Four Buyers Want to Keep Coyotes in Phoenix
Jim Balsillie Faces Competition in Bid for Desert Dogs
The National Hockey League and Phoenix Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes are embroiled in a tug-of-war battle over future ownership of the franchise. In Moyes’ corner, he has Research in Motion CEO Jim Balsillie, a billionaire hockey lover ready to pony up the cash to save the club... and move it to Hamilton.
Determined to keep the club in Phoenix, the league counted on Chicago White Sox and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and current Coyotes minority owner John Breslow climbing into the ring. However, with little information regarding their respective levels of interest and potential bids – in comparison to Balsillie’s – the backing power could easily be misinterpreted.
Over the weekend, though, it became public knowledge that the NHL has a lot more on its side than it originally appeared. In court documents filed Friday, Bettman indicated that there are four potential buyers interested in purchasing the Coyotes, and all have expressed a desire to keep the team in Phoenix.
In addition to Reinsdorf and Breslow, Toronto Argonaut owners Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon have tossed their names into the hat, as well as an anonymous bidder, reportedly a Phoenix businessman.
Here’s a look at those hoping to keep hockey in Phoenix.
Jerry Reinsdorf, Owner, Chicago White Sox, MLB; Chicago Bulls, NBA
After purchasing the White Sox in 1981, Reinsdorf added another historical Chicago sports franchise to his portfolio with the Bulls. His history at the helm suggests he knows what it takes to build a winning franchise.
Within two years of his foray into Major League Baseball, the White Sox were playoff contenders thanks to a league-best 99-63 record. In 1983, the club earned three of the top four honors in baseball: Cy Young Award, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year. The Sox have won their division four other times and were crowned World Series champs in 2005.
When Reinsdorf took over the Bulls, they were averaging fewer than 7,000 fans per game at Chicago Stadium. He put a management group in place that drafted the likes of Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen, and hired Phil Jackson as head coach. By 1989, the Bulls had 8,000 names on their season ticket waiting list; the team enjoyed a sell-out crowd for every game from November 1987 through Jordan’s second retirement in January 1999.
Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon, Owners, Toronto Argonauts, CFL
The pair has been behind the Argonauts franchise since 2004. An organization in disarray when they stepped in, it has since found more stable ground.
“We have developed a plan that will focus on the sales and marketing aspects (of the team) that were overlooked by previous ownerships,” Sokolowski stated when they were handed the reins.
Their impact was immediately felt on the field. The Argos posted a 10-7-1 record in the regular season before rolling through the Hamilton Tiger Cats and the favored Montreal Alouettes en route to a spot in the Grey Cup. They concluded their magical campaign by beating the B.C. Lions to clinch the 15th championship in club history.
With the exception of 2008, the Argonauts have continued to deliver in the regular season, guided by former head coach Michael “Pinball” Clemons, who currently serves as Vice-Chair of the organization.
John Breslow, Coyotes Minority Owner
Breslow holds a three percent stake in the floundering franchise. He hopes to make that number grow significantly as part of a group of prospective buyers. Not much is known or has been disclosed about who he is beyond his minority ownership, but according to the Phoenix New Times, the Las Vegas-based Breslow earned his dollars through the family welding business.
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