Coyotes Coming Back To Winnipeg?????

[Kubby31]

Winnipeg will soon find out whether or not the Phoenix Coyotes franchise will return to the city it once called home.

Sources tell TSN this decision will be made within the next three weeks, if not sooner.

With Jerry Reinsdorf's deal to buy the Coyotes hanging precariously in limbo, sources say Glendale city officials are scrambling, trying to push Ice Edge Holdings to sign an agreement of exclusivity, with ties to the existing lease, in time to position a proposal for vote at next Tuesdays Glendale city council meeting.

Ice Edge has been willing to discuss the possibility since being approached by Glendale city officials late last week, and will further consider the opportunity as discussions continue throughout the day, however without an assurance from the National Hockey League that the city is committed to funding operating losses next season, a deal with Ice Edge may not get off the ground.

Sources close to the situation are also concerned Glendale may be using Ice Edge as leverage to lure Reisndorf back into discussions and perhaps, into a revised proposal that is far less reliant on city subsidies.

If the Reinsdorf deal is officially pulled off the table and Glendale and the NHL cannot present Ice Edge with a purchase package this group is willing to swiftly accept, the National Hockey League may have to expedite its plan "B" and relocate the Coyotes.

Although there is no deal in place to formalize Winnipeg as the relocation target, Winnipeg is considered the frontrunner based on the belief the cities fan base and arena makes it a turn key operation available to house an NHL team in a short turnaround period.

Quebec City, Kansas City and Las Vegas are also among the cities identified on the list of options. However, the NHL would require assurances from Vegas and Quebec City that new, acceptable facilities, would be built in a timely manner.

Another Canadian NHL hockey franchise........long over due.

[SteenIsThaFuture]

This is not good for the NHL. The dirty business rumors are already surfacing. The Phoenix crowd just got played.

[tmash]

This is not good for the NHL. The dirty business rumors are already surfacing. The Phoenix crowd just got played.

What are you referring to? It just seems no one is willing to buy the Coyotes without major concessions from the city.

In a related story, Manitoba Moose to Thunder Bay?

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/sports/Default.aspx?cid=91320

[SteenIsThaFuture]

What are you referring to? It just seems no one is willing to buy the Coyotes without major concessions from the city.

In a related story, Manitoba Moose to Thunder Bay?

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/sports/Default.aspx?cid=91320

Ya the Moose will go to TB if the Yotes come to the Peg. What I'm referring to is how this deal came to be all of a sudden. With full details, completely formal with government backing already signed off on. Seems like it was lined up and while I'm not the one to go accusing and pissing on the NHL without full details. This smells really bad with this all coming AFTER the Coyotes are bumped from the playoffs.

Ice Edge's letter of intent comes after Phoenix was top in the conference, Reisendorf looks set to buy when the Coyotes are starting the playoffs. Smells like a false confidence booster.

[Guest]

This is not good for the NHL. The dirty business rumors are already surfacing. The Phoenix crowd just got played.

IMO it cant be any worse press for the league then turning down a bonafide offer to buy and relocate the team last year by RIM. They'll put some other bogus spin on their reasoning for it this time around.

[Zonave]

I really don't want to see Pheonix move. Their fans were amazing, and its not fair for them to move. However, if they do move, they need to move to Winnepeg.

Just not Kansas City or Las Vegas. And I think Hartford and Winnepeg get a team before Quebec City, but I won't complain about a new team in Quebec City. I think the Thrashers need to be moved and a team in the West(there are a few to pick from)

[tmash]

Ya the Moose will go to TB if the Yotes come to the Peg. What I'm referring to is how this deal came to be all of a sudden. With full details, completely formal with government backing already signed off on. Seems like it was lined up and while I'm not the one to go accusing and pissing on the NHL without full details. This smells really bad with this all coming AFTER the Coyotes are bumped from the playoffs.

Ice Edge's letter of intent comes after Phoenix was top in the conference, Reisendorf looks set to buy when the Coyotes are starting the playoffs. Smells like a false confidence booster.

It's true the NHL probably wanted to keep as much news as possible (Winnipeg, etc.) quiet until the Coyotes were eliminated. However, there is no way the two parties are "false confidence boosters", I mean what's in it for them?

Ice Edge maintained the whole time they were interested, but withdrew to simplify the NHL vs Balsille thing, but said at the time they planned to buy from the NHL if they got the team. They were in it until Glendale rejected the agreement the two had (apparently the only reason was they liked Reinsdorf's better, not that Ice Edge's bid was unworkable). Reinsdorf has been offering a really crappy bid the whole time, very low price (the NHL will lose a lot) and asking for major concessions from the city, so it's not surprising it's breaking down. I still have a feeling they'll stay in Pittsburgh, Glendale will give in to one of the buyers. However, when no one is willing to buy your team without a bunch of guarantees and concessions from the city (eg. cover operating losses, implement tax in the area of the arena, etc.) it shows no one is really interested in keeping the team in Phoenix unless there is a way to make it risk-free.

[chrisjamessauve]

I really don't want to see Pheonix move. Their fans were amazing, and its not fair for them to move. However, if they do move, they need to move to Winnepeg.

Just not Kansas City or Las Vegas. And I think Hartford and Winnepeg get a team before Quebec City, but I won't complain about a new team in Quebec City. I think the Thrashers need to be moved and a team in the West(there are a few to pick from)

No offense, but that's exactly the same thing the good people of Winnipeg went through 14 years ago. The only difference, is Winnipeg sold out games in the Regular Season where as the Coyotes were drawing flies all season. I think it'd be awesome to see the Jets go back where they belong.

Edit: How ironic, if this was the final season in Phoenix. They were eliminated on home ice by the Detroit Red Wings. The Jets' last season in Winnipeg was 1996, and they were eliminated that year on home ice by..... the Detroit Red Wings! Weird.

[HabGirlYVR]

I suspect that they'll be moving back to Winnipeg where they belong, and all of this is just a bunch of smokescreening to save face for the league after they said they don't give up on their cities. NHL isn't stupid entirely, they know they'll do great in the Peg. Just that they needed to find a way to move the team after the Balsillie affair in such a way that they don't lose face... I think that like this, they've worked it out. It's also a very short timeframe that's left... they'll be hard pressed to work something out with Ice Age, and don't forget Glendale city council is being watched *very* closely for anything that could be called misuse of public funds (which IMO rules out any city funding to cover losses - which probably means nobody will be willing to buy the team to keep in in PHX losing money... which means we get the Jets back!)

After Winnipeg, Quebec City needs to be (and probably will be) the next Canadian city to get a team, I figure another relocation, one of the Deep South teams. If the whole Olympic Bid thing goes through and QcC makes a proper official bid, then the new arena will be built... and we'll be able to enjoy the Nords-Habs rivalry (best rivalry ever!) again.

[HabGirlYVR]

And yeah, I really *do* want to see the Coyotes move... to a city that will support it completely, like Winnipeg. I'm also very keen on seeing teams in other nonsensical markets (Tampa, Miami, Nashville, Atlanta, Carolina) moved to cities where they'll be properly supported, too. Phoenix has had pro hockey since before the WHA days, and it's always been a fringe sport in a fringe market... if they can't support a minor league team they can't support an NHL team. Same for the other cities there.

[tmash]

I suspect that they'll be moving back to Winnipeg where they belong, and all of this is just a bunch of smokescreening to save face for the league after they said they don't give up on their cities. NHL isn't stupid entirely, they know they'll do great in the Peg. Just that they needed to find a way to move the team after the Balsillie affair in such a way that they don't lose face... I think that like this, they've worked it out. It's also a very short timeframe that's left... they'll be hard pressed to work something out with Ice Age, and don't forget Glendale city council is being watched *very* closely for anything that could be called misuse of public funds (which IMO rules out any city funding to cover losses - which probably means nobody will be willing to buy the team to keep in in PHX losing money... which means we get the Jets back!)

I believe the interest in keeping the team in Phoenix is genuine; however, at some point enough is enough, and neither of the two deals is very good and if even they fall through, you can't go much lower so time for Plan B.

That said, it sounds like they've been working with Winnipeg's potential ownership a lot closer than they've let on (at least the way the article states things I'm making that assumption).

[HabGirlYVR]

That said, it sounds like they've been working with Winnipeg's potential ownership a lot closer than they've let on (at least the way the article states things I'm making that assumption).

They were saying that earlier today on the local sports radio too, that all signs suggest that there's been some pretty close work between the NHL and the Winnipeg group.

[Dintrox12]

The Nhl wants this thing decided before the entry draft. They have a schedule to construct and the owners don't want to be on hook for the payroll and other expenses for another year. As I said last year, Bettman was trying everything to get reseindorf and to keep RIM Jim out and they would try and sell to reseindork ASAP. Let's hope Thomson and company bring the team back where they belong!

[tmash]

I was just listening to Prime Time Sports and what one of them said (no idea how reputable this is) is basically it is impossible to imagine Reinsdorf re-entering the picture and that the Winnipeg agreement is basically a done deal. He believes that they will give Ice Edge one last shot, and if that falls through it will immediately go to Winnipeg. If this is correct, it means it's Ice Edge or Winnipeg, and Winnipeg is probably the front-runner. I was under the impression Winnipeg was one of a few options, but it sounds like if Ice Edge can't get something done in a couple of weeks, it is all but done to Winnipeg. If he's correct, and you want to place your money on where the Coyotes play next season, Winnipeg is probably the front-runner.

[SteenIsThaFuture]

It's true the NHL probably wanted to keep as much news as possible (Winnipeg, etc.) quiet until the Coyotes were eliminated. However, there is no way the two parties are "false confidence boosters", I mean what's in it for them?

Ice Edge maintained the whole time they were interested, but withdrew to simplify the NHL vs Balsille thing, but said at the time they planned to buy from the NHL if they got the team. They were in it until Glendale rejected the agreement the two had (apparently the only reason was they liked Reinsdorf's better, not that Ice Edge's bid was unworkable). Reinsdorf has been offering a really crappy bid the whole time, very low price (the NHL will lose a lot) and asking for major concessions from the city, so it's not surprising it's breaking down. I still have a feeling they'll stay in Pittsburgh, Glendale will give in to one of the buyers. However, when no one is willing to buy your team without a bunch of guarantees and concessions from the city (eg. cover operating losses, implement tax in the area of the arena, etc.) it shows no one is really interested in keeping the team in Phoenix unless there is a way to make it risk-free.

Yeah you're right I prolly overreacted, and at this time Ice Edge and Glendale seem to be making progress.

[franck5890]

I was just listening to Prime Time Sports and what one of them said (no idea how reputable this is) is basically it is impossible to imagine Reinsdorf re-entering the picture and that the Winnipeg agreement is basically a done deal. He believes that they will give Ice Edge one last shot, and if that falls through it will immediately go to Winnipeg. If this is correct, it means it's Ice Edge or Winnipeg, and Winnipeg is probably the front-runner. I was under the impression Winnipeg was one of a few options, but it sounds like if Ice Edge can't get something done in a couple of weeks, it is all but done to Winnipeg. If he's correct, and you want to place your money on where the Coyotes play next season, Winnipeg is probably the front-runner.

Reinsdorf is officially out of the picture as per TSN; Glendale has signed an exclusivity agreement with Ice Edge, meaning that that is the only offer being tabled right now. If that falls through (ie. if Glendale can't meet the extensive requirements of Ice Edge) then it could go to the Winnipeg group.

We'll see what happens, I think it's supposed to go in front of Glendale City Council next week.

[HabGirlYVR]

Listening on the radio earlier today they pointed out several times some body apparently related to the local government somehow (a watchdog of sorts) that is keeping a very close eye on this - their job is to ensure public money is not misused. I have a suspicion that covering the losses of a pro sports team will be viewed as a misuse of public funds. So unless Ice Age decides to drop that requirement - and something hints to me that they can't - then I don't see the team remaining in Phoenix.

Can't wait to see the Jets back!

[tmash]

We'll see what happens, I think it's supposed to go in front of Glendale City Council next week.

Also remember that the NHL hasn't even approved Ice Edge as owners and there were apparantly some serious doubts about their finances. Although Bettman and Daly seem to support the group, it doesn't sound like the owners in general are too enthusiastic.

Listening on the radio earlier today they pointed out several times some body apparently related to the local government somehow (a watchdog of sorts) that is keeping a very close eye on this - their job is to ensure public money is not misused. I have a suspicion that covering the losses of a pro sports team will be viewed as a misuse of public funds. So unless Ice Age decides to drop that requirement - and something hints to me that they can't - then I don't see the team remaining in Phoenix.

I don't know Glendale specifically, but right now many municipalities are running deficits and now is not the time to be propping up pro sports teams. I just have trouble seeing Ice Edge clearing all the hurdles at this point.

[Zonave]

No offense, but that's exactly the same thing the good people of Winnipeg went through 14 years ago. The only difference, is Winnipeg sold out games in the Regular Season where as the Coyotes were drawing flies all season. I think it'd be awesome to see the Jets go back where they belong.

No offense taken. I was born 16 years ago, so I don't remember that. However, if it was a shame the first time, it will be a shame again. That's my theory. However, it is only right that they do move to Winnepeg.

Also, I went to Ice Edge's web site. First of all, its not what I expected. They have nothing to do with hockey. I find it very hard to believe that a business solutions and help company will fight very hard for a hockey franchise. That leads me to believe, therefore, that it is up to the Glendale council what the future of the Coyotes is. However, they can't win. They either keep a shaky franchise that can potentially drain public funds, or make a lot of the public very angry at them.

I wonder what the Phoenix fans think. I went to visit their forum, but then I realized: they don't have one. Maybe they should move, if they don't have enough fans to get to join.

[tmash]

Also, I went to Ice Edge's web site. First of all, its not what I expected. They have nothing to do with hockey. I find it very hard to believe that a business solutions and help company will fight very hard for a hockey franchise.

Ice Edge is made up of four individuals with no real connection to hockey, but they are big fans, this isn't just a business move. I've known of Leblanc before the Phoenix thing because he's been involved in trying to bring a CHL or AHL team to Thunder Bay, the city I grew up in, for awhile now. Remember they are a Canadian group and Reinsdorf was the one doing it only for money.

That leads me to believe, therefore, that it is up to the Glendale council what the future of the Coyotes is. However, they can't win. They either keep a shaky franchise that can potentially drain public funds, or make a lot of the public very angry at them.

They are kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. Even in Canada, giving public money to a hockey team would be very unpopular with many voters, consider that in Glendale the majority of voters are likely not hockey fans, and giving public funds to the Coyotes is just a terrible idea politically. On the other hand, if they don't agree to covering NHL's losses, the team is all but gone and then they have a nice new arena without a tenant.

My guess is they won't agree to giving public funds to the NHL, that is a slipeery slope to go down. In any case, the NHL doesn't want uncertainty any more and wants to move forward one way or another.

[franck5890]

Also remember that the NHL hasn't even approved Ice Edge as owners and there were apparantly some serious doubts about their finances. Although Bettman and Daly seem to support the group, it doesn't sound like the owners in general are too enthusiastic.

I don't know Glendale specifically, but right now many municipalities are running deficits and now is not the time to be propping up pro sports teams. I just have trouble seeing Ice Edge clearing all the hurdles at this point.

Yeah, there are huge doubts. Rumours are floating around that Ice Edge's financial backers (possibly banks) have some pretty serious covenants in place including Glendale covering team losses, etc. It'll be interesting.

[tmash]

Yeah, there are huge doubts. Rumours are floating around that Ice Edge's financial backers (possibly banks) have some pretty serious covenants in place including Glendale covering team losses, etc. It'll be interesting.

It hasn't really been reported how much money these guys have, but I don't get the impression they are particularly rich (obviously they are compared to most, but they aren't billionares or anything). The biggest problem though isn't the purchase price, it's that if you have ongoing losses, who is going to fund them? The bank can give 150 million to buy the team, but if the team loses 30 million next year, who pays for that?

In theory, you can always get the purchase price back through relocation (Reinsdorf had clauses in his contract that basically guaranteed in 5 years he could get out of the lease and relocate and the only way the NHL could stop him would be to give him back most of the purchase price), but operating losses are far more problematic.

[HabGirlYVR]

CBC just announced that the Ice Edge deal has fallen through!

So we're even closer to getting the Jets back!

[catt-_mtlc]

CBC just announced that the Ice Edge deal has fallen through!

So we're even closer to getting the Jets back!

Good hopefully the Florida teams are next

[Habcore]

CBC just announced that the Ice Edge deal has fallen through!

So we're even closer to getting the Jets back!

WOW! this is amazing there really is a chance, after years of carrots being held in front of us to be taken away, I was starting to really doubt all these reports. Maybe just maybe I will watch NHL hockey in Winnipeg again. I really am so excited. What a day Habs win game six and now this news!!!