Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Greg Jamison, who had a provisional deal in
place to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes, missed the Jan. 31 deadline to complete
the transaction.
"We will not be able to complete our purchase of the Phoenix Coyotes today in
time to meet our deadline with the city of Glendale," Jamison said in a
prepared statement released late Thursday.
"However, our journey to purchase the Coyotes will continue. We realize this
will require additional conversations with the city of Glendale and the NHL.
We still believe we can reach an agreement that satisfies everyone. We hope
negotiations with the city proceed as smoothly as possible, as everyone
involved wants the Coyotes to remain in Arizona."
The Arizona Republic reported on Thursday that a lawyer representing Jamison
contacted Glendale mayor Jerry Weiers late Wednesday to ask for an
extension.
Weiers told the paper that when questioned, he refused to extend the deadline
further, adding Jamison has not spoken to him about the situation. In
addition, Weiers revealed two unnamed groups also contacted him about
purchasing the Coyotes if Jamison was unable to.
In late November. the City of Glendale gave Jamison the green light to take
over the beleaguered franchise -- as long as the transaction was complete by
11:59 p.m. Arizona time on Thursday night -- after its city council
approved a new $320 million arena management deal over a 20-year span by a 4-2
vote.
In the interim, four of the seven members of city council when the deal was
approved have left office, the paper reported on Friday.
The former chief executive officer of the San Jose Sharks, Jamison has pursued
ownership of the troubled club for more than a year. He and the league reached
a tentative deal to purchase the former Winnipeg Jets back in early May.
The National Hockey League has retained control of the franchise since
November of 2009, purchasing it from Jerry Moyes and rescuing the team from
bankruptcy.
Bill Daly, deputy commissioner of the NHL, stated to the Republic that the
Coyotes "will still be playing here tomorrow and our objectives will remain
the same" in trying to keep the Coyotes in the Phoenix area.
The Sports Network