In an interview before the third annual Winter Classic outdoor NHL game at Wrigley Field, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the Phoenix Coyotes "will be okay" in an interview with CNBC's Darren Rovell.
The Coyotes are owned by Jerry Moyes, the owner of national trucking firm Swift Transportation. In response to reports that the league is helping them get a cash infusion or whether they're going to be bankrupt, Bettman said "I don't believe they're going to be bankrupt. They're not going to miss any payroll. There always seems to be in this sector of the business world a lot of rumor and speculation. They've got some challenges but we think they'll be okay."
When Rovell followed up with a question as to whether the league supporting the team financially right now, Bettman stated "It's not unusual for a club to get advances against money that the league typically has for clubs, but Phoenix will be okay."
The NHL has thrived in the last three years with record revenue and attendance for the 2008-09 season.
