CXL - UPDATE 12/9 - Coyotes settle bills after unpaid taxes come to light

[Boris Zubov]

No surprise comments from the commissiner



What else is he going to say?

Bettman on the Coyotes owing money: 'It's been taken care of'

More along the same as above but another quote from the commissiner

To quote

He added that when a franchise "that needs work" is taken over by new ownership, sometimes during the due diligence of the transition of running that team, "you uncover things." He said owner Alex Meruelo, whose ownership group bought the Coyotes in 2019, is "working through all of those."

I'm certain there's lots 'things' that were uncovered.

Get back to us in the spring Gary

We waited 24 hours for him to throw shade on Glendale? I mean of all the possible things for him to say, he has the gall to use the "Glendale has an agenda" card. OK, Gary, the state levied a Tax Lien on your problem child, but this is Glendale being petty. Riiiiiight.

At this point I expect there to be radio silence until the big announcement is made the day after the season ends.

 

[Boris Zubov]

I've never operated a hockey team that had a lease with a city before, but... "monthly tax returns" ???

Aren't those normally like, an annual thing on a yearly basis?

I know in some states businesses file quarterly. Can't speak for Arizona.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

We waited 24 hours for him to throw shade on Glendale? I mean of all the possible things for him to say, he has the gall to use the "Glendale has an agenda" card. OK, Gary, the state levied a Tax Lien on your problem child, but this is Glendale being petty. Riiiiiight.

At this point I expect there to be radio silence until the big announcement is made the day after the season ends.

I (seriously but not seriously) wonder if Bettman loves playing the heel at the draft so much that it's started to permeate his daily life. Like I can picture him pulling out a chair when his wife tries to sit down, or sneak up his kids with a garden hose, or demand that everyone boo when he enters a room, or something.

He gets paid handsomely to be the public face of the NHL Board of Governors, and he knows it.

 

[JimAnchower]

Coyotes tax lein. Looks to be paid monthly.

 

[Jetsfan79]

I wonder if Bettman is maneuvering for the Glendale situation and the bad press/negative media fallout as the "cause" of them being "forced" to relocate the team.

 

[Boris Zubov]

I (seriously but not seriously) wonder if Bettman loves playing the heel at the draft so much that it's started to permeate his daily life. Like I can picture him pulling out a chair when his wife tries to sit down, or sneak up his kids with a garden hose, or demand that everyone boo when he enters a room, or something.

He gets paid handsomely to be the public face of the NHL Board of Governors, and he knows it.

He either adamantly believes what he's saying or he's 1000% lying through his teeth, or both. There is no middle ground. He's a certified spin doctor. College professors should use him as case study in how to perfect the art of media manipulation.

I totally agree at this point he loves to be hated. When the booing first began raining down on him, you could tell he was really uncomfortable with it. Now he revels in it.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

He either adamantly believes what he's saying or he's 1000% lying through his teeth. There is no middle ground. He's a certified spin doctor. College professors should use him as case study in how to perfect the art of media manipulation.

He does an excellent job at expressing the views of the BOG in a way that keeps heat off them yet is consistent with their business strategy without (usually, anyway) leading to significant PR trouble.

I totally agree at this point he loves to be hated. When the booing first began raining down on him, you could tell he was really uncomfortable with it. Now he revels in it.

He has perfected the smug heel role. When he walks up to that podium and the boos rain down like a hurricane he's practically having an orgasm.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I wonder if Bettman is maneuvering for the Glendale situation and the bad press/negative media fallout as the "cause" of them being "forced" to relocate the team.

Oh without a doubt; if they relocate he's going to 110% pin it on Glendale, leaving out the fact that there is a shady at best record on every single side of this baby diaper of a situation.

 

[Boris Zubov]

Coyotes tax lein. Looks to be paid monthly.

Must drive Meruelo crazy, as a man who loves to chisel his outstanding debts down, that he had to pay penalties & interest in addition to the full amount owed.

 

[BnGBear1970]

I do think something can be parsed from Bettman’s statement. If he’s willing to be this antagonistic to Glendale, he’s just told everyone that the League is 100% done trying to keep Glendale viable. This realistically leaves two paths: Tempe is a go and they’re spending a bit at the AVMC, or it’s not and they’re on the way in with moving vans.

 

[Jetsfan79]

Noone Can really answer this question. But if Bettman was no longer the commissioner tomorrow (for whatever reason) would Daly/nhl leadership push this hard to keep Arizona? Is this a Bettman thing or an NHL thing?

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I do think something can be parsed from Bettman’s statement. If he’s willing to be this antagonistic to Glendale, he’s just told everyone that the League is 100% done trying to keep Glendale viable. This realistically leaves two paths: Tempe is a go and they’re spending a bit at the AVMC, or it’s not and they’re on the way in with moving vans.

Those do indeed appear to be the only two options:
1) Tempe is a go and they somehow can make some temporary arena semi-viable for a few years until Tempe is ready; OR
2) Tempe is a no go and the Arizona Coyotes will be relocated out of the state of Arizona as soon as the league can find an approved landing spot.

 

[Boris Zubov]

I do think something can be parsed from Bettman’s statement. If he’s willing to be this antagonistic to Glendale, he’s just told everyone that the League is 100% done trying to keep Glendale viable. This realistically leaves two paths: Tempe is a go and they’re spending a bit at the AVMC, or it’s not and they’re on the way in with moving vans.

If the AVMC is really an option, why have we heard nothing about it to this point? If they're truly committed to Phoenix long term, you would think they would have announced their interim arena plans by now, especially with Glendale reconsidering looking less likely by the minute. Time is not on their side here.

 

[cbcwpg]

Of course Glendale has an agenda...

They want to get paid in a timely manner by someone who continually owes them money, and when the team finally does stop playing in Glendale, the city isn't left fighting in court for the next decade trying to get their money.

"Glendale has an agenda" - says the man who blackmailed the CoG out of $50,000,000

 

[Boris Zubov]

Of course Glendale has an agenda...

They want to get paid in a timely manner by someone who continually owes them money, and when the team finally does stop playing in Glendale, the city isn't left fighting in court for the next decade trying to get their money.

"Glendale has an agenda" - says the man who blackmailed the CoG out of $50,000,000

I prefer the word extorted in this instance.

 

[Fenway]

 

[Devils 3silverones]

A quick question.
(And I have NO idea how to even find the NHL requirement)...

What does ANY prospective arena need to take an NHL team in? Let alone the visiting team, press, team staff, locker rooms/ training/physio, concessions, parking, etc. ?

Is this not a league required thing?

 

[Fenway]

If the AVMC is really an option, why have we heard nothing about it to this point? If they're truly committed to Phoenix long term, you would think they would have announced their interim arena plans by now, especially with Glendale reconsidering looking less likely by the minute. Time is not on their side here.

Chase Field has been mentioned but what happens if they make the playoffs?

 

[cbcwpg]

Coyotes not a threat to relocate from Arizona, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says (espn.com)

 

[JimAnchower]

Oh without a doubt; if they relocate he's going to 110% pin it on Glendale, leaving out the fact that there is a shady at best record on every single side of this baby diaper of a situation.

But it looks like Glendale is trying to get out ahead if this it it goes down this route by exposing the fact the Coyotes have been late to pay taxes, rent, and other expenses. They also seem to have Katie Strang as a national reporter who will report their side.

 

[JimAnchower]

Chase Field has been mentioned but what happens if they make the playoffs?

Playoffs for either Coyotes or Diamondbacks. For this to work, you'd have to schedule all Coyotes regular season home games between mid-November to mid-March. And Chase Field is hosting a bowl game later this month. As well as any other events, like concerts, monster truck pulls, motocross, etc.

 

[cbcwpg]

A quick question.
(And I have NO idea how to even find the NHL requirement)...

What does ANY prospective arena need to take an NHL team in? Let alone the visiting team, press, team staff, locker rooms/ training/physio, concessions, parking, etc. ?

Is this not a league required thing?

I can't remember all the details, but when the Thrashers were being talked about being relocated to Winnipeg, TNSE did a bunch of upgrades to the building as per the NHL requirements. This was one of the things that led people to speculate on Winnipeg getting a team because there was no way to hide the renovation work being done, and it was not a requirement to stay in the AHL. The MTS Centre was already close to spec so the majority of the upgrades had to do with TV angles / lighting / pressbox capacity etc... that kind of stuff. But the NHL does have a list of items that have to be met.

 

[Slashers98]

Coyotes not a threat to relocate from Arizona, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says (espn.com)

Haha Bettman is in full fire-suppression mode. It doesn't smell good at all for the future of the Coyotes in Arizona.

 

[aqib]

I've never operated a hockey team that had a lease with a city before, but... "monthly tax returns" ???

Aren't those normally like, an annual thing on a yearly basis?

You file a return once a year but you have to remit taxes on a more regular basis. Like sales taxes for example you don't wait until the end of the year to send those. The deadlines vary though

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Haha Bettman is in full fire-suppression mode. It doesn't smell good at all for the future of the Coyotes in Arizona.

If Tempe goes through, none of this matters. No one on this board has control over that. Will it go through? I have no idea.