The City of Glendale is targeting a July 2 vote to decide on the future of the Phoenix Coyotes.
But whether the NHL, which owns the team, is on board with the city’s timeline isn’t clear.
On Friday, city councilors held a special meeting to discuss the proposed arena-management agreement with prospective Coyotes owner Renaissance Sports and Entertainment. According to Fox Sports Arizona’s Craig Morgan, talks are expected to continue throughout the weekend.
“Nobody’s hanging up on anybody,” said Glendale spokesperson Julie Watters, per Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.
A July 2 vote may be satisfactory to the NHL, but the league has said it wants a clear indication which way the council is leaning by next week. On Tuesday, the city is scheduled to meet again. On Thursday, the league’s Board of Governors convenes.
“No decision could be a decision,” is how NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly put it prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Update (5:12 p.m. ET)
Via Morgan, Watters says: “We are continuing our negotiations with the Renaissance group and we expect that early next week we will have some sort of a statement or press release and it will be with the council’s direction for the management of our arena.
“We are also hopeful that in that time, we can discuss everything in more specific detail such as deal points. Our current anticipation is that we will take this to a public vote -- for the council to bring for a public vote on Tuesday, July 2.”