Coyotes Complete Payment, Won't Be Locked Out of Arena
The Arizona Coyotes will have a place to play for the remainder of the season.
That such a routine fact has to be established is quite troubling, but it's also pretty much on par with the Coyotes' financial list of struggles since they became an NHL franchise in 1996.
According to PHNX Sports' Craig Morgan, the Coyotes fulfilled a payment of $930,000 on Monday morning to the city of Glendale that will prevent them from being locked out of Gila River Arena.
On Dec. 8, Glendale City Manager, Kevin Phelps sent a letter to the Coyotes regarding the team's outstanding balance of $1.3 million in arena expenses, including over $250,000 in unpaid municipal taxes, that informed them that they will be locked out of their arena if they did not pay what they owed by Dec. 20.
The Coyotes appear to have fulfilled their obligation just in the nick of time, ensuring that team staff will not be barred from their workplace due to their employer's refusal to pay what they owe.
Next season brings a different challenge for the beleaguered Coyotes, however, as the city of Glendale has already informed them that they will be canceling their joint business lease for Gila River Arena with the intent of using the building for purposes other than hockey. That means that the Coyotes will once again be in need of a new home rink to call home, with rumors of a potential development in Tempe, Arizona bubbling under the surface for quite some time.
Needless to say, there's never a dull moment in the desert.
