Coyotes would stay in Glendale

Coyotes would stay in Glendale

by Dallas Johnson

Billionaire Jim Balsillie said that he would keep the Phoneix Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz. for at least one year if he were to buy the franchise, ESPN reported.

Balsillie revised his earlier offers to buy the team in a last-ditch counter to the NHL's bid to buy the team.

The NHL offered $140 million to buy the struggling franchise.  Balsillie, however, offered more than $240 million.

He also said that he would keep the Coyotes in Glendale for next season, instead of moving the team to Hamiltion, Ont.

However, Balsillie also said that he does plan on moving the team to Hamilton after the upcoming season, according to Sports Illustrated.

The pitch was seen as a ploy to sell tickets by the Coyotes current owner Jerry Moyes.

"It's been impossible to sell tickets because nobody knows if it's going to be here," Moyes said.

If the team deserves to be here, Moyes said, then this is the opportunity to get fans to the game.

If fans do not show up, and a decision is not made between the NHL and Balsillie, then the franchise might not survive.

"They're having trouble selling tickets," said Alan Meda, an attorney for the NHL.  "This team will not live.  It cannot afford to delay a decision."