((HT: Arizona Republic/Sanders))Glendale must immediately reveal a sliver of documents related to Phoenix Coyotes negotiations that the city asked a Maricopa County Superior Court judge to review. But in a ruling Friday, the judge allowed 90 percent of the records to remain sealed.
Of 322 pages detailing talks between Glendale officials and interested buyers of the NHL team, only 35 must be made public, Judge Edward Burke decided.
The institute says taxpayers should know, in time to make objections, whether Glendale will offer money as a deal-sweetener with a new owner in order to keep the team playing at city-owned Jobing.com Arena ((pictured, thanks ballparks.com)).
Glendale says such incentives aren't on the table and that the public will be able to review any deal before it goes to the City Council for a vote.
After reading the sealed documents, Burke concluded the city has not yet clinched a deal with the two groups aiming to take over the Coyotes. Until that time, the "disclosure of the majority of the documents," he said, "would have a devastating impact on the city's ability to negotiate with the bidders."
Chicago White Sox and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and his investor team have offered $148 million for the bankrupt hockey franchise. A group of American and Canadian backers, under the name Ice Edge Holdings, say they intend to bid $150 million and propose splitting Coyotes games between Glendale and a city in Canada. Both groups say the team would remain based in the Valley.
Burke noted each group has stated team ownership depends on negotiating with Glendale.
The city must release the remaining 288 documents as soon as officials decide to bring a proposal to the City Council, not when a meeting agenda is posted, the judge ordered.
He said he was concerned whether the Goldwater Institute and Glendale taxpayers would "have sufficient time to digest, analyze and prepare to comment on any proposed agreement and/or concessions."
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