Photo credit: PHNX Sports
Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo is throwing in the towel. Multiple sources told PHNX Sports that Meruelo informed Coyotes staff on Monday that he won't be pursuing any more arena options for a new Coyotes team after losing the initial franchise to Ryan Smith and the Utah Hockey Club.
This decision follows the Arizona State Land Department's cancellation of an auction last Thursday. Meruelo had hoped to buy a 95-acre parcel of land to build an entertainment district and a new arena for his team.
BREAKING NEWS: Alex Meruelo is walking away from his ownership of the the Arizona Coyotes per @CraigSMorgan.
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Meruelo agreed to sell the team in late April, with the sale finalized on June 13. The deal included an exclusive five-year window to reactivate the franchise and trigger an expansion draft if an arena was built. Reactivation would have required Meruelo to repay the $1 billion from the sale (with the remaining $200 million going to other owners as a relocation fee).
Huge story: Alex Meruelo has walked away from his ownership of the #Yotes .
Could open the door for the NHL to court other prospective owners in Arizona ...
Props to @CraigSMorgan for the scoop.
While Meruelo had a five-year exclusive window to bring NHL hockey back to Phoenix through expansion, the key deadline was actually at the 3˝-year mark, according to deputy commissioner Bill Daly, who required 50% of the arena to be completed.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Hearing @CraigSMorgan's report is spot on.
Ownership met with Coyotes staff today and likely ceasing operations in the next 30-days. No word yet what that means for jobs in Tucson. @12SportsAZ
It's unclear when the NHL will officially announce the decision, but Daly previously said that if Meruelo were to step away, "Arizona becomes like every other potential expansion city» instead of having first rights as per the agreement.
Previously on Daily Hockey Dose
POLL |
25 JUIN | 74 ANSWERS Alex Meruelo walking away from ownership of Coyotes Do you think Alex Meruelo will sell his ownership of the Coyotes soon? |
Yes | 59 | 79.7 % |
No | 15 | 20.3 % |
LIST OF POLLS |
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