plan for the moving trucks. It was inevitable. Still sad.