Forbes Magazine says Coyotes should “get out of town”

Posted on November 2, 2008 by Scott Taylor| 6 Comments

I’ve been writing about it for years and, at times and I know it can get tedious, but now the American business press has finally caught up.

 

The Phoenix Coyotes are one of hockey’s greatest disasters and Commissioner Gary Bettman’s decision to move the Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix has turned out to be one of the worst decisions in the history of professional sport.

 

That’s not to say that, at the time, the Jets shouldn’t have moved. With no NHL arena and no political will to build one (thanks Gary Filmon and Susan Thompson), the Jets had to move elsewhere. There was no future in Winnipeg. It’s just that the future was not in Phoenix.

 

After 12 seasons in the desert, the Coyotes have lost more than $150 million and this past week, Forbes Magazine made it clear that hockey had no future in Arizona.

 

In a piece entitled “The Business of Hockey” Michael K. Ozanian and Kurt Badenhausen wrote: “And there are at least two teams that need new ownership and perhaps even to relocate. The biggest mess is the Phoenix Coyotes, who lost $9.7 million last season. Hardly anyone shows up for their games. The team was recapitalized two years ago when Jerry Moyes, the big money behind the franchise, took over the team and Steven Ellman got the nearby real estate that was supposed to be developed in a huge retail and residential success. Pipe dream.

 

“It is time for the Coyotes to get out of town. The same for the New York Islanders, who have a lucrative cable television deal but are being suffocated with an onerous lease at the NHL’s second-oldest arena.”

I will admit that all of those people who suggest that Winnipeg still does not have a suitable NHL arena, are probably right. But I will also say that because the best gate the Coyotes have all year is the exhibition game they play at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre in September, it’s now time the Phoenix Coyotes returned to their roots and became the Winnipeg Jets again.

Posted By: Scott Taylor on November 2, 2008.
*Views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of River City Sports.

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  • FootballFanatic

    Go Jets Go! Bring ‘em back!

  • Jim K

    As per Doug Maclean of Sportsnet – you need $90 million to break even on a NHL team – no corporate advertising in this spoke municpality WPG – with the Aspers in financial turmoil – ruin – Canwest going from $8 to a penny stock the Canwest backing is gone… gone…. gone…. Does Daryl Katz have a cousin in WPG with $200 – $400 million in his back pocket – don’t think so – seems that WPG’s politicians thought minor league instead of major league when building the EMPTY S Centre. Jerry Moyes has the coyotes as a boat anchor with a property development $190 million penalty if he leaves – driving to Glendale is possible for NFL games 8 times a year – but not 40 plus – the snowbirds in PHX don’t arrive until November and are gone in April – this means they are casual ticket buyers – not season ticket holders – how many rinks have been built by the coyotes – see Dallas Stars and the rinks they built to create a grass roots following – hockey in the desert – nope – maybe for “campers” that attend the Gretzky fantasy camp for $9999

    Go Moose Go Bombers – Minor League.

    Jim

  • Jim K

    Another example is that the town of WPG is minor league – is not supporting the Bombers in the post season in comparison to a 30 minute sell out at in Regina at Mosaic. Even with Stegal offerring a reward and guaranteeing???? a win – this raises in question whether the town of WPG deserves the semi pro sub tier CFL Bombers. If the Bombers lose will Milt finally retire – if the Bombers win will Milt finally retire. So even if the WPG politicians guarantee a zero loss to a private angel NHL investor – the opportunity for a profit seems to be as likely as a warm day in January at Portage and Main.

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  • John

    Jim, you’re a very negative Winnipegger.

    First of all, we deserve better than “minor league” hockey. Go Moose Go…away!

    Winnipeg may be a minor-league baseball town, but not hockey. How many guys in Winnipeg have “AHL Hockey Pools” eh? How many people follow the AHL? We’re an NHL city, plain and simple.

    And we don’t have to support the Bombers- freeze our butts off at that rusty, uncomfortable, concrete box (aka Canad Inns Stadium) to somehow “prove” we deserve an NHL franchise.

    Edmonton and Ottawa- 2 cities quite similar to Winnipeg- have NHL teams that are doing very well. I’m confident a Winnipeg NHL franchise would be a smashing success; we can flourish in the NHL.

    Or, you can go on believing Winnipeg is an inferior city.

    MTS Centre could have been much, much more impressive. I know. But there wasn’t much room to work with. But it’s NHL-calibre. That’s all that really matters.

  • http://www.jetsowner.com Alex Snell

    There are too many people in this city without hopes and dreams!

    There is NO reason an NHL Franchise could not work in Winnipeg & Be successful! Let’s not forget; the Jets left Winnipeg NOT because of fan support; but due to the city not being able to secure a new arena deal that would ensure enough capitol to maintain the club. At the time, M.E.C owned the Arena and took in most gate revenues; concessions, etc.

    Jump ahead to 2009;
    -We have the Arena that allows True North the ability to create the revenue needed
    -There are more than enough failing franchises in the south that can’t even draw an average of what the Jets did in their last “lame duck” year!
    -We have an “established group of owners” that have expressed interest and maintained a positive working relationship with the NHL.

    Winnipeg currently is a Minor-League town however; there’s no reason it shouldn’t be more than just that! Winnipeg in the past 12 years has gone through such major changes, has been an economic wonder that has put us on the Map with the other “big cities” within North America, and as of January 2009, shows NO signs of slowing down. We certainly have become a bustling hub of activity and soon, the NHL’s board of Governors will be knocking on our door asking us to take them in and Winnipeg will make DAMN sure we prove once again that not only can we support the NHL, we are the greatest NHL fans the league has!

    http://www.jetsowner.com
    http://www.manitobamythbusters.com