Soon, this East Valley Resident is headed to the West Side to catch his first hockey game of the season, but before I go, I have semi-random thoughts to share:
First, it’s becoming clearer that the Phoenix Coyotes are going to get a new owner. That’s great news to the relatively small but loyal legion of fans down here in the valley. But what about ticket sales, what about empty stadiums, what about who’s the best fan ever, what about…
The details are just those – details, but the larger picture is simply, if Glendale didn’t acquiesce, the Coyotes would have been gone. And then the “bandwagon” fans from the East valley would not be able to drop $100+ dollars in the Glendale economy, and their tax investment would have collapsed before their very eyes.
That’s what happens when sports teams mix public dollars with hockey franchises. Sometimes, the investment pays off like it did with Diamondbacks when they paid off their stadium in less than predicted time, and sometimes, the economy bites everyone in the ass and municipalities lose money, as what might happen in Glendale’s short run with this new agreement (that still needs a vote to approve).
A councilman has complained, some fans have complained, but I wonder if anyone over there complained when the community of Glendale coveted the hockey franchise. I know several communities in the East Valley wished that the stadium would have been built in nearby Scottsdale. They made the deal with Ellerman, Moyes, et al. They had to have done their due diligence and vetted everyone involved, right? Still it was difficult to predict that Moyes would have listened to that tempted offer of the Apple that Balsilly offered.
Maybe not…
For me though, all of this hoohah does not matter in the slightest bit. We should be looking at the long term future of the Franchise and not get caught up in the petty issues of West Side vs. East Side. It’s pretty stupid. When the Ice Edge Group was dealing with the chances of becoming majority owner, Darryl Jones looked at the entire Valley for the return on their future investment.
Not just Glendale, not just Phoenix, but he looked at the entire valley. I suggest that the “hard core” fans, whoever they might be, consider that aspect as well because it doesn’t matter where the fans come from, just that they come. It doesn’t matter if someone jumps on the wagon late, or those that have held season tickets since 1996 – what matters is that the fans come back and that they support the team that is set up for another run.Mr. DARYL JONES (Ice Edge): Four and a half million people? Yeah, it doesnt take too many hockey fans of that four and a half million to make the team succeed.
And I think that they will.
Because the Coyotes are in a critical game right now with the Dallas Stars. Since the Stars won in a shootout against the Hurricanes last night, the Coyotes have to win to keep pace; points are difficult to come by on the road and they’ll be gone for a long time. So I consider this night a playoff night. I’m glad I got tickets, and I’m glad I’m going.
Because the Coyotes need fan support, no matter where they come from. If they are watching television at home, at the bar, or at the game, Coyotes need all the fans they can get back.
And we should follow the advice given by Governor Tarkin at the end of this clip:
Because those that are, or will become Coyotes fans, it will not matter in the long run.
Game on!
Original Story:
http://onefansperspective.com/2010/12...
