Coyotes' CEO: Arena rebrand about 'economic viability of this club'

The Arizona Coyotes are confident that a new casino deal won't leave them empty-handed at the table.

The team announced plans to rename its home barn Gila River Arena after finalizing a nine-year sponsorship agreement with the casino chain Wednesday.

It's the latest corporate pact brokered by the organization in an effort to further stabilize a team that has been on life support for the past decade. 

"This is all about the economic viability of this club," Coyotes co-owner, president and CEO Anthony LeBlanc said via Stephen Whyno of the Canadian Press. "This is the most significant deal that we have in our corporate sponsors."

The City of Glendale must approve the deal before Sept. 9 but, as Whyno notes, the $600,000 endowment they will receive as a result will likely forego any preclusion.