A long-awaited proposal by the prospective owners of the Phoenix Coyotes intended to keep the team in Arizona generated a mostly lackluster response by the Glendale City Council on Tuesday evening. One council member left the closed-door briefing early, saying prospective Coyotes owner Renaissance Sports & Entertainment was getting preferential treatment by her colleagues. “I couldn’t take it anymore,” Councilwoman Norma Alvarez said as she made an early departure from the executive session. “I’m sorry, but I’m not for the Coyotes,” said Alvarez, who is a longtime opponent of public spending for professional sports.
After the meeting ended, some council members said additional negotiations will be needed before the council will be ready to vote on the matter. A delay could complicate matters. NHL executives said they had hoped the council members would vote, or at least give a strong indication of their preference, before a scheduled NHL Board of Governors meeting on June 27. But a decision by the council before that date seemed remote on Tuesday.
The issue before the council focuses on a management agreement for Jobing.com Arena, a city-owned facility where the Coyotes have played since 2003. Renaissance has reached an agreement to buy the league-owned franchise from the NHL, but that agreement is contingent upon Renaissance reaching an arena-use agreement with Glendale. City officials have budgeted $6 million a year for an outside firm to manage the hockey and concert venue. Renaissance executives would like to secure the management rights, but the terms they’ve offered are complex, city spokeswoman Julie Watters said. Neither city officials nor Renaissance executives have released the terms that are being discussed.
Before the meeting, Councilman Gary Sherwood said he anticipated Renaissance would ask for far more than $6 million a year, but that Renaissance would be willing to share some revenue with the city. Afterward, Sherwood declined to discuss specific points, but said he’s optimistic that a deal can be reached. There’s one major sticking component to the proposal, but it probably can be addressed, he said. Renaissance executives, who did not attend the meeting, could not be reached for comment.
In addition, the seven council members were expected to consider competitive management offers from two non-hockey companies. After hours of meetings in private, Councilman Manny Martinez said, “We had long discussions as you can see, because we’re just now getting out, but we just don’t have the right decision yet.”
Martinez said the council will likely not vote on the matter during its next scheduled voting meeting on Tuesday. All the council members have questions about the proposal, he said.
Mayor Jerry Weiers said, “There’s been no decision made by the council, so right now, that’s all I can tell you.”
Acting City Attorney Nicholas DiPiazza said city staff members will continue to negotiate with Renaissance. “This is still a very fluid situation,” he said. “I think an agreement can be reached very shortly or perhaps not.”
Renaissance is headed by Canadian financier George Gosbee and Canadian venture capitalist Anthony LeBlanc.
After the meeting ended, some council members said additional negotiations will be needed before the council will be ready to vote on the matter. A delay could complicate matters. NHL executives said they had hoped the council members would vote, or at least give a strong indication of their preference, before a scheduled NHL Board of Governors meeting on June 27. But a decision by the council before that date seemed remote on Tuesday.
The issue before the council focuses on a management agreement for Jobing.com Arena, a city-owned facility where the Coyotes have played since 2003. Renaissance has reached an agreement to buy the league-owned franchise from the NHL, but that agreement is contingent upon Renaissance reaching an arena-use agreement with Glendale. City officials have budgeted $6 million a year for an outside firm to manage the hockey and concert venue. Renaissance executives would like to secure the management rights, but the terms they’ve offered are complex, city spokeswoman Julie Watters said. Neither city officials nor Renaissance executives have released the terms that are being discussed.
Before the meeting, Councilman Gary Sherwood said he anticipated Renaissance would ask for far more than $6 million a year, but that Renaissance would be willing to share some revenue with the city. Afterward, Sherwood declined to discuss specific points, but said he’s optimistic that a deal can be reached. There’s one major sticking component to the proposal, but it probably can be addressed, he said. Renaissance executives, who did not attend the meeting, could not be reached for comment.
In addition, the seven council members were expected to consider competitive management offers from two non-hockey companies. After hours of meetings in private, Councilman Manny Martinez said, “We had long discussions as you can see, because we’re just now getting out, but we just don’t have the right decision yet.”
Martinez said the council will likely not vote on the matter during its next scheduled voting meeting on Tuesday. All the council members have questions about the proposal, he said.
Mayor Jerry Weiers said, “There’s been no decision made by the council, so right now, that’s all I can tell you.”
Acting City Attorney Nicholas DiPiazza said city staff members will continue to negotiate with Renaissance. “This is still a very fluid situation,” he said. “I think an agreement can be reached very shortly or perhaps not.”
Renaissance is headed by Canadian financier George Gosbee and Canadian venture capitalist Anthony LeBlanc.
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