Glendale wants to skip fourth quarter arena payment to Coyotes

The Arizona Coyotes arena dispute with Glendale took another turn as the city is seeking to skip a payment due to the team on July 1.

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 on 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 its 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.

• Ex-Glendale official calls conflict of interest allegation "ludicrous"