The new president of the Phoenix Coyotes says he has recently met multiple parties interested in buying the team, besides Ice Edge Holdings, which has been in negotiations with Glendale and the NHL for months to buy the team, and apart from on-and-off suitor Jerry Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago Bulls and White Sox.

"There are others out there that are viable," Mike Nealy, who took over one month ago, said. But such groups "like to stay quieter."

Speculation about who will own the National Hockey League-controlled team escalated last week when Glendale officials announced Ice Edge had not provided sufficient records demonstrating the group's financing to buy the team. The city required the records if Ice Edge wanted exclusive talks. Glendale would not confirm Monday whether they are talking to other groups.

Ice Edge, made up of Canadian and American businessmen, denies the city's claim. An Ice Edge spokesman said the group submitted the necessary documents, and the deal is moving forward.

The Glendale Republic sat down with Nealy on Friday to ask about his plans for running the team.

On his career background

Nealy, 45, describes his years in the non-sports world as a "trouble fixer." He traveled to companies owned by Deluxe Corporation/eFunds that were having financial problems and helped turn them around, he said.

Nealy then handled money matters during four years with the Minnesota Wild hockey team, before joining the Coyotes in 2006 as chief financial officer.

Nealy says he's "not a traditional accounting guy," painting a picture of a money-cruncher tucked away in a closet wearing a green-brimmed hat. In the past few years, Nealy says he's taken on tasks beyond budgeting, such as selling sponsorships and networking with partners.

Indeed, he has the firm handshake and broad smile of a confident salesman and talks passionately about increasing the team's fan base.

"I love sports," he said. "When you're working for a fun product, it makes work easier."

On making the Coyotes profitable

The team has cut costs. Now the mission is raising revenue, Nealy says.

For instance, the Coyotes staff was about 150 strong a few years ago. It has dropped to about 100, he said.

"There are some empty spots but we're still getting things done," he said. "Doing more with less - that is a lot of what I'm pushing."

Nealy is beefing up the team's marketing efforts.

A new top marketing position will be filled in two weeks, he said.

And sales staffers are using a more targeted approach to sell Coyotes seats and concert tickets. In the past, the franchise purchased lists such as new homeowners in the area and made cold calls. Employees now use information like that entered on Ticketmaster to deliver advertising to personal e-mails.

A Valley resident who attended Metallica and Van Halen concerts would probably buy a ticket to an upcoming Bruce Springsteen performance, Nealy said.

"We're being smarter," he said.

On ticket sales

Season ticket sales are the priority. But soon the Coyotes will roll out mini-packs, single tickets and family packages. Nealy said the prices should be comparable to last year. The team also will introduce "add-ons" such as a set price for a meal that can be purchased with a ticket, he said.

Coyotes officials would not release the number of new and renewed season tickets sold so far, although Nealy said renewals are 20 percent higher than last year and "new sales have been very strong."

Media spokesman Sergey Kocharov said the numbers are higher than the past three years and are "significantly higher" than the 1,800 total cited by a reporter at Canadian television station Sportsnet earlier this week.

Some fans that stopped attending in recent years have returned after the Coyotes made the first playoff round last season, Nealy said.

"When you're winning, the crowds come," he said.

On possible new parking fee

Glendale's negotiations with potential buyers include a parking fee of $8 to $20 for all events at Jobing.com Arena.

Although Nealy said he is not involved in the city's talks, he believes the parking fee would be paid for with the purchase of a ticket for convenience, though parking would likely be listed as a separate purchase.

On players showing personality

Some fans blamed Coyotes executives for shutting down the politically incorrect Twitter account of player Paul Bissonnette, which attracted fans who craved insight into his unabashed personality.

But Nealy said it was Bissonnette's decision.

"We wouldn't do that," he said. "It's not like we control every minute of their lives."

In fact, Nealy said he wasn't aware of any social-media rules for NHL players.

"Besides the allure of the game and the action, having that connection to the players is important to fans," he said.

Nealy said providing opportunities for fans to get to know players is "something we need to do more of," whether it's visiting hospitals or throwing parties with beverage sponsors.

On getting a team owner by start of the season

"It would be very important," Nealy said.

The uncertainty "distracts us from focusing on the team and the season," which begins in October, he said.

But Nealy is confident the NHL and Glendale will secure an owner soon.

"I have very little worry about us finding an owner and it happening," he said.

Nealy said he has met the Ice Edge group.

"They're all great guys. They want to own this team badly," he said. And "they're very bullish on being able to get things done."

But Nealy cautioned: "They're also not the only people out there."

On his first month as CEO

"I've been excited about what's happening in one month, but I'll never be content," he said.

Nealy says he is working to raise everyone's optimism. He hands out a half-page list of franchise records and awards won last year.

"That's braggable material," he said. "There's been a lot of reason to get down in the past, but I think the scale has tipped."

On being the finance man during the bankruptcy hearings

Nealy said some sharp criticisms of Coyotes' expenses during bankruptcy court last summer were accurate. "Some were not," he said.

For instance, attorneys cited the Coyotes as among the league's biggest spenders on overhead costs.

Nealy says that's because the team must hire more sales staff to fill seats than other teams with larger fan bases.

But moving the team offices to the arena, instead of paying high rent on the second-floor of Westgate City Center is a possibility.

"It's something we could look at," he said.

Such decisions are in limbo until a new owner takes over.

On being accessible to fans

"I'll be roaming the concourse. I'm interested in getting to know and talk to fans," Nealy said, adding that he is a member of the Coyotes booster club.

But he won't be sending messages on Twitter anytime soon. "I don't think people want to know what Mike Nealy had for lunch."

He wants the focus to stay on the Coyotes. "It's not about me, it's about the team," he said.

On his salary

Nealy declined to disclose his salary or any bump in pay when he took over as team president. But he said annual increases were scheduled for that time. Nealy would not say if he will earn more than former president Doug Moss, but pointed out that Moss had been with the team for many years.