Phoenix Coyotes Auction

Going on this afternoon, the auction for the cash strap ed Phoenix Coyotes team is taking place afternoon. For the person or group of people that eventually get to own the team has a huge mountain to climb to get this team back on so many levels beyond the ice. Off the ice, they have a sluggish fan base that has been more then a bit skeptical about the lack of success, inability to keep high profile players and develop their prospects.


On the ice, the teams problems run very deep, from having a long playoff drought that goes back to 2003, a weak bunch of prospects and letting numerous big name superstars get away from them including Jeremy Roenick, Teppo Numminen and Nikolai Khabbibulin. About their prospect situation with the AHL Affiliate in San Antonio hasn't done much better as they struggled yet again by finishing last in the AHL West Division by accumulating only 78 points in thd division.

A good example is in the stats, last year for instance Shane Doan scored 31 goals and 73 points which lead the team, not bad when considering that no one else had more then 15 goals and/or 50 points last season. In fact, if you look at the last few seasons, Shane Doan has been the top stats leaders by a large margin while he's had little help when it comes down to serious threats on the team. Perhaps the biggest disappointment came in the 2006-2007 season where they still had players like Jeremy Roenick, Owen Nolan and Ed Jovanovski.

Phoenix Coyotes Team Stats

2008-2009 Season: http://coyotes.nhl.com/team/app?page=Stats&service=page

2007-2008 Season: http://coyotes.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=Stats&season=20072008

2006-2007 Season: http://coyotes.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=Stats&season=20062007

One of the ideas that hasn't worked out is bringing out big names in the coaching staff including Wayne Gretzky to bring out fans, well here's a message, even though coaches can help a team with strategy and demanding the best out of your players, it's the players with the talent and who work hard at practice that ultimately make the difference on the ice and the Coyotes have never have had a group that has gotten them deep in the playoffs or at least challenging for the Pacific Division Title, not even once since the team arrived in Phoenix in 1996.

Off the ice, the issues are just as numerous. For instance, the fan attendance is always near the bottom end of the league in both average per game and total attendance during the season. Huge debt is also from low attendance and interest is one of the biggest reasons why they in the mess right now.

When it comes down the attendance issue, the average attendance per game for the Coyotes has been around 14,000 and has been around the bottom 5 the last 3 seasons.

NHL Attendance

2007: http://sports.espn.com/nhl/attendance?year=2007

2008: http://sports.espn.com/nhl/attendance?year=2008

2009: http://sports.espn.com/nhl/attendance?year=2009

I don't care who eventually gets the team which goes way beyond the Jim Balsille right now, eventually this team will be out of Arizona and it's going to be sooner rather then later. What should be included in a contact whoever gets the deal should be a clause that after a handful of years (let's say around 4 or 5) if the major problems continue to exist, then the new owner should be allowed to move the team to who ever may be interested.

The future of the Duncanville Starcenter

Today, the Duncanville, Texas City Council is going to have a meeting to discuss what to do and decide once and for all to determine the Starcenter's future. A couple of the main ideas are right now to include a reducing of the monthly rent on the property from the $70,000 to $50,000 and a renewed and new strategy's to promote the Starscenter in Duncanville which would require the team to have a much bigger impact in the city, a lack of knowarilty is one of the main reasons why Duncanville City Manager Kent Cagle said that the lack of involvement from the team hasn't worked out like the other Starscenters in the D/FW Area.

The other main idea would have the team and the city terminate the lease that would ultimately close the Starscenter and a company would like to eventually convert the Ice Rink to a basketball gym. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 5:00.

For more info, here's the city of Duncanville website: www.duncanville.com

Opening of the Mckinney Starcenter

The date for the grand opening celebration for the Starscenter in Mckinney is set for September 19, that's a week from Saturday and will have a full day to help celebrate the opening.

Here's a schedule of events on 9/19.

• 12:00 PM Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
• 12:30-2:00 PM Free Public Skating Session
• 12:30-1:30 PM Mckinney Ice Mites VS. Texas Ace Mites
• 1:45-2:45 PM HS Exhibition between Mckinney VS. Frisco
• 2:15-3:00 PM Figure Skating Exhibition

If you get a chance, be sure to check out the newest Starscenter Ice Rink in North Texas.