The NHL is "close to putting the finishing touches on a sale" of the Coyotes to a group led by former Sharks President & CEO Greg Jamison, according to Mike Sunnucks of the PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL. The sale, which "would keep the team playing in the Phoenix market," still has to go through "final approvals and due diligence as well as through the city of Glendale." The NHL is "trying to keep the sale price at $170 million in part to help the value of other franchises." The deal "could include some rebates and a fund to help cover the team's financial losses." If an agreement cannot be reached with the Jamison group, the NHL "could look to sell the Coyotes to another ownership group" led by Bulls and White Sox Chair Jerry Reinsdorf and Phoenix attorney John Kaites (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/21).
TICKET PROGRAMS: The PHOENIX BUSINESS JORUNAL's Sunnucks reports the Coyotes are “introducing one new ticket program and expanding another, both aimed at boosting attendance.” The existing program, which “provides cash grants to nonprofits that sell the most Coyotes tickets as part of their own fundraising, is expanding its reach to include more organizations.” The new effort involves the team “encouraging fans, businesses and sponsors to donate money toward game tickets for police officers, firefighters, teachers, medical professionals, military personnel and good samaritans.” Coyotes President & COO Mike Nealy said that the goal of the latter program, dubbed “Hard Way Heroes,” is “to raise enough money to send 17,125 do-gooders, first responders and military to games this season -- the equivalent of a sellout crowd at their home ice, Jobing.com Arena.” So far, the team “has distributed 10,000 tickets in its Heroes effort.” Nealy said that team sponsors such as Fry’s Food Stores, Desert Schools Federal Credit Union, TriWest Healthcare and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center “have donated $10,000 toward the Heroes program.” The Coyotes “rank last among the NHL’s 30 teams in terms of attendance” (PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/17 issue).
