Arizona Coyotes Vs. Glendale: Time To Relocate

The city of Glendale is taking aim on the Arizona Coyotes. It seems this franchise just cannot set roots in Arizona. They have had to undergo several changes and now their home city is looking at “possible action to direct the city manager and city attorney to cancel the professional management services and lease agreement” between the city and the Coyotes.” It is becoming clear that the Arizona Coyotes while experiencing a hockey boom in Arizona may be once again on the NHL relocation list.

"Attendance and Points from 2011-2015 (Attendance numbers via ESPN)2011-2012: Average attendance 30th, 12,420 (97 points, 11th overall)2012-2013: Average attendance 29th, 13,923 (51 points, 19th overall)2013-2014: Average attendance 30th, 13,775 (85 points, 18th overall)2014-2015: Average attendance 28th, 13,345 (47 points, 28th overall)"

It’s not the Coyotes fault really; it’s in big part due to the location of the Gila River Arena. It sits about an hour from Phoenix; making a trip to an Arizona Coyotes game into a

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five hour event. Doing that 41 times a year sometime two or three times a week would drive anyone nuts. This is not the NFL who has a short eight game home schedule and tailgating as part of the event.

"We have been advised by the Coyotes that the City of Glendale’s contentions are without merit and we fully expect the Coyotes to continue to play at the Gila River Arena and for the City to continue to honor its obligations to the Coyotes. After everything that has transpired, it is extremely disappointing that the City of Glendale would do anything that might damage the Club. [NHL/PHT]"

For whatever the reason is the NHL has been unable to create a secure franchise in Arizona, and with the rumors about NHL expansion or relocation always creeping into the news we could be watching the first domino fall. It’s sad for hockey fans that call the Arizona Coyotes their teams, and yes while I have said they need to do more it’s not right for a city to turn its back on the home town team.

There will most likely be a lengthy legal battle if the Glendale does vote to end their contract with the Arizona Coyotes. There is a report by Fox Sports’ Craig Morgan that the city is looking at one section of the agreement as means for termination. “The state, its political subdivisions or any department or agency of either may, within three years after its execution, cancel any contract, without penalty or further obligation, made by the state, its political subdivisions, or any of the departments or agencies of either if any person significantly involved in initiating, negotiating, securing, drafting or creating the contract on behalf of the state, its political subdivisions or any of the departments or agencies of either is, at any time while the contract or any extension of the contract is in effect, an employee or agent of any other party to the contract in any capacity or a consultant to any other party of the contract with respect to the subject matter of the contract.”

It sounds to me like the Glendale is looking to get out of the NHL business, and they are attempting to exploit a loophole. Even with Las Vegas building a new arena relocation the Coyotes may not be the best answer. But, at this point if I was owner the Arizona Coyotes I’d be looking to at least get out of Glendale if not leave Arizona behind in hopes of a fresh start. When it becomes city vs. a team the relationship is hard to save.

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