Coyotes, NHL deny report that team is moving to Las Vegas
New York Post reports club being sold to billionaire Foley
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Arizona Coyotes co-owner Anthony LeBlanc vehemently denied a story published Tuesday by the New York Post that reported the team was being sold and moved to Las Vegas.
Citing two unidentified sources, the Post reported that the NHL is arranging for the team to be sold to billionaire William Foley, who will move the team to Las Vegas for the 2016-17 season.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called the report "completely untrue" and "garbage."
Gary Bettman: "The Post was told the story was completely untrue. They ran it anyway. The story is garbage. Team is staying put."
—@craigsmorganLeBlanc called the report "100 per cent false."
Coyotes prez, CEO & co-owner Anthony LeBlanc: "The article in the Post is 100% false. No truth to it whatsoever." <a href="https://t.co/cuXtOHR7p2">https://t.co/cuXtOHR7p2</a>
—@craigsmorganMore from Anthony LeBlanc on NY Post story: "I'm not an unidentified source, I'm a principal, so I think I should know."
—@craigsmorganThe Coyotes were granted a temporary restraining order in their efforts to prevent the dissolution of their lease agreement with the city of Glendale, where they play their home games, after Glendale city council voted to end the deal.
The Coyotes signed a 15-year, $225 million US lease agreement with the city of Glendale in 2013, just a few months after the IceArizona ownership group bought the team from the NHL. Philadelphia hedge fund manager Andrew Barroway purchased a 51 per cent stake in the team last year, strengthening it financially.
Las Vegas is one of the cities in the running to land an NHL expansion franchise after the league announced last week that it will entertain proposals.
Formal applications for new franchises will begin July 6, with the process closing on Aug. 10.
Foley, a businessman Forbes reports to be worth $600 million, started a ticket drive earlier this year and signed up more than 11,000 potential season-ticket buyers.
A $350-million, 20,000-seat arena is under construction on the Las Vegas Strip and is slated to open next year.
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