Arizona Coyotes Rumor: Glendale Lease In Jeopardy

Arizona Coyotes Now Face Their Lease Being Cancelled By The City Of Glendale

Okay, just when we all thought the rumors and innuendo were over — it continues like an episode of “Atlanta Housewives.” After NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman gave his resounding vote of confidence that the Arizona Coyotes and Florida Panthers are not going anywhere. Then, you get the City of Glendale acting out about the lease agreement THEY signed and agreed to the terms in the contract.

In a story posted by Peter Corbett of azcentral.com:

The agenda posted for the meeting cites a state statute that allows government entities to end a contract within three years of being signed if a person involved in negotiating the contract for the city is, in effect, an employee or agent of the other party to the contract.

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In a statement, Coyotes President LeBlanc responded by saying:

“This action by the city of Glendale is completely ludicrous, especially in light of the fact that myself and (majority owner) Andrew Barroway visited with the city (Monday) and the particulars of this were never raised.”

The city asked if the Coyotes would be willing to renegotiate the contract. “But that’s not going to happen,” LeBlanc said.

The meeting agenda did not cite a specific incident in which the state statute on contracts would apply, but it may relate to a years-old controversy.

In November 2013, then-Councilman Phil Lieberman filed an ethics complaint with the State Bar of Arizona regarding Craig Tindall, a former Glendale attorney. Lieberman alleged that Tindall went to work for the Coyotes in 2013 while still being paid a severance by Glendale.

The latest happenings may not shock you, since the City of Glendale has been very critical of the lease it signed for a 15 year lease of Gila River Arena in Glendale. The Glendale City Council will discuss the possibility of ending the arena contract at a special meeting today (Wednesday).

The Glendale mayor, Jerry Weiers could not elaborate to the city’s actions since it had been discussed in an executive session, baring him from any comment. It’s no secret that the mayor was against the lease agreement from the time he was elected.

Coyotes attorney Nick Wood blasted the city’s move.

“This is a blatant attempt to renege on a valid contract that was negotiated fairly and in good faith and in compliance with all laws and procedures. In the event the City Council initiates any action to revoke, repeal or otherwise rescind the agreement, the Coyotes will immediately take all actions available to them under the law against the city of Glendale,” he said.

How does all this affect the average Arizona Coyotes fan? Here’s a sample of a comment made on the azcentral.com story:

if glendale kills the coyotes, i would not mind at all seeing that city go bankrupt and watch everyone move away so it can turn back into the tiny little speck on the map that no one knew or cared about until the coyotes came along and helped to put the city on the map. the glendale city council is like the little child who begs and begs for a puppy (when they offered to have the arena built in glendale), only to completely ignore it and make the parents take care of it because they were afraid of the responsibility that came with it and suddenly got bored with it. what a joke of a city government. (though to be fair, some of the city council have always been on the coyotes side). isn’t it ironic though that there hasn’t been any issues with the new spring training facilities in glendale, or the cardinals stadium? methinks some on the glendale city council are being bribed by people in seattle/quebec.

If the City of Glendale wants a fight, it looks like the Arizona Coyotes will drop the gloves on this one; protecting the signed contract for the lease, and it’s 15 year term. And, as they say in most soap operas — tune in next time for all the drama.

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