There is a really good piece on the Coyotes in the September 29, 2013 Arizona Republic by Sarah McLellan entitled Put the excuses on ice. Here is the link: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/20130928new-ownership-solid-core-mean-phoenix-coyotes-must-step-up.html .
Ms. McLellan has been perhaps the only reporter covering the Coyotes who remained unbiased and reported on them impartially throughout the entire 4 year saga of seeking an owner for the team. As she looks to the Coyotes’ future she makes some excellent observations. Among them, “The Coyotes just believed they needed the presence of ownership to get there (Stanley Cup). And now that they have that, it’s time to prove they can be better.” Or, “That challenge should bring pressure. This is a new era for the organization, one without the safety net of low expectations and ready-made excuses for failure.” She’s right. For the past four years the team could always point to ownership uncertainty as a reason for not quite getting beyond the next level. That mind set is no longer relevant. They will stand or fall based upon their cohesiveness and talents as a team. As Tippett says, “You have to build a core to continue the identity of that team to see if you can push it as far as you can.” Don Maloney and Dave Tippett, magicians that they are, have done exactly that.
As McLellan says, the ownership limbo “masked the pitfalls of a bargain-basement budget…” The new owners, IceArizona, have to date shown their willingness to revitalize this team and this franchise. That commitment will continue to require a steep price tag over the next few years by renewing contracts of their core players so that as Maloney and Tippett have said it does not remain a team continually in flux. Their current advertising campaign, “Hungrier than ever,” is good. While it connects with the fan base steeped in the team’s history, it misses the mark in connecting emotionally with new fans. Retaining a family friendly atmosphere at the arena that does not require highly visible boobs ala the Jerry Moyes era or young ladies cleaning ice and getting new concessionaires with better fare and prices that do not sky-rocket into the stratosphere are backbone components that will help to attract new fans, especially families. The other traditional sports, baseball, basketball and football offer ticket prices, with the exception of their occasional promotions, that do little to encourage continual and regular family participation. Yet it obviously will be family participation grows the next generation of hockey fans.
Ms. McLellan’s observation that the excuse of lack of ownership can be relied upon for the team’s quality of play coupled with ownership uncertainty are gone for good. As Sarah McLellan says, “The Coyotes failed at failing.” Now they must succeed at winning.
©Joyce Clark, 2013
FAIR USE NOTICE
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
If You Build It, They Might Not Come: The Risky Economics of Sports Stadiums
“Overall, Glendale is not only on the hook for $15 million per year over two decades to a potential Coyotes owner, but also a $12 million annual debt payment for construction of its arena. In return, according to the Republic, the city receives a measly “$2.2 million in annual rent payments, ticket surcharges, sales taxes and other fees.” Even if the Coyotes were to dominate the league like no other in recent memory and return to the Stanley Cup Finals year after year, the city would still lose $9 million annually.”
Source: theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/09/if-you-build-it-they-might-not-come-the-risky-economics-of-sports-stadiums/260900/
And you really believe IceArizona will generate $6-11million a year in revenue for Glendale to offset the $15million ‘arena management fee’?
Keep believing, Joyce, keep believing…
I do not believe the new owners will generate the $9M in enhanced revenues needed to cover the $15M a year management fee. Having said that, I hope I am proven wrong. You are correct. With the new ownership deal, dollars that contributed to the $12M annual construction debt are gone. However, Tanger Outlet Mall and those visiting Westgate before and after the football/hockey games will generate revenue that will go toward the arena construction debt. Will it be enough? Historically, it has not been.
This is the same theme that many outlets have used in their reporting. It’s not unique to the Republic’s reporting. By the way, Sarah McLellan does an excellent job covering this team and I read her stories all the time, but she didn’t cover the ownership story one bit. The Republic wouldn’t let her. They left that to Paul Giblin, so I guess that made it easy to be unbiased?
Doesn’t matter, we will weep at the “good times” which are bad now. The NWO has spoken, we are all done for.
I just thought all this was premature.The reason I say that these guys are not in it to lose money 8 mil going to be nothing now..Getting 7.8mil is nice for doing nothing.thats why they bought the team they had a plan…
Again, Sarah’s article was not premature and right on the mark.
What are you talking about>These guys no hockey plus they have won at everthing they have done.One Big thing is like gosbe just said we have a boatload of money!!
What I don’t understand is what Jams would have done different.He was not going to run the team anyways.Like gosbe said they have a boatload of money.Plus if it does not work out with glendale..Of to the tribe in scottsdale!!But the az market is so strong these guys are not dumb…Look what they have done there whole lives but win!!
Well now glendale has nothing to worry about..being a council member shrewood new the tv money was coming all four did…You can’t say it until it was signed..The coyotes get just under 8mil a year.Paying glendale will not be a problem so that five yr thing goes out the window..I am sure people will spin this but oh well.They will have money to make this team more of a powerhose.I trust these guys mor..You would have had problems from day one with jams and his lies..Doan would wanted to be traded.The team had 0 respect for him.Why he could’nt be a man and tell them what up.wonder why..He was part of the ownership group.But he wanted to make players decions and etc.So they said no way..We leave that to tip and the best gm and coach in the leause…plus he owes money in sj with the sharks..You find out a lot after the fact.I understand you and greg d liked jams you for rel reason but greg was greed and a job pretty cockey!!Go coyotes howllll!!!
Darrold, Say what you will but it’s time to stop denigrating me, Jamison and Dunaway. It’s time to let it go. I don’t appreciate the residual nastiness. We al exhibited class and congratulated LeBlanc and Gosbee on their acquisition.
Sorry you took wrong,but the title of this says it all..Coyotes failed at failing..I don’t understand the title..I didn’t rip you I think I said You did it for real reason not a job..That was my point that it…It was my opinion when this was written that how could anyone say they failing.No the track records of this ownership group.Which in life they have not lost at anything..They all are great business men..Yes maybe saying the Jams thing was wrong but he did lie on the phone and in person to doan in sept when he signed….Plus he said he was going to do a interview with Roc never happened..Some people would like to know if hwe was bettman pawn to delay things for a while. Or somthing else.My main point was that glendale if they fail as a city it won’t be becausse of the coyotes..They will have 0 problems paying that out you can tear that up.. the out clause.The ones that are going to look bad are the ones who voted against the lease….The mayor is not a dumb man I am sure he new of tv money.The reason I posted this is because it time that the coyotes are not the whipping boys anymore…Which they never should have been.Such a little portion of the buget..That was all so have a good thanks giving you and your family…
Darrold, If you had read the blog you would have discovered that I was commenting on a Sarah McLellan article that pointed out that the team could no longer rely upon lack of ownership as an excuse for poor performance. I agreed with her commentary. I was also complimentary to IceArizona, Tippett and Malhoney. I know Greg Jamison fairly well. I know this man is not a liar. Whatever he says, he says because he believes it and stands by his words. As for money from tv contracts, etc., I congratulate IceArizona. Will it solve everything? Only time will tell.