More Pictures...

Someone made a trip down to visit the Goldwater Institute offices today....

P.S. It wasn't me.

It was D.K. - thanks for letting me steal your pictures D.K.! 

:)

Sponsor Spotlights!

I'd like to introduce you to some of my March and April sponsors. 

They are wonderful, talented and inspirational women that I've had the honor and privilege of getting to know over the past few weeks. I hope that you gain as much from visiting their sites and blogs as I have! 

This lovely lady is the fabulous Ms. Lindsay over at Scenic Glory. 

She is the one responsible for the new look over at my other home - and I am proud to say that my blog was her first venture into "colorful" instead of the "vintage" style of designing she is accustomed to. I think she totally nailed it!
When I began my search for a designer to help me with a custom design for my site - I stumbled upon her through connections at FTLOB and I believe it was fate. She has helped me make my new personal blog into something unique and perfect.
Lindsay - in addition to being an inspirational blogger and talented artist - is also a newlywed! I highly recommend you take a few minutes to check out her blog and especially her wedding photos. AH-MAZING!!! 
Start at the beginning though - you don't want to miss anything!!!  
I visit her site daily - it's so calming and tranquil. Much like I imagine Lindsay herself to be. 

Now please allow me to introduce you to my Chrissy from Whimsical Poppysmic! 
I have come across sooooo many awesome bloggers since I started this whole venture into bloggyland - Chrissy and Linsday are two bloggers I am happy to now be able to call "friend".
Chrissy is quite talented and artistic - I hope you'll take a few moments to browse through her Etsy store and check out the adorable handmade goods she has for sale:

I recently purchased one of these adorable little phone cases from her shop and I just adore it! Every time I look at it - it makes me smile!

Chrissy also was the sponsor of my Grand Blog Redesign Celebration - and if you haven't had a chance to enter to win the giveaway she is donating for the occasion - GO NOW! You only have a few days left! :) 

And last - but far from least - I'd like for you to meet Shah Wharton from WordsinSync

Shah is 38 years old, married and lives in Dubai with her husband works for Emirates Airlines as a Pilot. She and her husband both originate from the West Midlands area of the U.K. 


Shah is currently working on her first novel and also writes short stories. She has completed around 30 of them! She has been writing poetry for years, for catharsis more than anything. Her dad turned her on to poetry as a child, writing his thoughts and feelings to her in poetry form.

Shah is living with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which runs in her family. She was diagnosed in 2005. Her husband and medications keep her largely balanced now, and she's learned a lot over the past six years about how to manage her moods effectively.

As a counselor by profession, I am glad that I have found Shah and her blog in our little Blogiverse. She is an inspiration to those who are living and dealing with such a difficult diagnosis. I have thoroughly enjoyed checking out her blog, reading her thoughts and words and learning from her. I think that you will too.

Well my little Monsters, I think I've given you enough reading material to last you for a bit! 

I hope you enjoyed my first Sponsor Feature and will take a few moments to visit these lovely ladies. I promise it will be well worth your time!

Park it back here next week for the 2nd post of my Sponsor Feature Series and I'll introduce you to the brains (and beauty) behind the brawn - the lovely Hockey Wives....

For more information on sponsorship opportunities - please visit my Sponsors page. Special packages are available, email me with any questions!

Got Some Pictures For Ya...

These were sent in by Coalition members this morning. Enjoy...

Coalition Update

Good Morning,

I regret to inform you - that the showing for our tailgate/planning session was quite sad. In addition to the normal tailgaters we typically have each week - we had between 5-10 additional people show up to contribute their thoughts on what our next move as a Coalition should be. 

I understand this was late notice and we all have obligations and prior commitments that sometimes cannot be changed. However - it was the unanimous opinion of those who were in attendance that if we are unable to attract more than 10 people to a simple planning session - we aren't in a position to host any sort of rally or protest at this time. 

Now please don't get upset with me if you were unable to attend - I am not calling anyone out or being rude. I don't need an influx of emails explaining why you couldn't be there. I spent my morning sifting through those yesterday - I understand. We have members out of state - some even out of country. I understand that we all have lives. But I have to be realistic about this. I've been getting several requests that we do something as a group and I'm fine with handling the planning and execution of that - but I'm also getting "don't do it on this date, or at this time because I have to (fill in the blank)".

It's simply impossible to accommodate everyone's schedule. I spent the summer of 2009 in court, with typically just 2 other Coyotes fans in attendance - sometimes a few more would trickle in - and I appreciate those who made the effort. I almost lost my job over it - but I was there. Coyotes fans were always outnumbered by the Canadian media alone. It didn't matter to them that I had thousands following my Tweets from court, or thousands on a mailing list getting my updates afterwards. It didn't matter to them that people had jobs and prior obligations that kept them from coming to the court proceedings. What mattered to them were the 3 or 4 fans total who were there and the lack of support the fan base in general seemed to be showing their team.

I personally took a lot of criticism for it and myself and the two others who were always there, spent the summer being blasted in the media and combating personal attacks from those who oppose our efforts. I'm not going to organize something and then be outnumbered by Canadian media again. I don't mind the criticism or personal attacks I've endured throughout this entire ordeal - I can handle it. But I'm not willing to stand on the steps of Goldwater with 2 other fans in front of a large crowd of Canadian media who can't wait to get home and write their stories about how pathetic our fan base is. 

I will continue to explore our options and if we are able to obtain the support of the team, a large local radio station, television station or some other local media outlets - then perhaps we can make this happen. For now - here's what we can continue to do:

-Write, email, tweet, or facebook this information out to the hockey faithful as well as your casual friends and family. It’s said that 1 hand written/typed letter received is like 20k people in terms of impact. Ask your contacts for just one email, phone call, retweet, or better yet, one snail mail letter, to show their support.

-Show your support and ask questions: ask questions about the Yotes and the ownership situation and why GWI gets to do this when all the sports arenas in this town are subsidized in some form, what authority GWI has to get in the way of publicly elected officials making policy.

Email AND regular mail:
-Gov Jan Brewer
-State Attorney General Tom Horne - reach him via Facebook or Twitter
-Senator John McCain - reach him on Facebook or Twitter 
-Senator Jon Kyl
-Arizona Congressional District 4 (includes Glendale)


Email: Local TV Stations and Newspapers
-Fox Sports Arizona - fsarizona.feedback@fox.com, Reach them via Twitter and Facebook

-AZTV Channel 3
-CBS Channel 5 - CBS 5 4016 N. Black Canyon Hwy. Phoenix, AZ 85017, Reach them onTwitter and Facebook
-FOX Channel 10 - reach them via Twitter and Facebook 
-12 News

-ABC Channel 15 - reach them via Twitter and Facebook
-Jude LeCava - reach him via Twitter 
-Brahm Resnik - reach him via Twitter and Facebook
-AZCentral Editor
-East Valley Tribune - reach them via Twitter and Facebook

Talk to your local radio stations
-XTRA 910 - Home of the Coyotes - (602) 260-9191 reach them via Twitter and Facebook

-93.3 KDKB's morning show host "Sludge" is a huge Coyotes supporter,  let's show him some support as well - reach Sludge on Twitter and Facebook, listen to him live from 4:30-10am weekday mornings. (602) 260-9393
-Bickley and MJ  - reach them via Twitter and Facebook

http://twitter.com/danbickley 

http://twitter.com/mikejurecki 

http://twitter.com/MikeJackBauer
-Roc and Manuch Calling All Sports - reach them via Twitter  and Facebook
-AZSports talk with Kevin McCabe
-KTAR 620 -  reach them via Twitter and Facebook  & FunKaty
-Doug and Wolf - reach them via twitter at 

http://twitter.com/dougandwolf620 

http://twitter.com/Doug620 and Facebook 

-Sports Interactive - reach them via Twitter and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/SportsInteractive
-Gambo and Ash - reach them via Twitter: 

http://twitter.com/gamboandash620

http://twitter.com/gambo620 

http://twitter.com/ash620

and Facebook 
-98 KUPD - (602) 260-9800 (Holmberg’s Morning Sickness) reach them via Twitter  andFacebook
-KXXT 1010am Breakthrough Sports Radio - (602) 296-3632 reach them via Twitter:Dave ,  Greg and Facebook 

Email: 

Mathew Hulsizer and let him know just how much you appreciate his efforts and ask him to not give up on us. Tell him we believe in him and we want him to be the owner we have never had. The passionate fan owner, the guy who knows how to make things work and isn’t afraid of the hard stuff: info@peak6.com

Reach out to the NHL:

They have bent over backwards to make this work (despite what many say, they could have taken the easy way out after the BK was officially launched). I don't recommend an influx of emails to them - they are already fighting and know we support them. What we can do is become more interactive via their social media sites on Twitter and Facebook. We can make sure that the Coyotes fans are being heard.

Looking for answers?

Email: Goldwater Institute (resend your letter every day if you want - maybe we’ll get an answer from someone if we are persistent enough). An area of concentration for snail mail is asking for a copy of their Schedule A of Form 8872. Tax-exempt political organizations may also be required to file Form 990, including Schedule B so you can ask for that too. 

Ask why they refuse to sit down with the City of Glendale or Hulsizer and discuss their concerns. You could also try to find out what their plan is to help the thousands of people that will be put out of work by this deal falling through (these are the people they are “looking out for”).

cbolick@goldwaterinstitute.org
dolsen@goldwaterinstitute.org
csitren@goldwaterinstitute.org


Coming to Tuesday’s game?

Operation "We Signed Up" 

– Bring a sign to the game and hold it up at each stoppage of play. We’ll try to have extra signs on hand at each game. We can be found before each home game out on Patio 6 about an hour to 30 minutes prior to puck drop and I can always be reached via email. Anything that shows your support of the Coyotes would be great: "we love our Coyotes", "back off our team", etc - just make sure its appropriate and "family friendly". Bring extra signs if you can, pass them around. Any additional support will be great! Be vocal, fill up the arena and let the team know we want them here. Tell people about our website and ask them to sign up and fight to keep the team here. That includes the fans of other teams that fill our arena as well. Remind them that if the Coyotes leave, they won't see their Red Wings, Blackhawks, etc anymore either. We're all hockey fans - let's get together and join forces.

If you want/need some type of template for these write-in campaign efforts please let me know. We have some excellent writers who have already volunteered and can send you a lot of talking points to use.

We're not done yet, we are still fighting for our team.. this is the part where we all stand together and give it our best shot... pray to the Hockey Gods that the Coyotes can howl in the desert forever. 

Remember, it won’t just be NHL hockey that we’ll lose if the Coyotes don’t stay. Youth programs and businesses based on hockey will suffer too. Per Senator John McCain: "The point is they are going to lose a thousand jobs. A non-elected organization is going to cause it" (via The Arizona Republic).

Go Coyotes!

--
Best,

Heather McWhorter

President, The Coyotes Coalition

Twitter, Facebook, Website, Blog

Monday's Music Moves Me

I chose this video because... well... she howls in it. She'd make a great Coyotes fan (we're currently accepting applications...) 
HA!
Enjoy your Monday!!!

Fill In The Blank & Fawk You Friday!

1.   My most prized possession is: the puck Dan Carcillo threw me at one of my first Coyotes practices. It's a travesty that I was never able to get him to sign it. First trip to a different NHL arena will be Philly!

2.  If I could be one age for the rest of my life, I would want to be: I thoroughly enjoyed 25. Not too old - not too young. It was the perfect age. I'd stay there if I could. Unfortunately I'm now 6 years past it. Blech... but 31 isn't so bad either really!

3.  The best way to spend a weekend is: getting as much rest as possible, not having to work on Saturdays, tailgating with friends and Coyotes games. Then post game shenanigans at Village Inn :)

4.  My outlook on life is: All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.

These are the things I learned:

• Share everything.
• Play fair.
• Don't hit people.
• Put things back where you found them.
• Clean up your own mess.
• Don't take things that aren't yours.
• Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
• Wash your hands before you eat.
• Flush.
• Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
• Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
• Take a nap every afternoon.
• When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
• Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
• Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
• And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.


Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.


And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

{credit - nope. didn't come up with that on my own!}

5.  If you want to annoy me, just:

• Make loud chewing noises while you eat. 
• Put cilantro in anything
• Put cilantro in my food after I SPECIFICALLY told you not to. I don't care how small the amount, how finely chopped... I CAN STILL TASTE IT! 
• Passive aggressively tell me that something annoys you about me. Just say it. 
• Yell at me for being late. I always warn people. "I am invariably late for appointments...." I operate on Heather Time - which varies and is unlike anyone else's time. I've tried to mend my ways but it simply doesn't work. I'm just always friggin' running late! 

6.  I am completely defenseless when it comes to: I am never completely defenseless. One of my strong points is my mental capacity. Life is about choices - sometimes I make the wrong ones, but I own up to those. Sometimes I make the right ones and I own up to those as well. But we always have a choice...

7.  When dressing for the day one should: never leave the house without pants on.

I Love You FAWK YOU Friday!!!



 Time for the Best Friday Blog Hop EVER! It's Fawk you Friday!!! I have a few Fawk You's for the lovely Friday. So here we go:

• FAWK YOU crappy reporters. Fawk you for taking what I say and con-strewing it, fawk you for making my team and its fans look bad. Fawk you for sitting there in your smug little free press box seats and judging those of us who - though our numbers may be few at certain games - actually paid for our tickets and are THERE at the games.
• FAWK YOU fawking PAPERWORK!!! GAH! I hate it.
• FAWK YOU job that requires me to be there at 4am. I am soooooo burnt out on it! 
• FAWK YOU schooooooooooool work!!!
• FAWK YOU being on a diet (even though its working!)
• FAWK YOU heel spurs. HEAL ALREADY!!!
• FAWK YOU Zazzle.com you have crappy customer service and you just plain SUCK. Taking my business elsewhere, thanks. 

And Here's A Few More For Your Weekend Pleasure

A Coalition Member's Editorial & FAQ Regarding the Glendale Deal with Hulsizer

Happy Friday everyone!!! I have a few things to share with you this Friday morning. First of all, the Save the Coyotes Coalition will be at Jobing.com Arena tailgating prior to the game from 2-5pm - as we do every weekend home game. I'd like to invite any and all Coyotes supporters to come out as we plan to have a "brainstorming session" on what our next moves as a Coalition should be. There have been rally and protest requests, though we aren't a protest group necessarily we would like to all get together and talk about what might be the most effective ways in which to get our voices heard. We've been emailing, we've been calling, we've been voicing our opinions via social media outlets. We are still not seeing any progression or response from the Goldwater Institute. It may be time to kick it up a notch. So let's get together and talk about it! If you live out of town or otherwise are unable to come to the tailgate/planning session, be sure that you have signed up for our Coalition mailing list via our website. E-mail has proven to be the most effective and quickest way for us to get in touch with all of our members and keep everyone informed. Be sure to add coyotescoalition@yahoo.com to your safe contacts list so that our emails don't end up in your spam folder!

I'd like to share with you an editorial that was sent in to us and the Arizona Republic from a Coalition member:

I write this editorial as an Arizona taxpaying citizen; proud hockey-dad of two boys, 8 and 10; and rabid hockey fan who unconditionally supports MY Phoenix Coyotes. 

During the day, I am a health care professional.  After hours, and on weekends, I am either attending Coyotes games in Glendale with my family of four (season ticket holders) or lacing up my boy’s skates at the Ice Den in Scottsdale (Coyotes Amateur Hockey Association - CAHA). Televised Coyotes games, the NHL network, roller-blade street hockey, carpet mini-hockey, and travertine hallway-hockey are all consistent motivators/rewards for nightly homework completion.  Kid’s room Coyote’s décor, trading cards and memorabilia complete this image of my family eating, sleeping, and breathing hockey... in the desert! 

Therefore, I feel compelled to respond to the “Almighty Goldwater Institute” and their false claims of supposed protection of the AZ taxpayer’s interests as they relentlessly attack my team, my sport, and my community.  I must speak out, not only for my family, but for the many other hockey families that we have had the privilege of bonding with via CAHA.  After my son’s Squirt tournament, the hot topic was not about what took place on the ice last night, but how helpless and hopeless all of the kids, parents and coaches felt regarding the probable loss of our beloved Yotes. Hundreds of kids, who play youth hockey at The Den will be heart-broken if their team, and possibly their entire CAHA program, is torn from them.  Likewise, many, if not all of the CAHA teaching/coaching/support staff are completely dependent upon the Coyotes for their livelihood. 

The relentless GWI assault stretches well beyond our local youth and their families. Their assertion that the current terms of sale places the Glendale taxpayer “at risk” is so near sighted as to be almost comical.  If Ms. Olsen and her band of elitist-snob media-mongers believe the bond-interest burden on Glendale taxpayers is expensive, wait until they unleash the economic catastrophe that will ensue once the Coyotes depart. Westgate, along with all restaurants and shopping venues, will be rendered unviable. Pair this with the pending NFL lockout and you have a massive loss of revenue (sales and sales-tax) for the City of Glendale.  The domino effect of this local economy in peril will certainly spread to the rest of the Valley and hundreds of millions of dollars (and hundreds of jobs) will be lost.  

GWI, we the citizens know of your ulterior motives, your thirst for political gain, and understand the games you are playing.  We know of your links to the Diamondbacks (conflict of interest), your support for Winnipeg, and your underhanded backroom deals that must be taking place.  Your misinterpretation and misrepresentation of AZ law is egregious and irresponsible. I call on all of my fellow citizens to demand an investigation into GWI and its practices. When the smoke finally clears, “We the People” will prevail and justice will be served.  You, my friends, are NOT above the law and must be held accountable for your actions. 

And to all of the naysayer Coyote-bashers out there that believe hockey does not belong in Phoenix, think again.  We currently have a playoff-bound group consisting of an extremely talented young core of players, outstanding veterans, and a world-class goalie… all paired with perhaps the finest coach in the NHL.  Add a strong ownership presence and you have the perfect recipe for a stable long-term hockey franchise that thrives in the Valley.  We are a cohesive, resilient team with a bright future.  Although a small voice, my family and I want to shout from the rooftops “We believe in our Phoenix Coyotes!!!!”  PLEASE lend your voices and howl in support of our team.  We are the Phoenix Coyotes. 

Brent Silver, MD

--with loving support from Susan, Noah, and Evan

Scottsdale, AZ

Thank you for sharing this with us Brent - and many thanks to you and your family for your great support of the Phoenix Coyotes, the Coyotes Coalition and hockey in Arizona!!!

Next up: Q & A From The City of Glendale.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | March 24, 2011

CONTACT: Julie Frisoni | 623-640-8254 | Marketing/Communications Director 

GLENDALE & NHL COYOTES AGREEMENT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

The city of Glendale is releasing an FAQ sheet to present facts about its business

agreement with Matthew Hulsizer, a potential buyer of the National Hockey League (NHL) Coyotes team. This FAQ has been designed to alleviate the misinformation created by the Goldwater Institute. 

1. Does this deal violate the Arizona Constitution?

No. The Arizona Constitution case law says that public and private entities can work together on projects that benefit the community, so long as the transaction does not require that the public entities’ financial obligation is “grossly disproportionate” to the benefit received. This legal standard was clarified in the 2007 Turken v. Gordon case, which involved the City North development in North Phoenix. Although the law is clear, the Goldwater Institute has consistently misstated the legal test, saying that the assistance must be “roughly proportionate.” With respect to the city’s transaction with the new 

owners of the Coyotes, four separate legal opinions concluded this agreement does not violate the Gift Clause of the Arizona Constitution. Former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods also has publicly expressed that opinion. Nevertheless, the Goldwater Institute remains opposed to the transaction based on a clearly flawed analysis. The Institute and its small base of supporters are using baseless threats of litigation, with its associated delay and significant costs, as a means of preventing the implementation of the proper decisions of elected officials.   

2. What are the consequences of the Goldwater Institute’s continued threatened legal action?

The Institute’s threats could cost the very taxpayers they claim to support millions of dollars. If this agreement doesn’t move forward, the taxpayers of Glendale will face losses of hundreds of millions of dollars, and the entire region will suffer the loss of revenues, businesses and jobs. The Institute’s goal of preventing any viable transaction that will keep the Coyotes in the Jobing.com Arena will cause irreparable harm to those they ostensibly claim to be protecting. 

3. Is it true that if the Coyotes move out of state Glendale could just replace the 40 game nights with concerts and other activities, and the taxpayers, who are still paying for the Arena, will be no worse off?  

No. This is a very irresponsible myth that ignores the reality of the business of running an arena facility. The economics of an arena are focused on corporate sponsorships – advertising, suites, etc. All of those factors are negatively altered without a professional sports franchise as a primary tenant. The Institute’s naïve suggestion that bringing in the “Ice Capades” would allow the city to cover the debt service on the bonds that exist today – regardless of whether or not the Coyotes remain in Arizona –  is ludicrous. Sponsors spend a lot of money to buy suites only at venues that have consistent events, concerts and professional sports. As the anchor tenant, the Coyotes fill about 1/3 of all events at the Arena, and the games have been a catalyst for all businesses in the area. In addition, because of the strength of the Coyotes as the anchor tenant, the city has been able to successfully pay its arena debt.

4. Has the Goldwater Institute provided the city with any input on the deal or suggested how the deal should be structured to avoid legal action?  The Goldwater Institute should never be allowed to use its extreme political philosophy to dictate how a public entity conducts business. The city is very capable of understanding and properly implementing the law. That said, the Goldwater Institute refuses to meet with the city of Glendale, the NHL Commissioner or even potential owner Mr. Hulsizer so that the Institute could be educated on this transaction and conduct a proper analysis. The last discussion the city had with the Goldwater Institute was on January 17, 2011, in which the city and Mr. Hulsizer discussed why the agreement did not violate the Gift Clause. The Institute said they were still completing legal analysis and did not have any specific comments regarding the structure of the deal but would provide an answer regarding possible litigation by the end of that week. The Institute indicated very clearly that they would not merely provide a “non-answer.” Yet, at the end of that week, on Friday at 4:45 p.m., the Institute issued a press release indicating more research and more time was needed.  

The city inquired if the Institute needed any more documents or had more questions and the Institute expressly stated that nothing else was needed during their “internal review.” Throughout the next two months, the NHL, Glendale and Mr. Hulsizer, along with community and business leaders, U.S. Senator John McCain and former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods, have actively encouraged the Institute to meet with the city’s attorneys and provide specific feedback on any legal issues. These attempts have been met with no return phone calls or emails and the only way any of the parties have received information from the Institute has been through often-issued, late-afternoon press releases. In most situations where parties are dealing in good faith to achieve a positive end result, the parties try to meet, discuss, clear up misconceptions and come to a resolution. 

5. Does the Goldwater Institute want the Coyotes to leave Arizona? According to an “Arizona Republic” article on March 17, 2011, the Goldwater Institute’s litigation director is a member of a Facebook group called “Support the Goldwater Institute Bring Home the Jets.” This is a website with the expressed goal of bringing the Coyotes back to Canada. This action reflects complete impartiality some members of the Institute may have in evaluating the agreement.

6. If the Coyotes leave Arizona, will the Goldwater Institute be to blame?  

Absolutely. The Institute’s baseless threat of litigation is preventing this publicly beneficial transaction from being concluded. The Goldwater Institute inappropriately sent letters to bond-rating agencies and the city’s bank trustees misrepresenting the law and asserting that the Institute was “thinking” about a legal challenge against the city. Those tactics put the entire process at risk. The Institute’s actions created a threat to potential bond buyers thus creating higher interest rates and challenges in selling the bonds overall. The NHL Commissioner said publicly on March 9, 2011, that Goldwater’s tactics impacted the bond underwriters and he questioned “…whether this is really an organization that is concerned with the public interest despite a mission statement that calls for expanding free enterprise and support for the public interest.”

7. Did the city of Glendale allow citizens, and specifically the Goldwater Institute, to speak publicly about the most recent agreement to purchase the Coyotes?

Absolutely. Since the team was unexpectedly placed in bankruptcy, there have been several public meetings about possible business agreements between the city and potential owners. In regards to this most recent agreement with Mr. Hulsizer, hundreds of citizens attended public meetings providing input. Not once did the Goldwater Institute participate in one of Glendale’s public meetings. Furthermore, thousands of pages of public documents have been provided to the Goldwater Institute.

8. What is Glendale’s agreement with the new buyer of the Coyotes, Matthew Hulsizer?

Over the last 2 ½ years, the NHL and the city of Glendale have been focused on selling the team to an operator who will make it a very successful franchise and will commit to keeping the team in Glendale for at least the next 30 years. In December 2010, the Glendale City Council approved an agreement with Matthew Hulsizer. Major agreement points:  

a. Mr. Hulsizer has the option to purchase the city-owned Jobing.com Arena during the term of the agreement and the city has an option to sell the Arena to the team entities at the end of the agreement—both options provide substantial benefit for taxpayers. 

b. The agreement contains a profit-sharing component that is unique in North American sports, in which the city will share in team and Arena revenue over the life of the deal. 

c.  The city will purchase the right to receive all income generated by parking rights at the Arena, including all profits generated from naming rights, signage and parking fees. 

9. Why is it a big deal for the city to purchase the parking rights?

The Hulsizer group will own the parking rights to the Arena, just as would any other entity that leases a facility. But now with this agreement, Glendale will be able to create new revenue for the city by assuming these rights. The city can charge for parking year-round at every event at the Arena generating millions of dollars over the term of the agreement. 

The parking studies completed by highly professional, independent consultants during the negotiating process determined the amount of money that could be generated by purchasing the parking rights and that the city is paying a fair amount for these rights.   

10. How can I keep up-to-date on the city’s progress with finalizing the purchase agreement and also show support?

In an effort to continue to be transparent throughout this process, the city of Glendale regularly updates the Coyotes situation on the front page of the city website at www.glendaleaz.com. Throughout this entire process, the city has posted hundreds of pages of documents related to the Coyotes agreements online so citizens could remain involved and informed. The documents are all available online through the city’s archive system. Many residents have demonstrated support for Glendale’s efforts to keep the Coyotes by contacting their local elected officials, the Coyotes fan clubs, the Coyotes team, the NHL and the media through letters, emails, phone calls and social media. 

Now folks, I hope you all have a great weekend and I'll see you at Jobing.com Arena as our Coyotes take on the San Jose Sharks Saturday night! 

Thirsty Thursday - Tailgate Edition!

It's Thirsty Thursday over at FTLOB and I'd like to share with you a great (Coyotes Red!) Margarita for you to try at your next tailgate. 
It's called the Game Night Margarita!

Ingredients: 

• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup kosher salt
• 2 cups tequila
• 1 cup Triple Sec
• 1/3 cup grenadine
• 1 cup lime juice

Directions:

To rim the glasses, first dip in water then into kosher salt.

In a pitcher filled with ice combine, tequila, Triple Sec, grenadine and lime juice. Stir and pour into rimmed cocktail glasses.