Remember those days when we all thought the Phoenix Coyotes sale was actually going to go through? Yeah, they're long gone, but now the NHL is intervening in the situation once again.
According to the Phoenix Business Journal, commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly are making their way to Glendale to help along talks between potential owner Matthew Hulsizer and the City of Glendale.
Problems have come up thanks to the right-wing Goldwater Institute, which has threatened a lawsuit against Glendale on the grounds that a sale is against the public interest of the residents of the city. GWI has inserted itself into the issue because they believe that the proposed deal between Glendale and Hulsizer is against the law.
"We recognize that Glendale has dug itself into a financial hole by building the taxpayer-funded Jobing.com Arena for a team that has proven financially unsustainable," Goldwater said in a statement. "However, the City must find a way to improve its financial situation within the boundaries of the law. Likewise, we hope the city can find a way to attract great sports teams like the Coyotes without the unconstitutional use of taxpayer funds."
GWI's biggest concern is the issue of a potential shortfall in revenues. According to reports, Glendale has agreed to pay an potential shortfall, which GWI finds that unconstitutional. They claim that if parking revenue will not be enough to repay bonds on the team, that Hulsizer, not the city, should pay that difference.
"That would prevent serious harm to the taxpayers and place the financial responsibility where it should be: with the owner of the team, rather than on the taxpayers' shoulders," they said.
The NHL is in a tough spot here, as is the city. They could challenge Goldwater in court on the issue and try their luck, but that could drag out forever, a scenario would be unwelcome by anybody. The Coyotes, of course, are still losing money and are still without stable ownership until Hulsizer gets the team -- if he even does at this point.
According to the Business Journal, there are several new changes to the current sale agreement that could get GWI off their backs, including asking Hulsizer to contribute more dollars to the sale. There's also the possibility that the parties -- the NHL, the City, Hulsizer and Goldwater -- get together to sort things out.
There's still a lot to be said on this issue, and just when we thought it was over, the fans in Phoenix are suffering a little bit more. All the while, those in Winnipeg keep on salivating.
For more on the issue, check in with SB Nation's Five For Howling.