Brand New Day? Moyes Looking To Sell NLL Sting, Focus On Coyotes

Coyotes Owner Jerry Moyes is offering to sell the NLL Arizona Sting for a reported $5M “to focus his attention on improving the [Coyotes], which lost $30[M] last year and finished in last place” in the NHL Pacific Division for the third year in a row, according to Chris Casacchia of the BUSINESS JOURNAL OF PHOENIX. NLL officials said that the price is “on par with the cost of an expansion franchise.” However, it “may be a tough sell," considering the "competitive sports market" in Phoenix and the fact the Sting will not play during the '08 season. After the NLL briefly canceled its season last month, the club was given the option to sit out the year “if officials felt there was not enough time to secure marketing and sponsorship deals or to finalize operational details.” The NLL and PLPA reached a new CBA on October 25, but Sting Governor and Coyotes President & COO Doug Moss said the club canceled its season because team officials “felt it was going to be impossible to be successful in any shape or form.” NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings said the league “would like for the next ownership group of the franchise to keep the team in Arizona” (BUSINESS JOURNAL OF PHOENIX, 11/23 issue).