NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the league “hasn’t abandoned” the Arizona market after announcing the Coyotes franchise would relocate to Salt Lake City starting next season, according to Corina Vanek of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo was given until mid-2029 to “have an arena ready for puck drop.” The goal is a “heavy lift,” and one Meruelo “might have to do mostly on his own.” Bettman said that the deal only allows Meruelo to bring in partners for “up to 20%” and that he “must retain the lion’s share of the ownership.” Vanek noted that in order to meet the NHL’s deadline, construction on a potential arena site “must begin by mid-2026 at the latest” and the NHL will “need about 18 months’ notice to reactivate the franchise.” Bettman also said that the new team in Utah “likely won’t have a formal name for its first season,” as there “isn’t enough time to pick one, trademark it and create the material” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/20). In Phoenix, Laurie Roberts wrote about the Coyotes relocation under the header “Hold onto your wallet: Former Arizona Coyotes owner says a new team won't cost us anything” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/20).
AHL IMPACTS: In Phoenix, Jenna Ortiz noted Meruelo retains ownership of the AHL Tucson Roadrunners as part of the agreement, but “none of the details have been laid out for the future of hockey in Tucson.” Meruelo said he is “not sure what I’m going to do” regarding the Roadrunners. Meruelo: “We’ve talked about playing maybe half the season in Tucson and half the season in Mullett.” Ortiz noted Meruelo “would need the approval of the AHL’s Board of Governors” before moving the Roadrunners (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/19).
CATCH US ON TV: Ortiz in a separate piece noted Scripps Sports will “show the games in Utah this upcoming season,” and those broadcasts “also will air in Arizona.” However, the news “has not sat well with some Coyotes fans bitter about the team leaving,” with many taking to social media saying that they “won't watch the new Salt Lake City franchise” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/19).
CAN THIS WORK? In Boston, Kevin Paul DuPont noted Salt Lake City is a “non-traditional hockey market,” one “significantly smaller in population base, but one that at least has a viable arena.” Meanwhile, the Houston market and the Toyota Center “remains emptier than the current Bruins power play.” DuPont wrote both Houston and the greater Phoenix-Scottsdale markets “easily should be able to make the NHL work.” Houston “simply has been ignored (dismissed?) for far too long” while Arizona, through multiple ownerships and arenas, made the “least of a golden opportunity, hand in hand with the hamfisted direction/oversight from league headquarters.” DuPont noted Salt Lake City “should be OK” if the market “can tolerate NHL pricing” (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/20).
