By Paul Giblin, The Republic
As the deadline nears for management groups to bid on running Glendale’s Gila River Arena, the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes and the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals are staying on the sidelines.
Coyotes President Anthony LeBlanc and Cardinals President Michael Bidwill told The Arizona Republic in separate interviews that their organizations have no intention to submit bids. The arena manager books events and concerts and maintains the facility.
The current Coyotes ownership group has managed the arena since 2013.
LeBlanc said he’s uncertain whether the Coyotes even have a long-term future at the 18,300-seat arena, which opened in 2003. Team officials are exploring the possibilities of a new arena somewhere in metropolitan Phoenix, he said.
