The city of Glendale has selected AEG Facilities "to operate Gila River Arena, likely hastening the city's split" with the Coyotes, according to Paul Giblin of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The next steps for city administrators are to "work out a contract with AEG executives to present to the City Council for approval," and to "determine whether there's a way to retain the Coyotes in the building that was built for the NHL team." The Coyotes "currently hold the contract to manage the arena." The club "had the option to submit a proposal to the city to continue to manage it," but it "opted not to participate." AEG and two other global management companies "submitted proposals." AEG execs and city officials "plan to meet with team owners in the coming weeks in an attempt to persuade them to stay." New Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps said, "We still think the story is far from written." Coyotes President & CEO Anthony LeBlanc said team execs have had "immensely positive" discussions with the cities of Phoenix, Tempe and Arizona State Univ. officials about the possibility of a new arena (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/4).
