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

[Ernie]

As an asshole troll (on the topic of the Coyotes) myself, I agree. Strang's reporting has been excellent and thorough on this topic, yet she gets shat all over by a certain portion of that fanbase every time she writes anything (accurately) about the team's struggles.

I get it -- I don't like when there's negative press about the Jets, either -- but there's a world of difference between "this is a hit piece" and "this is a well-written story that is shining a light on some truths that make me uncomfortable, personally".

Where on earth did the idea that she's Meghan Chayka's best friend come from, anyhow? Was there any shred of evidence for that?

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I think that could have been a factor that lulled the league into taking Meruelo in as an owner.

If this is the end, which is still TBD, I am sorry. I know I don't personally have anything to do with it but relocation is a huge black eye on the whole league and the ones that have the most emotionally invested here don't walk away with $$$ like an owner does...they just leave with emotional scars.

It sucked for Quebec, it sucked for Atlanta and if it happens to you guys it sucks for Arizona too.

 

[TheLegend]

With the leak that the Coyotes haven't been paying their hotel bills, it really makes you wonder what the actual state of Meruelo's finances are.

It's just so braindead to be pulling those moves while you're trying to sell the idea you can build a $3bn project. I know that Katie Strang made a case that stiffing suppliers is just his way of doing business, but to do this now, at this juncture?

It really makes you wonder just how over-leveraged Meruelo is. He's made a "successful" business of buying distressed assets, but how are those assets actually doing?

I’d say the physical assets are there. There’s been nothing to date that would suggest his other operations are in any distress. That can change of course.

Liquidity is definitely not.

 

[Ernie]

Just looked at XG's LinkedIn myself.. he's been a Meruelo guy since 2010 working as Chief Investment Officer for Meruelo's investment group... LOL

In fairness he's also had some side hustles along the way. I don't know if I'd say this is the end of the line for the land auction / arena project. Even if he is sticking around for that he'll have lost a boatload of responsibilities.

 

[TheLegend]

Where on earth did the idea that she's Meghan Chayka's best friend come from, anyhow? Was there any shred of evidence for that?

Social media.

 

[Ernie]

Social media.

Elaborate

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Arizona's liquidity problems were obvious when you noticed that the most important part of each trade they'd make was not taking money back.

 

[Stumbledore]

Don’t worry they’ll find another team to attsck


Your denying that the Canadian media hasn’t been going the coyotes and any other sunbelt team?

He's not denying anything at all. Read his post more carefully.

What do people have to make shit up to attack Canada?

 

[Tawnos]

As an asshole troll (on the topic of the Coyotes) myself, I agree. Strang's reporting has been excellent and thorough on this topic, yet she gets shat all over by a certain portion of that fanbase every time she writes anything (accurately) about the team's struggles.

I get it -- I don't like when there's negative press about the Jets, either -- but there's a world of difference between "this is a hit piece" and "this is a well-written story that is shining a light on some truths that make me uncomfortable, personally".

I'm not a Coyotes fan, but I was and am critical of her reporting. The problem is that every time Strang has reported on the issue, it comes across as gossip rather than investigative journalism. I disagree that she's been excellent or thorough. Especially not that second one. Frankly, a lot of what's coming out now is being presented in the same gossipy way. Friedman has the best sources around the league, for sure, but he's also the king of NHL gossip... it's why I stopped listening to his and Marek's podcast. Marek engages in it too when he's with Friedman, but his radio show is of significantly better quality than the podcast.

I'm sure a lot of what's coming out right now at least is close to the truth, but I'm looking forward to the day we get reporting on all this that doesn't trigger my distaste for that kind of presentation of information.

 

[TheLegend]

If this is the end, which is still TBD, I am sorry. I know I don't personally have anything to do with it but relocation is a huge black eye on the whole league and the ones that have the most emotionally invested here don't walk away with $$$ like an owner does...they just leave with emotional scars.

It sucked for Quebec, it sucked for Atlanta and if it happens to you guys it sucks for Arizona too.

Here’s how I’m looking at this at this moment.

You can say the league did what they could to keep a team in this market, but they also played a large part in damaging it.

If the Coyotes go, they will want to be back.

BUT…..

They have to take some responsibility for contributing in destroying a market they seem to covet so much (and this goes beyond Bettman).

If Meruelo manages to take the next 5 years the league gives him and builds this ED/arena. There’s just way too much baggage now attached to him for the fans to ever trust him.

The rumored offer to move the AHL franchise up to to Tempe from Tucson ‘might’ work in keeping interest here That’s going to depend on what the Smith group does.

Broadcast wise… Scripps has been running Coyotes games in SLC this year along with Vegas. Not aware if where that deal stands but I would think they’d continue broadcasting games the Phoenix. What retention they may get is but the fans here do have a connection with most of the players and they could follow them.

 

[Tawnos]

If this is the end, which is still TBD, I am sorry. I know I don't personally have anything to do with it but relocation is a huge black eye on the whole league and the ones that have the most emotionally invested here don't walk away with $$$ like an owner does...they just leave with emotional scars.

It sucked for Quebec, it sucked for Atlanta and if it happens to you guys it sucks for Arizona too.

It absolutely sucks for the fans in those markets.

As far as it being a black eye on the whole league, ultimately there's never any tangible effect of it. The NFL has had relocations, even "embarrassingly handled" ones, and seen no significant damage from them. The NBA and MLB too. And nearly every time a market has gotten a team back, the fans come out in support.

It'll be no different this time.

 

[TheLegend]

As an asshole troll (on the topic of the Coyotes) myself, I agree. Strang's reporting has been excellent and thorough on this topic, yet she gets shat all over by a certain portion of that fanbase every time she writes anything (accurately) about the team's struggles.

I get it -- I don't like when there's negative press about the Jets, either -- but there's a world of difference between "this is a hit piece" and "this is a well-written story that is shining a light on some truths that make me uncomfortable, personally".

Meh…. Kinda missed you.

Those old days were fun.

 

[TheLegend]

Elaborate

Pics of them together.
(and No I’m not going down that rabbit hole because it’s not worth the time)

 

[Ernie]

Pics of them together.
(and No I’m not going down that rabbit hole because it’s not worth the time)

Yes, I'm sure it's not worth the time to find photos that likely don't exist, and even if they did would prove absolutely nothing.

 

[LadyStanley]

Friedman with long discussion of what's happening. Possible contingencies of sale/re-starting Arizona team, etc.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Here’s how I’m looking at this at this moment.

You can say the league did what they could to keep a team in this market, but they also played a large part in damaging it.

If the Coyotes go, they will want to be back.

BUT…..

They have to take some responsibility for contributing in destroying a market they seem to covet so much (and this goes beyond Bettman).

If Meruelo manages to take the next 5 years the league gives him and builds this ED/arena. There’s just way too much baggage now attached to him for the fans to ever trust him.

The rumored offer to move the AHL franchise up to to Tempe from Tucson ‘might’ work in keeping interest here That’s going to depend on what the Smith group does.

Broadcast wise… Scripps has been running Coyotes games in SLC this year along with Vegas. Not aware if where that deal stands but I would think they’d continue broadcasting games the Phoenix. What retention they may get is but the fans here do have a connection with most of the players and they could follow them.

They'd be fools to not eventually want to re-try the East Valley with a (hypothetical) stable, money-making arena and solid ownership. The market is far too big to ignore. After all, they're looking into Atlanta again less than 15 years after they relocated and I'm willing to be it would take less time than that if the stars align. But they gotta have the arena either built or locked down situation-wise beforehand.

If that does happen, they should do a total reboot. No ties to the Coyotes whatsoever. Unfortunately, the Coyotes brand might be poison at this point. Greater Phoenix, on the other hand, isn't poison and I will vehemently disagree with anyone that thinks so. Las Vegas isn't naturally any better of a hockey market than Phoenix is, the difference is ownership, front office leadership and the arena.

 

[Reaser]

It absolutely sucks for the fans in those markets.

As far as it being a black eye on the whole league, ultimately there's never any tangible effect of it. The NFL has had relocations, even "embarrassingly handled" ones, and seen no significant damage from them. The NBA and MLB too. And nearly every time a market has gotten a team back, the fans come out in support.

It'll be no different this time.

Also, an argument to be made that the Yotes existing is/has been more of a black eye on the whole league than them relocating would/will be.

It's a franchise that the U.S. national broadcast partners have to avoid putting on linear TV like the plague. An unusable U.S. market. Even the one linear game they put on last season, that was by 10k the least-viewed U.S. national broadcast of the season, to the surprise of no one who follows such things.

Plus of course, the playing in a college arena. NHL doesn't get a lot of national headlines in the U.S.. The Yotes embarrassment(s) gain national traction and you get the usual "lol, NHL" response which in that specific case is the Yotes directly being responsible for embarrassing the entire league.

 

[Brodie]

I know it's a form of comfort for Yotes fans, but this relo wouldn't hold a candle to what's happening with the A's in terms of overall embarrassment for the league. At the end of the day, I still encounter tons and tons of casuals who instinctively go "lmao why hockey in hot place???" so I'm not even sure this will register as embarrassing outside of Arizona

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I know it's a form of comfort for Yotes fans, but this relo wouldn't hold a candle to what's happening with the A's in terms of overall embarrassment for the league. At the end of the day, I still encounter tons and tons of casuals who instinctively go "lmao why hockey in hot place???" so I'm not even sure this will register as embarrassing outside of Arizona

Meruelo is a God compared to John Fisher and while Bettman is a snake he is Mother Theresa compared to Rob Manfraud.

 

[Tom ServoMST3K]

The "Not paying hotel bills" really makes me doubt ownership's narrative on not paying Glendale.

After that mess, you'd think they'd at least settle their debts on time.

 

[TheLegend]

Yes, I'm sure it's not worth the time to find photos that likely don't exist, and even if they did would prove absolutely nothing.

It’s an irrelevant side tangent at this point.

Go start a new thread on it on if you want and see if anyone else cares.

 

[TheLegend]

The "Not paying hotel bills" really makes me doubt ownership's narrative on not paying Glendale.

After that mess, you'd think they'd at least settle their debts on time.

The battles with Glendale were during a time when they were negotiating with the city on an arena lease. You can chalk that one up as “negotiation tactic”

The tax issues were with the state though and given the mess IA left the place you could put it on them to a small degree.

CoVID years gave everyone an excuse.

But now?? Nyah…. can’t buy into it.

 

[Brodie]

The "Not paying hotel bills" really makes me doubt ownership's narrative on not paying Glendale.

After that mess, you'd think they'd at least settle their debts on time.

It makes me doubt there's enough liquidity or even access to it in order to win the auction in June tbh

 

[LT]

The battles with Glendale were during a time when they were negotiating with the city on an arena lease. You can chalk that one up as “negotiation tactic”

The tax issues were with the state though and given the mess IA left the place you could put it on them to a small degree.

CoVID years gave everyone an excuse.

But now?? Nyah…. can’t buy into it.

A "negotiation tactic" that unsurprisingly exploded in AM's face and effectively made the team homeless, which put the team on a fast track to where we are now.

AM seemed like just another hack to non-locals from day one. His people said the right things, but their actions went completely contrary to those words.

I cannot imagine the hockey fans in Phoenix nor the NHL want to play ball with him anymore. He's cheap, he doesn't seem to really care about hockey, and his track record thus far suggests he's in over his head and has no idea how to run a successful NHL team.

I had thought this was fairly obvious from the beginning, but I guess it took him driving the team out of the city entirely for that to be plainly obvious to everyone.

And of course, as always, the fans are the ones who get screwed over the hardest.

 

[TheLegend]

A "negotiation tactic" that unsurprisingly exploded in AM's face and effectively made the team homeless, which put the team on a fast track to where we are now.

AM seemed like just another hack to non-locals from day one. His people said the right things, but their actions went completely contrary to those words.

I cannot imagine the hockey fans in Phoenix nor the NHL want to play ball with him anymore. He's cheap, he doesn't seem to really care about hockey, and his track record thus far suggests he's in over his head and has no idea how to run a successful NHL team.

Glendale’s city manager is on record that the late payments and such didn’t factor in the decision. They wanted a long term lease.

I’ll elaborate a little further in that Glendale was going to need to replace the ice system soon. They’d already had a failure in one of the chillers earlier that forced the team to practice back in Scottsdale.

The system was showing its age, and according to the article I’d read was obsolete and actually illegal to operate any further. The system has since been removed and sold off.

So it seems logical for Glendale to spend the money to replace the system only if the Coyotes stayed long term.

I had thought this was fairly obvious from the beginning, but I guess it took him driving the team out of the city entirely for that to be plainly obvious to everyone.

And of course, as always, the fans are the ones who get screwed over the hardest.

That’s the hard part.