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

[Brodie]

Their client list is very heavy on recent MLS brands, they’ve been behind every MLS expansion team in the past decade more or less

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Their client list is very heavy on recent MLS brands, they’ve been behind every MLS expansion team in the past decade more or less

Oh jesus christ heavens no.

 

[MaskedSonja]

I hear this is where the party's at. Hi everyone.

Looks like Im not the only one back from a long vacation!!

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

Atlanta Flames - 8 years (1972-1980)
Atlanta Thrashers - 12 years (1999-2011)
Total: 20 years

Quebec Athletic Club - 1 year (1919-1920)
Quebec Nordiques - 16 years (1979-1995)
Total: 17 years

I see no reason to count Quebec's seven years in the WHA when asking about NHL franchises.

I do count the WHA years of the Nords. They actually won a league championship in the WHA. While Atlanta has never celebrated a Stanley Cup victory.

 

[GuelphStormer]

so, what do we know about the Utah ownership group?

 

[Brodie]

so, what do we know about the Utah ownership group?

Billionaire experience management technology entrepreneur who owns the Utah Jazz and Real Salt Lake from MLS

 

[edog37]

True. We haven't seen what the benchmarks are yet.

At a minimum, he gets a $1 billion. If the arena deal goes south, he walks away with that.

 

[LadyStanley]

Smith on next steps, etc

 

[takimaki]

Removing the team from Tucson just seems like such a mistake, except possibly if they get an ECHL team

They're trying to keep pro hockey alive in the largest metro area in AZ, even if it means screwing over the fanbase in Tucson.

For being the "Arizona" Coyotes, they have never really cared much about the rest of the state.

 

[Voight]

Other end of the horse......

Didn't know what he looked like until now.

 

[dj4aces]

The Flames was almost 50 years ago.

From where I'm sitting, if folks wanna dredge up the charred remains of the Flames, they should also be prepared to face the bones of the Bulldogs. In this way, QC also failed twice.

I do count the WHA years of the Nords. They actually won a league championship in the WHA. While Atlanta has never celebrated a Stanley Cup victory.

Neither has QC. The Avco Cup is not the Stanley Cup.

 

[Brodie]

They're trying to keep pro hockey alive in the largest metro area in AZ, even if it means screwing over the fanbase in Tucson.

For being the "Arizona" Coyotes, they have never really cared much about the rest of the state.

“Arizona” was a sop to Glendale

I lowkey hope they come back as the Phoenix Coyotes

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

“Arizona” was a sop to Glendale

I lowkey hope they come back as the Phoenix Coyotes

Branding as Arizona is supposed to appeal to the entire state. In fact the NBA team should change their name to the Arizona Suns.

 

[MaskedSonja]

so, what do we know about the Utah ownership group?

Owner owns the Utah Jazz and MLS club. Will play out of the current Jazz arena (think NYI from a few years ago) 12000 ish seats, some blocked view. A current ice arena that was being planned for Olympics will be reworked I guess part of Utahs new team Apparently 6000 season tix already sold. Group seems to have plenty of money and stability, and seems intent to not just make the team work but be successful. Thats pretty much my essential gleaning, Im sure theres a ton of stuff that other BOH members know in greater detail

Also re arena...might be 2-3 years before team is able to move from Jazz arena to the updated arena (maybe?)

 

[red devil]

 

[Voight]

Smith on next steps, etc

I respect the "college freshman who just rolled out of bed" look

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I respect the "college freshman who just rolled out of bed" look

In this house I call it the "work from home and always keep my Zoom camera blur on" look.

 

[LadyStanley]

Former Coyotes player talks about what he saw went wrong with organization.

 

[Voight]

"If the Coyotes weren’t on the rise, with a lot of good young players and prospects, I’m not sure this happens," one owner said this week.

"That’s fair," another executive added. "If this was a rebuilding team, or a team headed into one, I don’t know if it works."

I get this, but would a brand new expansion team be that much better? You have to start from zero and are stuck with mostly cast offs.

 

[LeHab]

What is the current Cayotes estimated debt?

 

[Legion34]

Ok so if merelo is able to somehow get the arena. Does he automatically get a team back? Wouldn’t that mean gauranteed expansion?

They said he doesn’t have to go through a review. I don’t get that? What if the league isn’t in a position to want 33 teams?

 

[Tawnos]

Ok so if merelo is able to somehow get the arena. Does he automatically get a team back? Wouldn’t that mean gauranteed expansion?

They said he doesn’t have to go through a review. I don’t get that? What if the league isn’t in a position to want 33 teams?

The league already wants 36, why would they not be in a position to want 33?

 

[Legion34]

I get this, but would a brand new expansion team be that much better? You have to start from zero and are stuck with mostly cast offs.

I would much rather the coyotes than a new team roster.

They got a million picks. 4-5 good players. No bad contracts (not ltir) and a ton of money to spend.

The league already wants 36, why would they not be in a position to want 33?

I’m not saying they won’t. Lots of crazy things happen.

I’m asking does he automatically get a team with an arena in 5 years?

 

[Tawnos]

I’m not saying they won’t. Lots of crazy things happen.

I’m asking does he automatically get a team with an arena in 5 years?

Pretty much, yes. That's the deal. It might not even be 5 years. If the timeline we've been discussing here somehow manages to work out perfectly, then it could happen in 3 years. The target for the new arena was 27-28. That's probably too much to hope for, but 28-29 or 29-30 feel likely to me if he's successful

 

[GKJ]

Ok so if merelo is able to somehow get the arena. Does he automatically get a team back? Wouldn’t that mean gauranteed expansion?

They said he doesn’t have to go through a review. I don’t get that? What if the league isn’t in a position to want 33 teams?

They’re saying he doesn’t need BOG approval but there has to be some kind of greenlighting process. Or gaslighting.