The NHL is one step closer to staying in the desert long term as Greg Jamieson has signed a long term lease with the City of Glendale contingent upon him completing the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes with the NHL by January 31.

Jamieson, who has previous NHL ties in San Jose, is heading a group of investors who are looking to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix, where the NHL has had control of the team for the past few seasons.

The City of Glendale had previously approved a 20 year lease agreement with the Jamieson group that pays 17 million dollars per season to operate the Jobing.com arena, home of the Coyotes. With the finalization of that agreement today, unless there are speed bumps along the way, the Coyotes will be sold to Jamieson sometime before the end of January.