CXLVIII - Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo had 'productive' meeting with Phoenix mayor

[Tawnos]

They are not fighting with anyone, other than the state. Tommy. Let's stop pointing fingers. They don't think Merulo will win. He probably wants out.

I think it's probably too strong to say that they don't think he'll win the auction, but it's not a guarantee and that reality has to be acknowledged. Along with the fact that even when he does win the auction, there are other things that could potentially derail.

 

[HolyGhost]

shit coming out in the last 12 hours is insane.

 

[gstommylee]

I think it's probably too strong to say that they don't think he'll win the auction, but it's not a guarantee and that reality has to be acknowledged.

Did anyone say it was a guarantee by anyone on here?

 

[Melrose Munch]

I think it's probably too strong to say that they don't think he'll win the auction, but it's not a guarantee and that reality has to be acknowledged.

I actually think if he wanted to just build a housing development, he would be a lock to win.

 

[KevFu]

This IS the governor's trying to get AM to take the deal they have on the table.

League won't get mad, because Frank got it from them lol. It's just politicking and public opinion.

They gave AM a good deal to sell, make a bit of money, maybe have a team in the future, now they're sabotaging public support.

Makes perfect sense.


SLC is still a weird destination though. I liked Houston, Quebec, Hamilton/2nd southern Ontario,etc..

After hearing 30 years of "hockey can't work in the desert," why is a place that hosted the Winter Olympics weird?

They have had an NBA team for like 50 years. The market is growing. They've got money and corporate support, and most importantly, government support to build them facilities every 30-36 years. SLC is a good pick for an NHL team.

And I think what makes this news leak we're discussing actually makes a lick of sense is that "If you're going to add the SLC market to the NHL, why make them wait 3-5 years with an arena, when PHX is waiting 3-5 years on an arena? You have two owners, each with 'half' a franchise at the ready."

If this wasn't tied to SLC expansion, then wouldn't the NHL nudge them to Houston instead?

 

[objectiveposter]

If AM gets 1 billion.... and the rights for a future expansion team.....does that mean the NHL will only charge 1 billion for an expansion team in Arizona? That seems low considering what other markets are selling for. If its more than 1 billion than AM would be a sucker to sell for 1 billion than have to fork over 1 billion+ for the expansion team.

 

[MeHateHe]

Also, what's two weeks from now?

 

[GKJ]

If AM gets 1 billion.... and the rights for a future expansion team.....does that mean the NHL will only charge 1 billion for an expansion team in Arizona? That seems low considering what other markets are selling for. If its more than 1 billion than AM would be a sucker to sell for 1 billion than have to fork over 1 billion+ for the expansion team.

If it’s the deal they make with him, it could be.

 

[Ernie]

I can also tell you IF he has a deal in place where they move this team to SLC and get him a expansion team in 3-4 years the majority of fans won't accept Meruelo as an owner. No matter how much work he put in to keep them here the last 4 years.

Quoted for posterity.

So would you say that Meruelo should not even bother?

 

[hockeyguy0022]

Seems like a walk away deal, here's 700 million and 5 years to do it, otherwise go away with 700 mil in your pocket for your trouble and expenses.

Nice gesture IMO.

 

[TheLegend]

Quoted for posterity.

So would you say that Meruelo should not even bother?

That's up to Meruelo.

 

[GKJ]

They are not fighting with anyone, other than the state. Tommy. Let's stop pointing fingers. They don't think Merulo will win. He probably wants out.

I think it's probably too strong to say that they don't think he'll win the auction, but it's not a guarantee and that reality has to be acknowledged. Along with the fact that even when he does win the auction, there are other things that could potentially derail.

It’s an unknown. Anyone could show up unannounced at the auction. I feel like if it was known who else could be there, someone here would have figured it out. Someone posted that something like 25% of these state auctions have multiple bidders. But they don’t know what they don’t know, and they can also delay the auction at any time for any reason.

 

[sneakytitz]

Seems like a walk away deal, here's 700 million and 5 years to do it, otherwise go away with 700 mil in your pocket for your trouble and expenses.

Nice gesture IMO.

I believe the rumor is he will get the full billion and and Smith is paying $1.3 billion ($1 billion for the team and $300 million for relocation fees).

 

[TheLegend]

Seems like a walk away deal, here's 700 million and 5 years to do it, otherwise go away with 700 mil in your pocket for your trouble and expenses.

Nice gesture IMO.

And then in that 5 year window, pays the NHL that $700 million (and more) back to replace a hockey team he already had.

 

[Brodie]

if he doesn't get the team back in 5 years they expand to Houston and Atlanta and he pockets the money while the league more than makes up for the loss of Phoenix and keeps a third team in the Mountain West. Seems like a straightforward win for everyone except the Yotes fans, who have never been at the forefront of any decisions beyond being a political football anyway.

 

[Dr Pepper]

if the concern is that AM might lose the auction AND that three more years in Mullet are unacceptable then imo that is confirmation that this is over. The NHL isn't here for it. They're giving AM an out and I'm sure they will offer some sweetners to try and keep the auction going. But you can't fight city hall and if Gary and co. are out then it's just a waiting game to dot the i's and cross the t's

Suppose Meruelo even wins the auction......it'd probably still mean at least another two years at Mullett anyway, wouldn't it?

Not sure how fast that project would take, from start to finish, but I imagine it'd be a while.

 

[GKJ]

if he doesn't get the team back in 5 years they expand to Houston and Atlanta and he pockets the money while the league more than makes up for the loss of Phoenix and keeps a third team in the Mountain West. Seems like a straightforward win for everyone except the Yotes fans, who have never been at the forefront of any decisions beyond being a political football anyway.

If Meruelo skips off with the money, someone else will emerge eventually. The market is too big and the real estate is too good.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Does anyone remember how much AM paid for the team, and have a rough idea how much he has lost in operating the team? Im guessing the total is much less than a billion, which means AM could simply sell the team and pocket a few hundred million in profit and move on with his life.

I don't think the oficial number ever came out. Nothing found on google aside from a reference that it was for 1 billion $ from a non-credible source.

 

[GKJ]

Suppose Meruelo even wins the auction......it'd probably still mean at least another two years at Mullett anyway, wouldn't it?

Not sure how fast that project would take, from start to finish, but I imagine it'd be a while.

They think if everything goes perfect, they would open in 2027. They’re probably right. But life ain’t perfect.

 

[Tawnos]

Suppose Meruelo even wins the auction......it'd probably still mean at least another two years at Mullett anyway, wouldn't it?

Not sure how fast that project would take, from start to finish, but I imagine it'd be a while.

Puck drop for the 27-28 season, which isn't any different than it would've been in Tempe (which had a lot more land prep that needed to be done).

That aspect does sort of seem like some of the owners got cold feet on something they were willing to accept in the past.

 

[GKJ]

I don't think the oficial number ever came out. Nothing found on google aside from a reference that it was for 1 billion $ from a non-credible source.

He came in as an investor and later bought out Andrew Barroway, so it was no less than $700m

 

[LPHabsFan]

Does anyone remember how much AM paid for the team, and have a rough idea how much he has lost in operating the team? Im guessing the total is much less than a billion, which means AM could simply sell the team and pocket a few hundred million in profit and move on with his life.

It's going to come out eventually that he didn't pay anything for it.

 

[GKJ]

Puck drop for the 27-28 season, which isn't any different than it would've been in Tempe (which had a lot more land prep that needed to be done).

That aspect does sort of seem like some of the owners got cold feet on something they were willing to accept in the past.

The vote was absolute, that’s why. They would know they were moving forward had they won it, which they also did very poorly at campaigning for.

Meruelo had this parcel as an option, which has become the option. Xavier Guitierez has been up front that there’s no other option after this other than relocation.

 

[TheLegend]

Suppose Meruelo even wins the auction......it'd probably still mean at least another two years at Mullett anyway, wouldn't it?

Not sure how fast that project would take, from start to finish, but I imagine it'd be a while.

Current timeline would be almost the same as it was with TED.

Had TED been approved they would be just on the end of the landfill remediation step at this point..

 

[oldunclehue]

This is nuts…but a great idea by the nhl! Merulo will have the time and focus on the new development if he gets the land! Win win for both, coyotes fans are the losers of this happens but can get a full re-start once the arenas built!