Vegas expansion bid offers further proof Coyotes aren't moving there
If you needed more proof (you shouldn't have) that the Coyotes are not moving to Las Vegas, the NHL delivered it on Tuesday.
The league confirmed in a press release that it received two applications for expansion franchises prior to the Monday deadline. One came from Quebecor for a franchise in Quebec City; the other came from billionaire Bill Foley for a franchise in Las Vegas.
Even if you have been following the NHL's expansion plans casually, it's been apparent for more than a year that Las Vegas was viewed as an expansion site; not a relocation site. The reason is obvious: The league believes it can secure an expansion fee of at least $500 million from Foley. That's a lot of money to be divided among the league's owners; money they aren't willing to forego to relocate a franchise.
Foley received permission from the NHL to start a season ticket drive, which began in February. At last report, he had secured around 13,000 commitments to purchase season tickets for a team that still has not been awarded.
One surprise in the bid process was the lack of applications from various Seattle groups. Funding and the lack of an NHL-ready arena were the major culprits.
Quebec's new facility is scheduled to open this fall; Las Vegas' new facility will open in the spring of 2016.
The New York Post, citing two unnamed sources, reported last month that Foley would buy the Coyotes and move the team to Las Vegas for the 2016-17 season. Aside from the massive loss of revenue a relocation would cause the league compared to expansion, the Post's timeline also ignored the fact that the Coyotes cannot exercise their out clause with the City of Glendale until 2018 if their losses reach or exceed $50 million.
"The Post was told the story was completely untrue," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told FOX Sports Arizona in June. "They ran it anyway. The story is garbage. Team is staying put."
Should the City of Glendale win its ongoing legal case with the Coyotes, the out clause would no longer be a factor, but in that case, the Coyotes would first explore the idea of moving to another location within the Valley before considering potential relocation markets.
Las Vegas is not among those markets. Nor is Quebec.
The Glendale City Council met in executive session on Monday, with the Coyotes the presumed topic of conversation. The council is barred from commenting on executive sessions. The Coyotes have also declined comment on whether the two sides are working toward a settlement.
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