THURSDAY COMMENTARY: WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH?
(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98, Rock 98.5 FM & LTD Radio)
Some things you just don’t see coming. But unpredictably makes the world go ‘round, and makes life fun.
For instance, I’ve never understood Canadians’ fascination with the ongoing Arizona Coyotes ownership and arena mess. Particularly Saskatchewanians.
Is it because we’re such big hockey fans? Or perhaps people are hanging onto the pipedream that the Coyotes might one day relocate to the 306?
I don’t know. But it’s always a hot topic and fortunately I’ve had considerable experience with the franchise so I’m always glad to talk about it. We hosted soldout Riderville parties there for three years (2015-17).
Oh wait – maybe it’s the fact people can’t stop staring at a trainwreck. That’s not a Saskie thing; it’s just people in general.
And for all of their tumultuous history since the Winnipeg Jets moved to the Valley of the Sun in 1996, right now the Coyotes find themselves in their biggest funk yet.
Homeless.
On Tuesday residents of Tempe, Arizona voted down that city moving ahead with a $2.3-billion entertainment district which would’ve included a new home for the hockey team.
Now, we’re told, the Coyotes are faced with playing another season in the 5,000-seat Mullet Arena; a facility they couldn’t even sellout this year.
And therein lies the problem. The Coyotes have been one of the NHL’s worst franchises for a generation; not having made the playoffs since 2012 (the 2020 play-in tourney in the Edmonton bubble doesn’t count).
And yet people want to say Arizona is a terrible hockey market. Those hockey fans down there tell me if the owners actually put a team on the ice, they’d happily show up. Look what’s going on in Florida right now! They’ve turned South Florida into HockeyTown South. Just win baby.
Meanwhile the beautiful Gila River Arena in Glendale, AZ sits empty due to a falling out between Coyotes ownership and Glendale City Council. This week I suggested the team go back there on the interim but an NHL person told me that’ll never happen.
Meanwhile the people of Phoenix get blamed for all these problems which are exactly none of their doing.
No wonder they’re fed up.
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary
(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+ TV, WQEE & Streaming)
The NHL is never coming to Saskatoon… Not enough corporate money. They make money selling premium suites for corporate hosting, not tickets the average fan buys.