A presentation last night by prospective Coyotes owner Renaissance Sports & Entertainment to keep the team in Glendale generated a "mostly lackluster response" from the Glendale City Council, according to Paul Giblin of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. One council member that left the briefing early said that RSE was getting "preferential treatment by her colleagues." Some council members after the meeting said that additional negotiations "will be needed before the council will be ready to vote on the matter." A delay could "complicate matters." NHL execs said that they had "hoped the council members would vote, or at least give a strong indication of their preference, before a scheduled" NHL BOG meeting on June 27. But a decision by the council "before that date seemed remote" yesterday. The issue before the council "focuses on a management agreement for Jobing.com Arena." Council member Gary Sherwood "declined to discuss specific points, but said he’s optimistic that a deal can be reached." He said that there is one "major sticking component to the proposal, but it probably can be addressed." The seven council members were "expected to consider competitive management offers from two non-hockey companies" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/19).
CITY DON'T SLEEP: Former NHLer Jeremy Roenick has been linked to a front-office position with the Coyotes should the team move to Seattle, and in Tacoma, John McGrath called it a "curious" possibility. Roenick has long "championed the NHL’s viability in the sunniest of sun-belt markets." McGrath: "Outspoken, edgy, candid, insightful, Roenick’s personality, even in retirement, inspires enough adjectives to fill a thesaurus. ... Fasten your seatbelts, folks. We might be in for the ride of a lifetime" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 6/17). But in Seattle, Jerry Brewer writes the city is back to being "leverage" for a pro sports league. Brewer: "We’re the threat of all threats, a city with the juice to get the attention of any struggling franchise in any indifferent city. If this keeps up, our new nickname will be Leverage City." It is "important to realize that ... Seattle has made an impression that eventually should result in luring the NBA and NHL" (SEATTLE TIMES, 6/19).
TRES MAGNIFIQUE: Hockey HOFer Wayne Gretzky said he thinks it just is a "matter of time before Quebec City is going to get a franchise." Gretzky: "We all agree it's a good city and it can support an NHL team, especially now with the salary cap rules and the parity we have in the game of hockey. ... It's going to be a strong, solid franchise just like Winnipeg is now and it will be as successful as they are" (CP, 6/18).
