NHL Gears Up for Coyotes Move: Team Set for Utah Relocation

Wednesday, April 10th, 2024

The NHL is contemplating the possibility of relocating the Arizona Coyotes to Utah as soon as the upcoming season. There are doubts within the league regarding the feasibility of the Coyotes' proposed new arena in Phoenix.

In case the move becomes necessary, the NHL has considered selling the Coyotes to Ryan and Ashley Smith, who own the Utah Jazz, for the purpose of moving the team to Salt Lake City.

The league has already prepared alternative schedules to accommodate either outcome, with a possible announcement regarding the move expected soon, though details are still being finalized.

The decision to relocate the team is subject to the approval of the NHL's board of governors, who might convene for a meeting before June to discuss the matter. Both the Coyotes and the NHL have so far not made any statements on this subject.

Since 2022, the Coyotes have been playing in a smaller venue at Arizona State. A move could see the NHL buying the team from its current owner, Alex Meruelo, for approximately $1 billion, and subsequently selling it to the Smiths for as much as $1.3 billion.

Within this agreement, Meruelo might receive the priority option to acquire a new NHL expansion team in Arizona in the future, highlighting the league's interest in maintaining a presence in the Arizona market.

There has been keen interest from Salt Lake City among other locales aiming for NHL expansion, with Smith showing a significant interest in securing a team for Utah.

The proposed Utah-based team would likely occupy the Delta Center, subject to renovations to better suit hockey, a venue owned by Smith.

The Coyotes’ current arena strategy involves an upcoming land auction in June, despite a recent rebuff from the city for a comparable proposal.

The NHL's most recent team relocation took place when the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg in 2011,

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• NHL News