Glendale fighting hard to keep Coyotes, records show

Sporting News staff reports Public records show the city of Glendale has spent $2.1 million on outside consultants to keep the Phoenix Coyotes from relocating to another city. Over the past year, Glendale used the money on two legal firms, three sports-business experts and a media spokesman while trying to protect the city's investment in Jobing.com Arena. The city felt compelled to act when the Coyotes filed for bankruptcy in May and potential buyer Jim Balsillie made it clear he wanted to move the team to Canada. The city depends on the sales taxes from shops and restaurants in the district, plus fees the team shells out to play at the arena, to pay off the $180 million that Glendale spent on the facility.