Mike Nealy
Don Maloney
Just listened to KTAR 620 radio interview with Mike Nealy, COO of the Phoenix Coyotes. He is a class act as is Don Maloney, General Manager and Dave Tippett, Head Coach. We are very fortunate to have these men running the organization. They are the right men for the right time.
Dave Tippett
Heard on some hockey board there are questions as to whether I am writing this blog and that perhaps it is being “ghosted.” For all those speculators out there, I am indeed writing this blog and couldn’t be happier in the freedom I now have to express myself…unfiltered.
There was also an article quoting Nealey as stating that “yes, he believes Glendale and the NHL want the franchise to stay put” (or words to that affect). It’s pretty obvious Glendale certainly does, while the NHL I do believe optimistically, idealistically, theoretically is in complete agreement. It is therefore time, if indeed Greg Jamison and or some combination of his group & Matthew Hulsizer’s, Kaites or whomever are accommodated. Favorable sale terms negotiated (the league used a Line of Credit from Bank America to purchase the franchise, pay for on-going expenses, and as such, creative ways to exchange & transfer credit facilities of this nature are available to both the vendor & the buyer). Again, playing my old saw of a 5 Year Agreement (fair market value Arena Management Fee) with an out clause the way to go. Glass half full. Just get on with the resurrection already and that day, notifying the City that “we’ve failed” wont come provided the new ownership group simply follow well traveled, tried & true trails. If they dont have a map, might I suggest they have some long conversation’s with Michael Yormark in Sunrise (Panthers) Florida, the ownership group in Nashville, the Sharks organization etc….
I dunno Killy….. At this point I think a 5-year out clause would not be helpful even to rebuild what fan base there was when the team was still playing downtown. This market has been subjected to 4 years of uncertainty already and tacking on another 5 years to it (and it would be perceived as such).
However, I do realize it may be a necessary evil.
Yes, I’m certainly cognizant of the deep cynicism that would surely be attached to such a clause in the minds of many, however, much will depend on who it is thats buying the franchise and how they message, what they do, how they execute. Be it Matt Hulsizer & Le Blanc, Jamison or whomever else. I believe in the innate goodness of people, glass half full, easily determined and quickly if such trust is mis-placed, more than apparent. Its a start, a practical alternative to the all or nothing rush to 20yr no movement agreements, promises made that no ones even sure they can keep.
Steve,
I simply don’t believe that a lease of 5 years is going to work for anyone. As I stated in a previous blog, team owners of various sports, including hockey, that I have had the opportunity to talk to unanimously say that it takes 10 years to build/rebuild a fan base. If anyone is asking for 5 years with an “opt out” clause, the unstated intent is to move the team.
I think season ticket holders numbers went up this year because everyone believed that the Jamison agreement would be finalized and the team was staying. Fans have lived through uncertainty since the bankruptcy in 2009. I don’t think they will invest emotionally in a team and more uncertainty. It’s not a good situation for the coaches or the team and it’s certainly not good for Glendale.
Joyce
Hi Joyce,
And yes, I do understand & empathize with that perspective, opinion, and if this was a brand new Expansion Franchise then for sure, I’d demand a 7-10yr no movement clause (which I believe the NHL does), including giving the municipality plenty of notice that its your intention to first seek a local buyer & failing that, the team will be relocating.
However, due to the unique & unusual circumstances swirling around this particular franchise, if in negotiations the City looks for a 7yr Itch Clause and lets say settles for a 5 or 6, the Arena Management Contract of fair market value with some attractive performance bonuses kicking in, combined with the increase in Revenue Sharing available now from the NHL with the recently settled CBA, I doubt very much if it’ll take much more than 24-36 months to realize significant & dramatic improvements to the bottom line.
If indeed the buyers intentions all along are to simply play it out & realize significant profit in selling or moving the franchise themselves to verdant pastures in Canada or the Pacific Northwest, possibly Houston or wherever, regardless of their successes in Glendale over the next 48+ months, they’ll have to notify Glendale & the NHL of course. After putting in all that time, energy & money, emotionally, financially committed long-term. However if they do decide to try that suit on, Im convinced that with modest gains which they surely will achieve, a new & local buyer will step in & force hands. Teams not going anywhere.
Steve
Ya. 17 years of incompetence & intransigence. A one sided Lease with Jerry Colangelo at the then AWA in an inappropriate facility after Messr’s Burke & Gluckstern were turned away in Minnesota. Steve Ellmans play in Scottsdale approved by the Electorate, rejected by the Elected. The team to some extent used as a pawn. Glendale stepping up to the plate honestly & enthusiastically.
Nothing wrong with the vision nor location. Ideal in many ways. UofP Stadium. Westgate. The Bidwell’s & Sportsmans Park. Commercial & residential building stats beyond promising. Then BAM, 04-05 NHL Lockout not a year after the arenas’ opened. Momentum lost. Sub prime mortgage & economic meltdown. Seasons of boredom & mediocrity on the ice. Moyes, in way over his head. Hostile relocation attempt.
Tell me Jetsy, when were they ever given a fair shake, a chance? Is that too much ask for? That the City of Glendale having gone all in, the league itself & past ownership having sunk tens of millions into it just walks? Dont even attempt to make it right, make it work? Do you not believe in the Power of Hockey? That it can succeed anywhere at any time? The past 17 years have been a Nightmare, absolutely. Relocation isnt the answer, finding creative solutions, making it work, giving it the chance its never had, now were talkin.
Ignore “Jetsy”…a relocated ‘Pegger living in Calgary (should be Denver, with his “proclivities”…the Bill Maher of The Great White North).
You’ll never get a Canuck to concede the obvious…
Not all of us Canucks’ Schumi. This one (yours truly) and countless tens of thousands more believe, support Glendales efforts, the NHL’s objectives. Unfortunately as in most cases of disagreement or dispute, the vocal minorities scream the loudest, in this case the senses of entitlement with xenophobic over-tones as disgusting to most right thinking Canadians as it is to most Americans & Arizonians as well. Imagine an NHL with kids being drafted out of places like Phoenix, Tucson, throughout the Southwest & South? Brilliant. Canadas’ pretty much maxed out in supplying talent, Northern Europe & Russia pretty much topped out. Simple matter of the NHL simply hanging on & in, working with the ownership & community groups. Building infrastructure rather than waiting for growth to naturally occur through osmosis. All good things for business now & for the future.
Jetsy has been relegated to the trash as will future posts of his. I welcome healthy yet polite and respectful discussion of the issues.
Thanks. That ones’ tone & comments not only disrespectful but adding nothing to discourse. One thing to contribute constructively, quite another to deliberately bait & ultimately switch, derailing dialogue with cheap shots from opening gambit. Moderate Joyce. Intelligence never shutout or down. Not a platform for stupidity, xenophobia, relocationists, drive-by’s. A whetstone to grind axes, sharpen blades, throw knives or bullets. Be cool about what you express posters…