It seems to be the official end of the Arizona Coyotes. Owner Alex Meruelo has reportedly decided to abandon plans to build a new arena. A decision that spells the death of the team.
The news was reported by PHNX Sports media on Tuesday morning. Meruelo reportedly met with Coyotes staff on Monday to inform them of his decision.
This comes a few days after the state of Arizona canceled an auction for land on which Meruelo planned to build an arena with the aim of eventually bringing back the Coyotes. The said auction was to take place this Thursday.
“This unprecedented action by the state of Arizona seriously jeopardizes the future of NHL hockey in the desert,” the Coyotes responded in a statement.
Recall that the team was sold to billionaire Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz, in the NBA, in recent months. The NHL then granted Meruelo a five-year deadline to obtain new land and build a new arena. If such a thing happened, then the Coyotes would return to the Bettman circuit.
Obviously, this possibility no longer exists… unless another investor takes on the project.
