I am not sure that I agree with the notion that the Coyotes are worth $500 million. While at this time the expansion franchise for Vegas went for that price, It doesn't necessarily follow that Arizona is worth the same. Each market is different and holds different value. The Leafs and Rangers for example are worth way more than that. The price is more what the market will bare than some arbitrary value. The NHL itself placed a value of the Coyotes at just over $300 million when BorrowAway bought in. That was with a lease subsidy of $15 million per year. That subsidy is gone now. The damage to the Coyote brand has been substantial since then and it can easily be argued that the team is worth less than the $300 million. Especially when the way the team was "purchased " was suspicious.
I would agree with this, and I would also add that I am so pleased that the events on the ground (LeBlanc reference to piles of dirt...
) are tightening the screws on the options available. So, here we go....
NHL would like to believe that any team is worth 500M, so if they consider a sale for relocation, their starting price is likely 500M.
However, as you said, the value of the Coyotes, assuming the bill fails, in the Phoenix market is basically 0, because they lose money, and they have lots of debt, and there does not seem to be a change of situation coming that affords a change in those things.
Now, consider the calculus....What are the options?
1-Remain in market and lose money. At some point, IA runs bankrupt. True, at that point the NHL itself might bankroll the losses. But that doesn't seem a good option for them.
2- Remain in market for one more year, considering the possibility that next year they might have a more favorable legislature, or that the situation in another market might change. Legislature changing its mind is highly unlikely, and the Yotes have no leverage, really. There is not a large bit of love there that would be necessary to keep them in the market. One year of losses might be palatable if it changes the Seattle situation. However, no one knows what will happen there. Reading the tea leaves, my guess is that SCC chooses to remodel Key, and NBA, not NHL will be the feature. But, that's just my guess. This also is not an appealing option.
3- Move to Portland. Allen won't pay 500M, that's for sure. 200M if you are lucky. And, he is going to charge a pretty penny if IA keeps ownership.
4- Move to Seattle immediately. Bad choice. No certainty on an arena, and no market preparation done. Would IA retain ownership? If so, more losses.
5- As above, wait a year and move to Seattle then. If you knew that Hansen's project would come online, this might be ok, assuming you could get a decent lease with him. That would require a large contribution to the new arena, I am sure. And, you take your debt with you. If you sell to someone (Coleman) in a year, part of the sale price pays next year's losses, which are going to be huge in Glendale, and even then, how much is Coleman actually going to pay? Given that, at best, he is going to share an arena with an NBA team, and likely in short order. And, given that, in such a case, he won't prosper on the Arena Management. And, given that it would be a private arena in SODO, it's hard to imagine anyone paying 500M just for the team.
5a- However, if SCC does not approve the street vacation, choosing instead to remodel Key, then this doesn't work, because you have no place to play while the renovations happen. And, perhaps, SCC's definition of NHL-ready is different from Coleman's. In that case, it's a fool's errand at best. And, no one would pay 500M to move there.
6- Finally, for the BOG, Hell's choice, sell for relocation to Quebec City. This is the sale that likely garners the biggest price. Neither Portland nor Seattle are likely to prosper as much with a team as QC, for lease reasons in the case of Seattle, and market reasons in the case of Portland. But, no one wants to see a Western team move east.
So, no good options. I love this.... Poor IA. Poor Bettman. Poor BOG...