Now that the NHL and an ownership group led by Greg Jamison have a preliminary deal to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix, the question remains: What is going to happen to that nice new arena being erected in Quebec City, and another one in the works for Markham?

Commissioner Gary Bettman and Jamison delivered an “update” rather than a sale Monday night, which created uncertainty in Quebec City, where an 18,000-seat venue is being erected as a potential new home for an NHL club. Markham’s arena plans call for 19,000 seats, but now it appears both cities will have to wait for the next NHL candidate for relocation.

Attention should fall on the New Jersey Devils and Florida Panthers. Both teams have bled money for several years, and the Devils, while potential Stanley Cup finalists and residing in a new arena in Newark, were trying to shed a $250 million debt reported a year ago.

Florida’s situation may come to a head this summer, mirroring the Coyotes in 2009 when the NHL rescued the franchise from bankruptcy.

For now, Bettman said the NHL will “proceed towards a final agreement (sale)” of the Coyotes while Jamison will “proceed towards an agreement with the city of Glendale.”

“I hope it can be concluded in weeks as opposed to months,” Bettman said, nearly three years after the NHL took over control of the team.

When asked what Monday’s news means for Quebec City, Bettman said “we’re not focused on any other place for the Coyotes other than Glendale,”

Jamison enters after at least three previous bidders for the team, one that is enjoying a feel-good moment in the city where politicans have squabbled with a taxpayer watchdog, the Goldman Institute, over ways to keep the team from leaving.

The NHL also must deal with Wayne Gretzky, who is reportedly owed upwards of $10 million by the franchise he once coached.

It’s been speculated that one of the key concessions in the deal by the NHL is the waiving of the so-called “unconditional guarantee,” meant to ensure owners absorb team costs.

That guarantee is reportedly not included in Jamison’s arrangement, said to be worth $170 million, offset by terms of the lease agreement.

“On the business side, I’m confident ... a full-time ownership group can do a much better job than we have been able to do,” Bettman said. “Having franchise stability will enable Greg (Jamison) to accomplish things he’s accomplished in other places.”

Jamison brings almost two decades of NHL ownership experience, having joined the Sharks in 1993 and worked as president and CEO of the franchise in 1996. He was part of a group that bought the Sharks in 2002.

Jamison’s executive pedigree also includes stints as VP of business operations for the Indiana Pacers from 1987-93, and director of marketing for the Dallas Mavericks from 1980-87.

Glendale council member Phil Lieberman told reporters he is doubtful that Jamison can make a profit or keep the Coyotes in town long-term.

“Who knows?” Lieberman said. “Jamison says yes, but how do we know that’s not a bunch of bull. The NHL is the third owner of this team in the past five years and they’ve wanted $25 million a year to break even. How is Jamison going to make a profit? It’s impossible.”

The city is expected to see an estimated $4.5 million a year in revenue from the team, which over a five-year period boils the $92 million lease fees down to about $70 million.

Lieberman, though, cited the history of the University of Phoenix Stadium, adjacent to the Jobing.com Arena, which is managed at a cost of less than $10 million a year to taxpayers. Lieberman believes that if the Coyotes leave Glendale, the arena can be managed at lower cost and turn a profit with other events.

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Jamison would not reveal the identities of his ownership group.

The biggest hurdle remains the taxpayer watchdog Goldman Institute, which has opposed previous bids through its interpretations of Arizona law governing public subsidies to private companies. The institute has taken the city to court over access to sale documents.

“This has been a complicated situation ... we thought we had a (sale) in place a year ago, but a third party made it difficult to proceed,” Bettman said.

“I can’t predict what third parties may do. We felt the last deal was legally solid. This deal is structured differently than the last deal was structured.”

Bettman hopes the current deal will satisfy the Goldman Institute and proceed to a vote by the Glendale city council.

“We don’t see any reason they should (reject the deal), but if they do we’ll deal with it,” Bettman said.

Reports say the city has paid over $50 million to cover losses by the Coyotes over the past two years, and that those losses are now pegged at $30 million a year.

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