CBC-Sports

Investors promise money for hockey in the desert

December 16, 2009 12:36 PM | Posted by   Scott Morrison  

So the Phoenix Coyotes finally found their way to southern Ontario after all ... alas only for a couple of days for a game with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

If all goes according to plan, of course, the Coyotes will remain in Phoenix for the foreseeable future, which in itself is an intriguing twist to the saga, that there are actually people with money who believe hockey can survive in the desert and have the financial wherewithal and willingness to honour a 26-year lease to prove it.

Go figure.

All of that, however, depends on the group Ice Edge Holdings receiving approval from the NHL to purchase the team for $140 million US, the exact amount the league paid to buy the club out of bankruptcy and prevent them from being moved to Hamilton in the first place.

Now, whether Ice Edge actually has the resources to purchase the club, then sustain the inevitable losses, even if the NHL grants a full revenue share of at least $10 million this year, is for the league to determine through its due diligence.

Saskatoon games receiving mixed reviews

What also has to be determined is whether, as part of the purchase agreement, which the league hopes to have in place within the next 30 days, they will allow the Coyotes to play five “home” games in Saskatoon.

“I think they are solely focused on Saskatoon,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday at the NHL Board of Governors meetings in Pebble Beach, Calif. “We’re going to have to decide if that is in fact part of the package. Everything is ultimately subject to board approval.”

Discussions about the fate of the Coyotes continued Wednesday on the second and final day of the meetings.

The idea of playing those games in Saskatoon has received mixed reviews, as you would expect. There are no doubt American teams with no interest in making the trek to Saskatchewan. There are other teams that reportedly have concerns about adversely affecting junior hockey in the province.

And, of course, some are wondering what exactly is accomplished by taking away games from the Phoenix marketplace at a time when you are trying to build it up.

The reason stated is to generate revenue and the Ice Edge folks clearly believe they can make more money playing five-games in an 11,000-seat arena in Saskatoon than they can in Phoenix. For now. They have also made it clear that Saskatoon is not a viable NHL market and that the games would strictly be potential revenue generators, not a precursor to a move.

It’s all quite curious, but there is a way it could work. If this really is about generating money, then allow them to play the five games in Saskatoon but play them against Canadian teams, which would almost certainly guarantee sellouts. Canadian teams won’t fill the seats in Phoenix, but they will in Saskatoon.

It solves the problem for American teams not wanting to venture north, it should generate the revenues the Coyotes need, and it brings the NHL to the prairies even if only on a limited basis.

What is the downside? To the city of Glendale they lose five dates in their rink, but it might be an investment in the future. Okay, so Saskatoon might not have marquis headline value for the NHL, but who cares if they fill a building and make some money.

And maybe there is a stipulation to the deal, that the Coyotes are only allowed to play the off-site games for the first couple of seasons under the new ownership group. Of course, by then we will all know whether they can survive in Phoenix.

Winter Classic doubleheader?

Against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, the NHL board talked Wednesday about the possibility of playing a second outdoor Winter Classic game next season.

And if it happens then it will be in Canada and likely part of CBC’s Hockey Day in Canada.

“We will look at a second Winter Classic between two Canadian teams again next year,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters.

It’s more than likely the game will be played at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium, which had previously been rumoured to be on a short list for consideration. It’s believed the game would be between the Flames and Vancouver Canucks.

There has been talk about possibly playing a doubleheader on Jan. 1, with a game on each side of the border, but that won’t happen any time soon because the NHL only has one travelling ice plant.

This year’s Winter Classic on Jan. 1 in Boston will feature the Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers.

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