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

[Devils 3silverones]

I read that today and my jaw dropped.....like he seriously stiffed hotels....if that shows to be true thats just another level lol
[/QUOT

Pardon me while I send this one to my daughter for her Dad Joke rating.

It's just Ontariable hey?

 

[Devils 3silverones]

All before he bought two hotel/casinos in Nevada.

His rep in AZ may be bad now but unless similar things have happened in Nevada he won’t be looked at there the same way.

And he still has the AHL team. Could become something better out of it.

In understanding, (with retaining roadrunners), and please forgive me, I DO NOT know anything regarding the las vegas next arena..
Is he not screwing yet another city in AZ?
They are doing very well there. Attendance and team sucsess.
I understand lease obligation... BUT.... This is a move from sucsess... (Fanbase) to yet another yank... Yes yank. Now Tucson gets the gears.

This is really bad ...

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

In understanding, (with retaining roadrunners), and please forgive me, I DO NOT know anything regarding the las vegas next arena..
Is he not screwing yet another city in AZ?
They are doing very well there. Attendance and team sucsess.
I understand lease obligation... BUT.... This is a move from sucsess... (Fanbase) to yet another yank... Yes yank. Now Tucson gets the gears.

This is really bad ...

how does Tucson survive.... where was it stated that SLC isn't going to be the parent club as part of this agreement.... it doesn't.... nor was it when Arizona bought the AHL Franchise in state in 2014 from outside AZ....

 

[TheGreenTBer]

All before he bought two hotel/casinos in Nevada.

His rep in AZ may be bad now but unless similar things have happened in Nevada he won’t be looked at there the same way.

And he still has the AHL team. Could become something better out of it.

He doesn't just have a bad reputation in Arizona. He has a terrible reputation across the North American sporting world and I think that's undeniable.

He'll be fine, as he knows how to make himself wealthier. He might be able to persuade other idiots from time to time that he knows what he's talking about when it comes to running a hockey franchise, but you and I both know he doesn't.

 

[GindyDraws]

NBA already has told Meruelo to f*** off once before, ain't no way they're taking an even sketchier version with shittier credit.

Vegas pretty much told Jackie Robinson, a former NBA benchwarmer, to eat shit when he took over a decade to not build on the former Wet 'n' Wild. You think they'll have the patience to deal with Meruelo again?

 

[Devils 3silverones]

how does Tucson survive.... where was it stated that SLC isn't going to be the parent club as part of this agreement.... it doesn't.... nor was it when Arizona bought the AHL Franchise in state in 2014 from outside AZ....

Hold on kiddo...i get it. And for years I understand you have a FAR larger grasp of all (and minor leagues) than I do.
If the Tucson team moves to Mullett, then yea.. AM is apparntltly retaining ownership of Tucson. So Tucson is now getting screwed over.
And that city has done a hell of a job.
I don't care what Salt lake does.
AM moving his "now only fkn" asset to Mullett, is soooooooo wrong.
I really wish better for the RoadRunners.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Hold on kiddo...i get it. And for years I understand you have a FAR larger grasp of all (and minor leagues) than I do.
If the Tucson team moves to Mullett, then yea.. AM is apparntltly retaining ownership of Tucson. So Tucson is now getting screwed over.
And that city has done a hell of a job.
I don't care what Salt lake does.
AM moving his "now only fkn" asset to Mullett, is soooooooo wrong.
I really wish better for the RoadRunners.

BECAUSE TCC is a bigger arena..... Mullett has the better setup.... and attendance is only one factor.... then why was the agreement set up when it was initially thought Tucson was on the move as was Arizona(UTAH) since AM owns both franchises..... same w/ the Elmore Group and the Grizzlies never minf the future of Maverik Center of West Valley City, UT

 

[madhi19]

BECAUSE TCC is a bigger arena..... Mullett has the better setup.... and attendance is only one factor.... then why was the agreement set up when it was initially thought Tucson was on the move as was Arizona(UTAH) since AM owns both franchises..... same w/ the Elmore Group and the Grizzlies never minf the future of Maverik Center of West Valley City, UT

I wonder if it's because he still has a lease at Mullet anyway, and it's cheaper to get out from the one in Tucson.

 

[Devils 3silverones]

BECAUSE TCC is a bigger arena..... Mullett has the better setup.... and attendance is only one factor.... then why was the agreement set up when it was initially thought Tucson was on the move as was Arizona(UTAH) since AM owns both franchises..... same w/ the Elmore Group and the Grizzlies never minf the future of Maverik Center of West Valley City, UT

Good point. I don't care. And AM doesn't own anything.l(soory, Too soon?) TCC is the ONLY one making money.
He will make money... Lol... (Debt) and Tucson gets screwed.

I wonder if it's because he still have a lease at Mullet anyway, and it's cheaper to get out from the one in Tucson.

"Cheaper" great word.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Good point. I don't care. And AM doesn't own anything.l(soory, Too soon?) TCC is the ONLY one making money.
He will make money... Lol... (Debt) and Tucson gets screwed.


"Cheaper" great word.

if you don't care then who brought Tucson to Arizona then.... when that was the modus operandi of 2/3rds of the AHL..... Arizona and Anaheim were the last two to jump aboard that business model....

 

[GordonGraham]

Will Coyotes fans support an AHL team owned by him cause they will be hockey starved or will they say f*** you you sold our team and we're boycotting

 

[Devils 3silverones]

if you don't care then who brought Tucson to Arizona then.... when that was the modus operandi of 2/3rds of the AHL..... Arizona and Anaheim were the last two to jump aboard that business model....

Neat! At some point kiddo, you are going to just have to realize that teams move.
Its not a NHL thing.
It happens.
I look forward to the AHL playoffs. Really. Go outside and enjoy your weekend.

 

[TheLegend]

In understanding, (with retaining roadrunners), and please forgive me, I DO NOT know anything regarding the las vegas next arena..
Is he not screwing yet another city in AZ?
They are doing very well there. Attendance and team sucsess.
I understand lease obligation... BUT.... This is a move from sucsess... (Fanbase) to yet another yank... Yes yank. Now Tucson gets the gears.

This is really bad ...

Yeah that is the big question.

I believe the lease with the Roadrunners at TCC ends this season. There were rumors a while back that they wanted Tucson to add more to the facility (as in suites, TCC has none).

While Mullett can probably seat 5000-5100 for AHL games (it’s 5300 for ASU hockey) it does have 22 suites.

Down side to all this of course is Tucson gets screwed and they didn’t do anything to deserve it.

 

[Devils 3silverones]

Y

Yeah that is the big question.

I believe the lease with the Roadrunners at TCC ends this season. There were rumors a while back that they wanted Tucson to add more to the facility (as in suites, TCC has none).

While Mullett can probably seat 5000-5100 for AHL games (it’s 5300 for ASU hockey) it does have 22 suites.

Down side to all this of course is Tucson gets screwed and they didn’t do anything to deserve it.

Yeah... I thought around 5000... Regardless, that is sooooo very rough for Tucson. And now Mullett.
Not in regards to fan support, just.... You know.

 

[TheLegend]

Y
Yeah... I thought around 5000... Regardless, that is sooooo very rough for Tucson. And now Mullett.
Not in regards to fan support, just.... You know.

It’s not all cut and dried yet.

I keep hearing there’s a bunch of hurdles to overcome. My guess is one would be ASU may require x number of years to be paid up front. Then have to go through the AZBOR again…. etc.

Essentially starting over completely.

 

[Headshot77]

The only way Quebec will get a franchise is if we have a 2011 Thrashers/Jets situation again where the NHL needs a place with an arena ASAP and cant afford to wait.

I still can't believe the Jets got in the door for $170 million. That's like a 99.9% ROI for them in franchise values.

Atlanta Sprit effectively pissing away $1 billion dollars makes me smile.

 

[Devils 3silverones]

It’s not all cut and dried yet.

I keep hearing there’s a bunch of hurdles to overcome. My guess is one would be ASU may require x number of years to be paid up front. Then have to go through the AZBOR again…. etc.

Essentially starting over completely.

I get ya.
I think (personally) ASU will come ahead dollar wise. (Aside from AM 20 m$) .
The skunk still stinks.
Wanna go back to Scruggs?

 

[Ernie]

I still can't believe the Jets got in the door for $70 million. That's like a 99.9% ROI for them in franchise values.

It was $170m, but yeah, essentially a fire sale. $40m of it was an relocation fee.

That said, Atlanta Spirit bought both the Hawks and the Thrashers for $250m in 2004, so they probably didn't really take a loss on the sale, the bigger hit would have been covering all the losses. The original expansion fee was $80m in 1999 for what it's worth.

 

[Devils 3silverones]

I still can't believe the Jets got in the door for $70 million. That's like a 99.9% ROI for them in franchise values.

Atlanta Sprit effectively pissing away $1 billion dollars makes me smile.

They can't afford to wait.
Jets 15 years ago cool.
Coyotes now... Yea... Value to city... 600 m. Ish. That's high. They don't have a team in a couple days.
Thus, market values equal what?
Coyotes are dead. No $. Utah. $1$. Its really pretty easy to see.

 

[Fenway]

Utah went from being dismissed as a fantastical suggestion for an NHL team just a few years ago (I, and a few others, previously suggested Salt Lake as a longterm expansion target around the 2050s to a decidedly cool response), to seemingly getting a team in a few days. All it takes is the right owner and the right circumstances for a door to open.

All the BoG wants is a check that doesn't bounce

 

[1CasualFan]

Very long and I don’t give a shit if you all read it or not

16 1/2 years. This is how long I’ve had invested on this file. Back before I even joined up and was just a lurker

/rant

It has been a truly spectacular show. Its hard to even describe the journey of the Coyotes and the Megathread - they're beautifully intertwined and I'm so thankful to have been a part of this little corner of the internet.

I'm not sure an awards show is in order here - but perhaps just some quick appreciation... to Jerry Moyes for dreaming big; to James Balsillie for his batcrap crazy BK gambit; to his honor Redfield T. Baum for his earnest rulings; to Bill Daly for his revolver loan takeover clause; to Mayor Scruggs for her visionary leadership; to Ed Beasley for his ability to elude felony indictments; to Ice Edge for their cold hard clown cash; to Matt Hulsizer for his magical parking bonds; to Darin Pastor just for stopping by to join the circus; to Darcy Olsen for her ooey-gooey cupcakes; to Craig Tindall for his aspirations; to Gary Sherwood for his tech savvy email habits; to Team Beavis for their spirit; to Joyce Clark for her awe inspiring economics; to Greg Jamison for his tentative deal; to Anthony LeBlanc for his acute business senses; to George Gosbee for his reverse make-a-wish donation; to Gila River Arena and Mullett Arena for never disappointing a visiting fan; to Coach Tippett for the insane 2012 run to the WCF; to Tempe for the referendum; to voters for their participation; to Alex Meruelo for once again reminding us that distressed assets do not generally attract highly ethical investors; to tortious interference and my airport bead stand...

but mostly, to HFBoards BOH for the dialog and the personalities... I sincerely cherish this place, as bizarre as that may sound. I dont have the same rant energy that my longtime friend M4B does (... even though I do have the same Metal energy; Surf Nicaragua, baby!) - but I will always think of the MegaThread fondly... to those I should have been kinder to, my apologies; to those that might have been kinder to me, all is forgiven.

Cheers - CF

 

[GKJ]

Yeah that is the big question.

I believe the lease with the Roadrunners at TCC ends this season. There were rumors a while back that they wanted Tucson to add more to the facility (as in suites, TCC has none).

While Mullett can probably seat 5000-5100 for AHL games (it’s 5300 for ASU hockey) it does have 22 suites.

Down side to all this of course is Tucson gets screwed and they didn’t do anything to deserve it.

I don’t know how would happen but I feel like the thing to do would’ve been to have an AHL team in both Tempe and Tucson. I don’t know who else would move their affiliate in there though. It’s obviously not a replacement but it would be better for continued engagement in the market.

AHL doesn’t have to approve that move, do they?

 

[madhi19]

All the BoG wants is a check that doesn't bounce

Sometime even that was a lot to ask... loll

 

[awfulwaffle]

In understanding, (with retaining roadrunners), and please forgive me, I DO NOT know anything regarding the las vegas next arena..
Is he not screwing yet another city in AZ?
They are doing very well there. Attendance and team sucsess.
I understand lease obligation... BUT.... This is a move from sucsess... (Fanbase) to yet another yank... Yes yank. Now Tucson gets the gears.

This is really bad ...

Attendance wise they are 6th worst in the league.

AHL 2023-24 team attendance at hockeydb.com

Attendance for the American Hockey League for the 2023-24 season

www.hockeydb.com

Average attendance appears to be lower than what Mullet would be at capacity. I'm not saying it's a dissapointment, quick google search shows Tucson can hold 6,791. So, is 66% capacity really a success? Just being honest here.

 

[Llama19]

Ahh...it was just back in November of '23...when Gutierrez stated...

"Xavier Gutierrez, the president and CEO of the Coyotes, recently called for Valley business leaders not to take the region's place in the sports world for granted.

“Arizona needs to be seen as the center of the sports business world in all aspects,” Gutierrez said. “If you think of what goes on here from Nov. 1 through April, there is literally not a sport, a sporting event, a sports business that doesn't come and touch this community.”

“We are at this inflection point in which sports is not only being recognized for the importance that it is as an entertainment platform, as a community asset, but as an institutional investment asset class,” Gutierrez said."

Source (Paywall): www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2023/11/17/phoenix-center-sports-business-world.html

Oh...Arizona became the center alright...