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May 25, 2009

Coyotes enter mediation, final ruling due by June 22

My apologies for not reporting this at the time: Last Tuesday, bankruptcy court judge Redfield Baum ordered Phoenix Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes and also-Phoenix Coyotes owner the National Hockey League to enter mediation to determine who is the real Rosa Parks. If they can't settle matters by this Wednesday, Judge Baum will make a ruling by June 22.

The Canwest News Service, meanwhile, is speculating that a verdict ruling that the Coyotes can be sold and moved without league approval would wreak havoc on team stability, with teams moving left and right. Among the learned folk chiming in as part of the article:

"You could, maybe, see two baseball teams in Boston, for instance, and that could be destructive,'' says Michael McCann, an associate law professor at the University of Vermont. "It would also allow owners to hold teams up for ransom in their local markets. Teams would ask for concessions and if they don't get them, say 'We could be out of here.' Particularly given all the economic troubles in North America right now, that's a major issue."

Two thoughts on this: One, it would be really hard to fit two baseball teams in Boston given that the city has only one stadium, and the Red Sox own it. (Likewise eight hockey teams in New York, another suggestion in the article.) And two: "Teams would ask for concessions and if they don't get them, say 'We could be out of here.'" How is this any different from today?

COMMENTS

are the coyotes a baseball team?

Posted by brian on May 25, 2009 11:29 AM

"Teams would ask for concessions and if they don't get them, say 'We could be out of here.'"
--Ken Warren.


This guy's a hack. He makes this statement, without any sense of irony, while discussing the potential movement of a team from Phoenix formally known as the Winnipeg Jets.

Even more bizarre is that he actually mentions the Winnipeg Jets in his opening paragraph -- but only as part of a litany of fictious, futuristic and apparently outrageous and egregious team possibilities (along with the "New York Thrashers" and the "Portland Panthers").


Hello... Note to Mr.Warren: the Jets actually existed once upon a time. And despite being well supported in Winnipeg the team was moved to desert -- where, apparently, no one really cares about hockey for some reason. The Jets were, of course, moved under the system this idiot is attempting to defend.

Posted by Sean on May 25, 2009 11:46 PM

are the coyotes a baseball team?

Posted by brian on May 25, 2009 11:29 AM


This is why this team is in bankruptcy

Posted by Sean L on May 26, 2009 01:05 PM

I'll address first off why the big league care about this case, really: they don't give a damn about the lease breaking part, it's the "territorial integrity" i.e. "local monopoly" thing that's got 'em worried. But given that Balsilly - er, Balsillie - actually deigned to apply for permission to relocate if the sale goes through, and is giving 'em til month's end or the deal's off, AND Judge Baum seems bound and determined to keep his hands off (up for reelection, are we?) this apparently looks unlikely.
I have a lot more to say about this Series of Unfortunately Stupid Events, but in a nutshell:
1. Jets move because Manitoba can't deliver arena with luxe seating 2. Burke wanted Minnesota but couldn't get suitably deferential arena plan 3. Burke goes to PHX 'cause of all the northern retirees lving there 4. He forgets to check to see if America West Arena any good for hockey (it isn't) 5. He and later Ellman and Moyes try to con Scottsdale into new arena, 6. When Scottsdale balks ever so slightly, Glendale offers large plot, 7. $220 million later, unneccesary new arena in bad location for crap team no one wants to see 8. Moyes goes bankrupt trying to make stupid idea viable and 9. NHL craps itself trying to keep its pwecious wittow tewwitowial integwity intact (awww!)

Really, does it get any stupider?

Posted by Marty on May 28, 2009 12:29 AM

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