Glendale trying to keep arena lease talks secret

PHOENIX  - Glendale officials are fighting in court to keep documents about negotiations over the Phoenix Coyotes confidential until they finish talks with a potential new owner of the NHL team over use of city-owned Jobing.com Arena.

However, Glendale's attorney said Thursday that the city would make the documents public before the City Council voted on any new lease.

Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner of baseball's Chicago White Sox and the NBA's Chicago Bulls, has offered $148 million to buy the Coyotes out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy and keep the team in Glendale.

Part of his offer hinges on reworking the arena lease agreement with the city, which claims it would lose millions of dollars if the Coyotes relocate.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge will rule July 20 on whether Glendale must reveal the negotiation documents.

On Aug. 5, a federal bankruptcy court judge will decide whether to accept Reinsdorf's offer or hold a Sept. 10 auction that would be open to bidders who want to relocate the Coyotes.

That would allow Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie to renew his $212.5 million bid to buy the franchise and move it to Hamilton, Ontario.