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

[TheLegend]

You dismissed me with the same kind of statement months ago when the NHLPA said they didn’t like mullet… or much the same about Tempe, and Tempe’s referendum…..or any of the other Dozens of failures the market has had over the years….so forgive me if i don’t really think you have a critical analysis of the issue.

Back then Salt Lake City and Atlanta weren't in the discussion.... they are now.

in my mind it 100% changes things.

Well.... you'll have to forgive me when I say you've randomly popping into here over the years when things seem to be bad and you might finally be right on something.

is it The CAUSe? no.

You certainly think it was important enough to make a whole post on it.

but it indicates that just like Tempe, Murello had more hurdles to jump than maybe people believed, and again, when you have places begging for franchises and are trying to grow the game, another mounting public political squabble, and possible legal/legislative battle in a bad market, who continuously say a loud collective “NO” to pro hockey…,that , that might be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Oh no...... everyone was aware of the hurdles.

I was all for Tempe having that public referendum and even if it did go down I still feel it was the right thing. The Coyotes just failed getting their message across.

And btw..... that vote wasn't about hockey..... it was about TAXES. Same group that fought TED, weeks later went after Glendale for the same thing on a hotel/resort currently under construction. But if you want to spin it that way, fine.

 

[GKJ]

One thing i wonder about is if AM was willing to buy land and build the arena and a full entertainment district while paying for all the needed infrastructure with zero tax payer support, why not do it in Houston?

Someone else can make it clearer, but Fertitta basically has a monopoly on the area that only he’s allowed to own a building.

 

[TheLegend]

One thing i wonder about is if AM was willing to buy land and build the arena and a full entertainment district while paying for all the needed infrastructure with zero tax payer support, why not do it in Houston?

Good question. He might even get the government to pitch in. Certainly won't in Arizona.

 

[TheLegend]

Someone else can make it clearer, but Fertitta basically has a monopoly on the area that only he’s allowed to own a building.

Bettman hinted it would require a new arena. But recalling what little I remember of it discussion here in BoH, I don't think Fetitta has that big of a lock. Maybe in the city limits and someone could go just outside that.

 

[bleedblue94]

To be fair, while there is no good way to move a team, there's an argument to be made to give fans a chance to say goodbye. Thrashers fans that went to their final game had basically no idea that they were doing so.

And if this comes out now ish then it's not going to expose into the public during the playoffs. The league hates the playoffs being overshadowed. The coyotes at this point will do that regardless if some people just want to laugh at the franchise. Most people will be happy for the saga to take a tangible step but if they are moving I'm sure and I hope Gary makes an comment at that presser that returning to Arizona is inevitable once the arena situation is sorted out. Mullet was always just a place holder for Ted, once Ted failed it changed everything bc you were tacking years onto what the league convinced itself to accept with the temp situation in mullet. Mullet being longer term without finality just isn't going to work. Additionally the comments that the fans hate the league for not waiting 2 months are missing the point. A 2 month commitment right now it's the same as 14 months. They won't risk that unless it's all but a slam dunk which it is not.

 

[MNNumbers]

Bettman hinted it would require a new arena. But recalling what little I remember of it discussion here in BoH, I don't think Fetitta has that big of a lock. Maybe in the city limits and someone could go just outside that.

It's a county law. Harris County actually owns the BB arena, and there is a line in the lease which prohibits the county from helping any competing arena. That basically shuts out a competing arena until you get as far north as...say...The Woodlands (which is in the next county north.)

 

[cheswick]

The second the group from salt lake came out publicly that they were all in on a team as soon as next season it was pretty obvious what was potentially happening. The Salt Lake City possibility was being discussed last summer already by John Shannon.

 

[Devils 3silverones]

Hmm. Well that's a surprise... Thought. 4 games to enjoy it I guess.
I never did make it yo Mullett.

I'll be back when I'm off vacation.

 

[sneakytitz]

It's a county law. Harris County actually owns the BB arena, and there is a line in the lease which prohibits the county from helping any competing arena. That basically shuts out a competing arena until you get as far north as...say...The Woodlands (which is in the next county north.)

Bingo!

Houston could definitely support another arena. They're in the same league as LA, NYC, and Chicago these days. But other factors are at hand. Besides, the latest renovations to the Toyota Center make it more than NHL ready which torpedoes things beyond the most cavalier of private investors, which AM ain't.

 

[Voight]

Friedman saying one of the reasons that there’s a push is because they want it to be done before the players and staff breaks for the summer.

Which makes sense. Aside from the players/coaches/hockey ops you have everyone else who would need time to make arrangements if they move with the team, as well as give management time to hire replacements for the ones who decide to stay in phoenix. Given the time crunch I imagine there won't be mass firings and they'll let people make that decision on their own.

 

[Skidooboy]

Back then Salt Lake City and Atlanta weren't in the discussion.... they are now.




Well.... you'll have to forgive me when I say you've randomly popping into here over the years when things seem to be bad and you might finally be right on something.



You certainly think it was important enough to make a whole post on it.


Oh no...... everyone was aware of the hurdles.

I was all for Tempe having that public referendum and even if it did go down I still feel it was the right thing. The Coyotes just failed getting their message across.

And btw..... that vote wasn't about hockey..... it was about TAXES. Same group that fought TED, weeks later went after Glendale for the same thing on a hotel/resort currently under construction. But if you want to spin it that way, fine.

30+ years of failed pro hockey in the valley… At every single level.
heck you have a gold star college program with D- support.

but yeah… they just didn’t get the message out….

lol

yeah i’ve been on to something… a rational analysis of the market.
one the BOG finally has had enough common sense to come around to.

the Valley has no interest in supporting hockey and never has and never will no matter how much money you throw at it.

 

[bleedblue94]

If I understand what you're saying, the Coyotes twitter account did "sort of deny it". Depends if you consider this a "denial".

In theory both these statements can be true with an expansion coyotes 2.0 coming back.

 

[GKJ]

Which makes sense. Aside from the players/coaches/hockey ops you have everyone else who would need time to make arrangements if they move with the team, as well as give management time to hire replacements for the ones who decide to stay in phoenix. Given the time crunch I imagine there won't be mass firings and they'll let people make that decision on their own.

The Coyotes supposedly have a very small staff, which is not nobody, but it was one of the big concerns with the campaign last year that the hockey ops was doing much of that work to the degree they were able to do it.

 

[LT]

Bettman hinted it would require a new arena. But recalling what little I remember of it discussion here in BoH, I don't think Fetitta has that big of a lock. Maybe in the city limits and someone could go just outside that.

Houston is far too geographically widespread of a city for a hockey team to have much success anywhere outside of Downtown.

 

[Legion34]

So is seravalli lying again or do we believe him this time??

 

[Whileee]

Four quick points...

1. As a fan who once lost an NHL franchise, I empathize with Yotes fans, and hope this is a more temporary absence than Winnipeg fans experienced.

2. Just as Bettman has lots of admiration from Winnipeg fans for his role in returning NHL hockey to Winnipeg, Arizona fans have reason to appreciate Bettman's efforts to keep the Yotes there, and to expect he'll work to bring the NHL back.

3. So much of the Yotes problems were generated by weak putative and temporary owners, and there should be plenty of skepticism about Meruelo. The NHL needs a really solid owner who can be relied upon with adequate financial backing to make a long-term commitment.

4. I'm confident that the NHL can work in Arizona as long as they can clear the slate and get the fundamentals right, starting with solid owners.

 

[Ernie]

It's quite something how Coyotes fans are just now waking up to how terrible Meruelo is.

He and Bettman tag teamed to screw y'all. The team had a perfectly fine arena in Glendale, all that was needed to make things work was ownership with just a shred of competence and a willingness to work with the city to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. It's too bad, I firmly believe that if hockey can work in Florida and Texas and California there's absolutely no reason it couldn't have worked in Phoenix.

 

[bleedblue94]

Morgan calling out Meruelo on not keeping his own staff informed...had to learn all of what is happening in the media...not even a comment from Gutierrez...

Absolutely shitty leadership from the organization

 

[Lions67]

I sure as hell hope we have finally made it to the end and tuat the mangy desert dog has finally been put down.
But I do feel badly for the hardcore fans, Legend is a good dude and if he’s guilty of anything it’s that he cares for his team.

 

[bleedblue94]

Only from the standpoint when he was projecting things that weren't confirmed. Some of it often looked like rambling nonsense.... and in some small cases even wrong.

Morgan brought him on to give him a chance to give more depth to this recent story. What's the problem with that?? I'd rather see that than get it all off of Twitter in bits and pieces.

I also give credit where it's due. Servalli made a good presentation on this podcast.

Friedman confirmed it and added that the situation is getting bad. PA, owners etc.... are very leery Meruelo can pull this off. He gets the land and then what? It's three more years playing at ASU. There's pressure coming from multiple sides.

When the hosts start by apologizing for discrediting his sources and then give him the forum to talk about how the team is leaving and the process and reasons for it, it's okay to acknowledge that blindly discrediting him was probably a mistake. Frank is far from perfect but he isn't an idiot or hollow.

 

[TheLegend]

30+ years of failed pro hockey in the valley… At every single level.
heck you have a gold star college program with D- support.

but yeah… they just didn’t get the message out….

lol

yeah i’ve been on to something… a rational analysis of the market.
one the BOG finally has had enough common sense to come around to.

the Valley has no interest in supporting hockey and never has and never will no matter how much money you throw at it.

Yeah sure....

 

[bleedblue94]

I wasn't posting about Frank earlier today.



Jeezsus.... try using paragraphs....

I knew there wasn't wiggle room. After TED tanked I was concerned how much longer the league would put up with it.

Current timeline runs one more year than TED would have, but there's no absolutes Meruelo can pull this off. In spite of Meruelo declaring he's going to make it work come hell or high water.

Had there not been these bids from Salt Lake City or Atlanta in the queue the league MIGHT have been willing to tolerate it an extra year. There's just too much pressure coming come multiple sides for them to do that.

It's hard when you are giving the kids a bath and using speech to text ha. My grammar and formatting has been awful today, fully acknowledge it.

Aside from that you can't cherry pick when you deam someone credible. If you are acknowledging it today than it absolutely plays to comments you made in the past. It's okay to say your were wrong.

 

[TheLegend]

When the hosts start by apologizing for discrediting his sources and then give him the forum to talk about how the team is leaving and the process and reasons for it, it's okay to acknowledge that blindly discrediting him was probably a mistake. Frank is far from perfect but he isn't an idiot or hollow.

They never "discredited his sources".... they wanted him to show his work. They gave him a forum to provide that and he did.

Craig could have done this 1 on 1 over the phone without a public forum and he didn't.

 

[bleedblue94]

I will say this, IF the coyotes are moving then a damn well hope someone starts a new thread about the rebirth of the franchise to track what is going on, bc I expect and hope that becomes a new focus, to get the arena and district if needed done so the team can be reborn.

I was very happy when the jets came back, I will be equally happy when the coyotes come back.

They never "discredited his sources".... they wanted him to show his work. They gave him a forum to provide that and he did.

Craig could have done this 1 on 1 over the phone without a public forum and he didn't.

I'm not talking about discrediting him today, I'm talking about in the past. They wanted him on their show today bc they know he's right and they acknowledged it in the beginning. They see the writing on the wall. Today was acknowledging in a classy way they were wrong to discredit him in the past...

 

[blues10]

I feel for any fan base that loses a franchise. The only silver lining may be the chance for a franchise re set in as soon as 5 years.

Solid ownership will be step 1. Maybe Muerelo gets his arena built and proves the naysayers wrong or maybe he is the grifter many have painted him as.

Time will tell but time seems to be ticking on this version of the Coyotes.