Forbes: Coyotes move up in NHL franchise value rankings
Nov 25, 2013, 10:49 PM | Updated: 10:49 pm
Forbes.com released their values for NHL franchises Monday, and the Phoenix Coyotes came in ranked 25th at $200 million.
This is a noticeable improvement for the Coyotes, as the team was ranked second-to-last in 2012 at just $134 million. The obvious change is the new ownership group that purchased the Coyotes in August, ending a four-year stretch during which they were owned by the league.
The new group, headed up by George Gosbee and Anthony LeBlanc, purchased the club for $170 million and signed a new leasing agreement with Jobing.com Arena that gave the Coyotes a more-permanent home in Glendale.
After several years of rumors that the team could relocate, the new ownership group brought comfort to Coyotes fans. However, there is an opt-out clause in the agreement, which would allow the organization to move if the team is losing money after five years.
On the ice, the Coyotes have gotten off to a strong start this season as they have 32 points through their first 23 games and feature a strong 9-1-2 record at home. Players and coaches have connected the team’s newfound stability with their early success.
