Optimistic Coyotes hiring at least 50
Move signals possible end of lockout
Pat Flannery
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 28, 2005 12:00 AM
Phoenix Coyotes officials are so optimistic about an end to the hockey lockout that they are hiring new employees to replace workers laid off a year ago when the labor dispute began.
Coyotes President Doug Moss said the team and Glendale Arena, which is operated by the team, together are 50 employees below full strength. About 20 workers were laid off last June in preparation for the lockout, and the balance of the vacancies are jobs that went unfilled when employees left for other reasons.
Moss said the Coyotes recently hired two new ticket-sales executives and the team is "in the process of hiring other people . . . in anticipation of going back to work in October."
Moss said the team plans to hire at least 50 people, some immediately and others as the NHL's September preseason nears, to get it back into full swing and to ready the arena for the return of hockey. The arena hosts more than 40 home games in a typical season.
Although there is no new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the NHL Players Association, Moss said most teams believe ongoing talks, which continued Monday in New York, will produce an agreement in the next three weeks. In any event, teams must start advance preparations with that in mind.
"I've got to be ready whenever the puck drops," Moss said.
The lockout began last Sept. 15 when players refused owner demands for a salary cap.
While local ticket prices for the coming season still haven't been decided, Moss said the league recognizes it has to win back fans once a labor deal is brokered. The team is rewarding Coyotes season ticket holders who left their payments on deposit throughout the lockout. Those fans will get twice as many tickets as they ordered for the coming season.
"It's a show of good faith," Moss said.
Move signals possible end of lockout
Pat Flannery
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 28, 2005 12:00 AM
Phoenix Coyotes officials are so optimistic about an end to the hockey lockout that they are hiring new employees to replace workers laid off a year ago when the labor dispute began.
Coyotes President Doug Moss said the team and Glendale Arena, which is operated by the team, together are 50 employees below full strength. About 20 workers were laid off last June in preparation for the lockout, and the balance of the vacancies are jobs that went unfilled when employees left for other reasons.
Moss said the Coyotes recently hired two new ticket-sales executives and the team is "in the process of hiring other people . . . in anticipation of going back to work in October."
Moss said the team plans to hire at least 50 people, some immediately and others as the NHL's September preseason nears, to get it back into full swing and to ready the arena for the return of hockey. The arena hosts more than 40 home games in a typical season.
Although there is no new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the NHL Players Association, Moss said most teams believe ongoing talks, which continued Monday in New York, will produce an agreement in the next three weeks. In any event, teams must start advance preparations with that in mind.
"I've got to be ready whenever the puck drops," Moss said.
The lockout began last Sept. 15 when players refused owner demands for a salary cap.
While local ticket prices for the coming season still haven't been decided, Moss said the league recognizes it has to win back fans once a labor deal is brokered. The team is rewarding Coyotes season ticket holders who left their payments on deposit throughout the lockout. Those fans will get twice as many tickets as they ordered for the coming season.
"It's a show of good faith," Moss said.
