Three venue-management companies "want to succeed" the Coyotes as the corporate entity "responsible for running Gila River Arena in Glendale," according to Paul Giblin of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The city yesterday released the names of the companies "in response to a public-records request," and AEG, Spectra and SMG are the bidders. The three companies submitted their bids to Massachusetts-based Beacon Sports Capital Partners, "which is serving as a consultant to evaluate the proposals for Glendale officials." Company reps are "scheduled to make presentations to city officials Jan. 14 and 15." The presentations "will be made to city staff in a session scheduled to be closed to the public." Glendale spokesperson Jeanine L'Ecuyer said that the city council is "expected to select a new manager Feb. 8, with the new company expected to take over the arena's operations July 1." Giblin notes the Coyotes "did not submit a bid to run the arena." The team's decision to sit out the bidding process "underscores the widening rift" between the Coyotes and the city council. Spectra, owned by Comcast-Spectator, "currently manages Gila River Arena" for the Coyotes (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/30).
