Glendale rejects petitions for Coyotes referendum

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- The Glendale City Clerk's Office has rejected petitions that sought to put a referendum on the November ballot about the Phoenix Coyotes' pending arena management deal.

City officials said Monday that the petitions missed the July 9 deadline by three days and lacked the required 1,862 signatures.

The two Glendale residents who spearheaded the referendum turned in 1,568 signatures last Thursday.

Ken Jones and Joe Cobb said they wanted to give voters a chance to decide whether to overturn Glendale's 20-year, $324 million lease agreement with potential Coyotes buyer Greg Jamison. The City Council approved the deal last month.

The NHL has yet to finalize the sale to Jamison, a former San Jose Sharks chief executive. But league officials say the deal still is being worked on

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