arena lease and management agreement city of glendale, arizona ...

SUBSTANTIAL FINAL DRAFT 11/27/12 12:35
ARENA LEASE AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
THIS ARENA LEASE AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated
as of _____ __, 2012 (the “Effective Date”), and is entered into by and among the City of Glendale, an
Arizona municipal corporation (the “City”); Arizona Hockey Arena Partners LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the “Arena Manager”), and Arizona Hockey Partners LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the “Team Owner”).
RECITALS
A. On May 5, 2009, Coyotes Hockey, LLC, the owner for a time of the NHL team currently
bearing the designation “Phoenix Coyotes” (the “Team”), and its affiliated entity, Arena Management
Group, LLC, under a new owner of both entities, Dewey Ranch, LLC (collectively, “Debtors”), filed
voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Coyotes Hockey,
LLC and Dewey Ranch, LLC are referred to herein collectively as the “Former Coyotes Owner.”
B. During the above described Bankruptcy Case, two NHL-owned entities, Coyotes Newco,
LLC and Arena Newco, LLC, purchased certain of the assets and assumed certain of the rights and
obligations of the Dewey Ranch entity.
C. The NHL-owned entities did not, however, assume the Amended and Restated Arena
Management, Use and Lease Agreement dated November 29, 2001, filed with the Glendale City Clerk as
Document No. C-4416 (the “Former AMULA”).
D. While supporting the NHL-owned entities in the acquisition of the Coyotes franchise and
the assumption of the arena management responsibilities, the City, did not waive any of its rights against
the bankruptcy debtors with respect to the Former AMULA, including the Former Coyotes Owner’s
covenant to cause the Team to play all of the Team’s home games at the facility in the City currently
known as Jobing.com Arena (the “Arena”) in accordance with Section 9.5 of the Former AMULA.
E. The City has found and determined that the entering into of this Agreement by the City is
part of the City’s endeavor to mitigate the more than $500 million in future damages to the City caused by
the termination of the Former AMULA by the Debtors.
F. Upon the closing of a purchase by the Team Owner from Coyotes Newco, LLC of the
player contracts, the NHL franchise for the operation of the Team (the “Franchise”), and other assets
relating to the Team pursuant to a purchase agreement to be negotiated between the Team Owner, the
NHL and Coyotes Newco, LLC (the “NHL Purchase Agreement”) the Team Owner will be a member
of the NHL and will hold the franchise for the operation of the Team as an NHL hockey team bearing the
designation “Phoenix Coyotes”. Subject to the closing of the NHL Purchase Agreement, the City and the
Team Owner desire that the Team will play all of its home games, commencing on the Closing Date and
continuing for the term specified in this Agreement (together with any additional complete NHL hockey
seasons as may occur during any extension of the Term pursuant to this Agreement), at the Arena Facility
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the terms of the Noncompetition/Non-
Relocation Agreement, executed contemporaneously with this Agreement.
G. The City has determined that it is in the best interest of the City and its residents to
provide for the lease, management, and use of the Arena Facility in the manner described in this
Agreement. Such acquisition, management and use will benefit the City and its residents by providing a
substantial, regular, and continuing utilization of the Arena Facility by the Team Owner, providing
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