Arizona Coyotes, City of Glendale Agree to Resolution of Arena Lease Conflict

The Arizona Coyotes are staying put. The franchise announced a settlement Thursday with the City of Glendale regarding their lease agreement, which should keep the Coyotes in Arizona for the foreseeable future.

"We have come up with a resolution that works for both sides and is best for the team, our fans, the city and most importantly the taxpayers," Coyotes co-owner Anthony LeBlanc said in a statement. "Neither side benefits from a long, drawn out legal battle. What's important is putting this dispute behind us and focusing on growing the Coyotes business and in turn, further growing revenues for the entire Westgate Entertainment District."

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LeBlanc added, per the team, "The Coyotes are committed to Glendale and the state of Arizona. ... We believe in this market."

Last month, Glendale City Council voted to cancel its 15-year, $225 million deal with the Coyotes for use of Gila River Arena; however, the council voted unanimously to rescind its decision Friday and to enact the proposed two-year arena agreement, per the Coyotes.

The Coyotes challenged the city's decision in court and had largely been finding their court battles successful. A Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled that the City of Glendale had to make its scheduled July 1 payment to the franchise, and there was also a temporary restraining order put on the deal's cancellation. 

"This revised agreement represents a positive outcome for both the city and the Coyotes," Glendale Acting City Manager Dick Bowers said. "It also allows us to move forward in a way that keeps an important economic driver in our community. That's important for business and it's important to our citizens."

Terms of the new deal have not been disclosed at this time. For a franchise that has teetered on the brink of financial ruin in the past, the newfound stability is a promising development for the Coyotes' future—even if terms of the new deal wind up being less favorable.

At the very least, it means the Coyotes are unlikely to depart Glendale or Arizona in the immediate future. Even if nothing is finalized, the mending of bridges between the two sides is a positive step.

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