Arizona Coyotes, Arizona State University in the Same Arena?

Could the Arizona Coyotes and the Arizona State University Sun Devils end up in the same hockey arena when it's all said and done. Sure, looks like it's very much still a possibility. The Sun Devils need a place to call home and the Coyotes aren't happy with their current home. Also, the Sun Devils current arena situation is "one" of the reasons why they don't have a conference to call home.

Mike Sunnucks, Biz Journal -- A potential arena venture involving the Arizona Coyotes hockey team and Arizona State University is still in the works.

That arena could be part of a larger development adjacent to ASU’s main campus in Tempe on the Karsten Golf Course off Rio Salado Parkway just east of Scottsdale/Rural Road.

The Coyotes are also looking at developing a potential new arena on the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community land next to Scottsdale.

That includes a site at McClintock and McKellips roads across from the Big Surf water park. That site was previously home to the Scottsdale 6 drive-in theaters.

The National Hockey League franchise could also be considering another Salt River site near the juncture of Loops 101 and 202. That reservation land is off McKellips Road east of the Loop 101.

But very knowledgeable sources tell the Phoenix Business Journal that a Coyotes arena venture with ASU at the Karsten course is still very much in the mix.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Derek Forbort vs Kyle Chipchura

First, I am shocked, I didn't expect this. Former North Dakota defenseman Derek Forbort is not known for his fighting prowess, nor should he quit his day job. That being said, Forbort did alright in his fight against the Coyotes knuckle dragging Nethaderal Kyle Chipchura.

Second, Forbort picked a fight with an NHL goon that has almost 50 NHL fights under his belt. In review, this was Forbort's first NHL fight and he held his own.

A Take on the Coyote Situation **UPDATED**

by Redwing77

Ok, what a debacle this is... and..well.. after reading a few articles here and there, it may seem like this situation is nothing more than a lose-lose-lose situation for every side.

If I read what was commonly available, if Glendale were to be fiscally responsible, then they shouldn't have gotten involved with the team and arena to begin with.

Over the last two years, the arena has lost MILLIONS in revenue, and projects to lose even more than last year by the end of the current fiscal year.

So, the City of Glendale is a loser in this deal.  The team is a loser in this deal because, despite a loyal fanbase, it doesn't make money in Glendale.  And the fans are losers because they are backing a dying horse as it rounds the final bend towards the finish line...an inexorable departure from Arizona.

This leaves me to another "hindsight is 20/20" declaration:  The team should never have left Winipeg.

Is it this cut and dry?  Simplified to be sure but essentially, yes.

The City Council and the Arena didn't plan well, didn't borrow well, and didn't negotiate well.  Arizona Coyotes organization is the primary tenant in the deal, so they're the primary culprit.  Alone, in 2013-2014, the Coyotes lost the city over $8 million.  Up through April alone, the city has lost over $6.3 million in revenue between the Coyotes and other events at the Arena.

So, in essence, it comes down to money.

My take as a result of this?

The Coyote franchise, like the Florida Panthers, are a dying franchise in a "large on paper" market.  In other words, what should be there in market share, isn't.

As an aside, I hope the NHL is paying attention to this as far as other new sites for teams is concerned because I think the very same thing could happen if they move a team to Seattle.

It's time to move.  I've never been a fan of expansion and I've come out in favor of contraction in the past.  My opinion is to still not expand, but to continue to relocate troubled franchises towards places that are either a safer investment (Hamilton, ON and Quebec City, Quebec) or places with a lot of infrastructure already in place to help it succeed (Las Vegas).

I feel REALLY bad for the season ticket holders of the Coyotes as they're the 'biggest losers' in the whole deal.  If the team stays, they'll have to bear a bigger brunt of the load, as tickets would have to increase to guarantee better revenue.  If the team goes, well... at least they'll have more disposable income.

My prediction:  The team moves to Las Vegas, the City of Glendale is further obliterated by bad press, and the entire City Council is voted out in the next election.

***UPDATE***

Today, a Judge granted an injunction filed by the Coyotes that prevents the Council from voiding the contract...at least temporarily.  Here are the details of what went down.

Phoenix Coyotes: Glendale City Council votes 5-2 to nullify the Gila River Arena lease agreement

The Phoenix Coyotes saga is really turning into a gong show. This is a huge Charlie foxtrot. Last night, the Glendale City Council voted to nullify the Gila River Arena lease agreement. Here's the release by from the Coyotes. At what point does the NHL pull the pin on the Coyotes and move the team to another city that might actually appreciate them? I just don't see an end to this mess.

GLENDALE -- The City Council of Glendale on Wednesday night voted, 5-2, to cancel its arena lease agreement with the Coyotes – a 15-year deal established in July of 2013.

After the vote, attorney Nicholas Wood said the team would file for injunctive relief and a temporary restraining order, and file a $200 million lawsuit against the City.

"What we have witnessed here tonight is possibly the most shameful exhibition of government I have ever witnessed," Coyotes Co-Owner, President and CEO Anthony LeBlanc said. "The citizens of Glendale should be very concerned about the government that they have leading them right now, because this was not appropriate… We have been absolutely wronged this evening by a group that is acting in incredibly bad faith."

He added: "Our view is the team will remain here, but the City is not acting in a business-friendly way and should be ashamed."

While the City Council meeting was taking place, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told Hockey Night in Canada viewers: "I'm not concerned about the Coyotes. If I lived in Glendale, I'd be concerned about my government." LeBlanc said he was pleased by the number of Coyotes fans who attended the meeting and especially pleased by those who took the time to vocally support the team during the portion of the meeting designated for public comments.

"One thing that was illustrated tonight is that we have fantastic fans,” LeBlanc said. “God love them for coming back to this council chamber after all the times they’ve been in here over the years."