(Glendale) The Arizona Coyotes have paid all of their bills. They will therefore avoid expulsion.
The hockey club located in the American desert paid all the bills that were lying around Thursday, in the wake of rumors circulating that the town of Glendale was about to kick them out of the Gila River Arena if they continued to be deadbeat.
Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps sent a letter Wednesday to let the Coyotes know they owed $ 1.3 million, including $ 250,000 just to the city.
Phelps informed the Coyotes that the Arizona Revenue Agency has filed a tax debt collection notice for unpaid taxes and duties to the state and municipality by IceArizona, the group to which the Coyotes belong. Phelps also indicated in his letter that he had ordered ASM Global, which is responsible for the management of the Gila River Arena, to deny access to the Coyotes amphitheater if the bills were not paid by here. December 20, at 5 p.m.
The Coyotes issued a statement late Wednesday evening saying the unpaid bills were due to unfortunate human error and would quickly correct the situation. They did so on Thursday, thus avoiding being evicted from their home.
The Coyotes have rented the Gila River Arena every year since Glendale City Council decided to withdraw from a long-term, multi-million dollar deal with them in 2016. The City has also announced that it will not be renewing its agreement with the NHL franchise beyond 2021-22.
The team put in a bid for land in Tempe, laying the groundwork for a plan to give them a permanent home at the same time.