Arizona Coyotes to Salt Lake City
Ryan D’Amico
Stillman News Writer
The NHL Board of Governors voted this past Thursday unanimously to approve a $1.2 billion sale from Alex Meruelo who founded the Meruelo Group to the Utah Jazz owners Ryan and Ashley Smith for the franchise’s move to Utah next season.
The Smiths initially built a relationship with commissioner Gary Bettman wanting an expansion franchise. However, over the past few months, the objective changed, and the commissioner approached them about solving the Coyotes problem instead. All professional sports leagues’ objectives are corporate sponsors and business. Second, comes through the fans and environment of the location, stadium, and players. The problem is playing in an arena that’s not suited for NHL games, fans, and players. Playing in Arizona State’s arena with a 5000-seat capacity the commissioner is trying to find a better location in the Phoenix area that is suitable. Bettman says Arizona hockey is not over though and that he has the right to reactivate a team in the next five years and has the ownership of the name logo and brand of the Coyotes.
This move came fast with not even the managers and players knowing what was going to happen until one of the last games. The Smiths and League wanted to keep the world in the dark about the relocation until it was finished and until then didn’t mention anything. Until the general manager met the team on the road to let them know as players and coaches were demanding answers before one of their last games in their home arena.
They will be playing in the Utah Jazz arena until everything is situated along with maybe a temporary name and logo for the 2024-25 regular season. The new owners are not in a rush to push out a quick name and logo just yet but are more focused on making the arena usable for hockey. Making changes to the entrance of the arena, adding more seating internally for more fans, and adding extra locker rooms that are made for hockey players.
As we see more often now, more and more teams are relocating for a better arena suitable for more profit for the owners and league. Also, in play for the players, and coaches and a good destination for fans and new players.
Contact Ryan at ryan.damico@student.shu.edu