Phoenix-based entrepreneur and developer Steve Ellman and hockeylegend Wayne Gretzky today meet with the National Hockey Leagueleadership in a Florida hotel to determine if their $87-millionpurchase proposal for the Phoenix Coyotes will be approved. The twohave to convince the ownership group that they have the financialclout to complete the purchase and manage the team.

The 30 NHL owners are expected to unanimously approve thepurchase.

If the sale is consummated, then Ellman is expected to moveforward with the $575-million redevelopment of an aging mall insouth Scottsdale that will be the site of a 17,500-seat ice hockeyarena. Demolition of the mall is about one-third completed, buthalted in September when it became evident that new constructionwouldn't begin this fall. Fighting between Ellman and the city ofScottsdale over Ellman's refusal to turn over sensitive financialdocuments led to the delay. Scottsdale will be investing as much as$100 million into the project in the form of tax abatement.