City wants to skip 4th quarter payment to NHL's Coyotes

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) The city of Glendale is seeking court approval to skip a $3.75 million quarterly payment to the Arizona Coyotes.

An attorney hired by the city filed a motion Wednesday asking a Maricopa County Superior Court judge to allow Glendale to either withhold the fourth-quarter payment due July 1 to IceArizona or deposit the money in an escrow account.

IceArizona owns the NHL team and manages the Gila River Arena for Glendale.

The City Council voted last week to terminate a 15-year, $225 million lease agreement with the Coyotes, citing a conflict-of-interest law.

The city says two Glendale employees who worked on the arena management deal that was approved in July 2013 later went to work for the Coyotes.

A judge granted the team's request for a temporary injunction last Friday.