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Arizona Coyotes Could Be Locked Out Of Home Arena as of Dec. 20, 2021

The Arizona Coyotes apparently owe the city of Glendale $1.3 million in unpaid taxes and could be locked out of their building this month.

The news has gone from bad to worse when it comes to the Arizona Coyotes and the future of their team playing games in Gila River Arena. The Athletic has learned that due to delinquent tax bills and unpaid arena charges the team could be denied access to their home arena starting as early as December 20th of this year.

Related: “No Way” Coyotes Hang On To Phil Kessel Says NHL Insider

Katie Strang of The Athletic writes:

The Coyotes, according to the notice sent to ASM and to the team, will have until 5 p.m. MST on Dec. 20 to pay the outstanding arena invoices from the 2020-21 season, as well as the outstanding tax bill. If they do not settle up the remaining debt by that time, the City of Glendale has instructed ASM to deny team employees access to the arena and the offices within the arena used as administrative space. Arena vendors would also be locked out.

As per Strang’s report, on Dec. 3, the Arizona Department of Revenue filed a tax lien notice in Maricopa County against IceArizona Hockey LLC. This is the company that owns the Arizona Coyotes. The lien notice contends that the company owes more than $1.3 million in unpaid state and city taxes. The City of Glendale is owed approximately $250,000 in unpaid city taxes and the rest is owed to the state.

If the Coyotes do not work out another arrangement or pay the back taxes, the game on December 23rd versus the Tampa Bay Lightning could be in jeopardy. Frankly, every game thereafter is a question mark if the team or the NHL doesn’t figure out an alternative.

Kevin Phelps, the City of Glendale manager, called NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Wednesday of this week to inform him about what’s going. There has been no comment or response for comment from the league as of yet.

It was already known that, as of June 30 of next year, the Coyotes were no longer going to be able to play games in their current arena and would need to find other venues in which to host home games. The team and the city have been involved in lengthy negotiations over their lease agreement. Apparently, this is the city of Glendale saying they’re not just cutting ties but they’re going to get what’s owed to them as soon as possible.

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1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Ryan

    December 10, 2021 at 10:46 pm

    Too bad Bettman is anti Canadian, Quebec could support a NHL team …but I can’t see Bettman ever approving or allowing another Canadian team…time for him to go…

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