Fifty-four MILLION dollars. Think about that number for a moment here.
Since they can't cut player costs - they're already just barely above the NHL salary floor - then if we assume there isn't a lot of other fat to trim from the budget, how can this team be even remotely viable in Phoenix? They need to increase revenues by more than 75% over current levels just to break even. For a team that derives almost 50% of its revenue from ticket sales and NHL revenue-sharing money, that's simply impossible. With numbers like those, why is there anyone at all interested in buying the team and keeping it in Phoenix?
(I guess they could start by firing Gretzky as coach. He makes $6.5 million a year - more than five times the league average for a coach - and hasn't made the playoffs yet in four years behind the bench. Losing his salary would cut the losses by 10% right there.)
This team can't survive in Phoenix....bottom line. Time to call the Phoenix experiment a failure and start looking for someplace else to play.
3 comments:
Thank you: I have been saying that for years... And I believe the Phoenix area is the worst city that has the 4 major team sports ( baseball, basketball, football, and hockey)...
That market is out of $$$$ new stadiums, but NO LOCAL SUPPORT!
Brian in Sherwood
Bring the Coyotes to Seattle. They can play in Everett for a year while Key Arena is being upgraded.
If the Key Arena wasn't good enough for the Thunderbirds it isn't going to hold an NHL team.... The Key Arena, Comcast Arena and ShoWare Center are way way too small for an NHL team to even attempt to survive a year. Although selling hockey to the area would work, the Silvertips and T-birds do quite well for junior hockey standards. I just don't think this area would ever fork over enough money to steal an NHL franchise when the goal for them is still trying to steal an NBA franchise back to Seattle. As nice as it would be to see an NHL team in the area. It would also pretty much start the downfall of junior hockey in the area. You will see sharp declines in attendance in Everett and Kent. Which will eventually lead to relocation. I don't think we will have to worry about it anytime soon. Like I said earlier this state doesn't have the money or the politics to make this happen.
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