The proposal is expected to pass -- one source told ESPN.com Friday it would be a "no-brainer" for the city -- and could take some of the pressure off of the municipality to sell more than $100 million in bonds that are crucial to closing a deal with Chicago businessman Matthew Hulsizer.
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Brad Goldberg, vice chairman of Arizona Hockey Holdings, the group led by Hulsizer, told ESPN.com Friday that Hulsizer is committed to a deal in Phoenix.
He also denied reports Hulsizer was interested in purchasing the
St. Louis Blues.
Ice Edge Holdings announced Saturday that it is withdrawing from the Hulsizer bid to buy the Coyotes, a source told ESPN.com. This development likely will not have an effect on Hulsizer's interest in the team because Ice Edge represented only a small percentage of the deal.
The Ice Edge group was not interested in another year of potential uncertainty surrounding the sale of the team, the source said.
What remains unclear is whether the municipality's agreement to cover losses again next season will persuade the NHL to give Glendale additional time to get a deal done with Hulsizer -- or someone else -- or whether the league will exercise its right and begin relocation of the team to Winnipeg for the start of the 2011-12 season.