NHL team moving to Utah following speculation over future

PHOENIX – The Arizona Coyotes’ run within the Grand Canyon State has formally come to an finish, no less than for now.

Within the assertion, NHL officers thanked the proprietor of what was as soon as the Coyotes, Alex Meruelo, for “his dedication to the franchise and Arizona,” additional stating that they “absolutely assist his ongoing efforts to safe a brand new dwelling within the desert for the Coyotes.”

“We additionally need to acknowledge the loyal hockey followers of Arizona, who’ve supported their group with dedication for practically three a long time whereas rising the sport,” learn a portion of the assertion.

“I agree with Commissioner Gary Bettman and the Nationwide Hockey League, that it’s merely unfair to proceed to have our Gamers, coaches, hockey entrance workplace, and the NHL groups they compete towards, spend a number of extra years enjoying in an enviornment that’s not suited to NHL hockey,” Meruelo wrote.

In the meantime, a report from Tucson tv station KOLD-TV states that in response to Meruelo, the Tucson Roadrunners, which have been the AHL affiliate of the now-former Coyotes, can be shifting to Tempe.

With the group’s sale, Phoenix has joined a listing of U.S. and Canadian cities which have misplaced NHL franchises. Different cities on the checklist embody Atlanta, Cleveland, Denver, Hamilton, Hartford, Kansas Metropolis, Bloomington, Minn. (which is close to Minneapolis), Montreal, the New York Metropolis space, Oakland, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Quebec Metropolis, St. Louis, Toronto, and Winnipeg.

Workforce had a rocky time in Arizona

The group initially performed in Winnipeg, positioned in Canada’s Manitoba province, because the Winnipeg Jets earlier than shifting to the Phoenix space earlier than the 1996-1997 NHL season.

Officers with the Coyotes have proposed a brand new stadium in North Phoenix, however these plans got here below relatively intense criticism at one level from Scottsdale’s mayor, who wrote, in an open letter, that the proposed venue “was introduced with out point out of market demand for a brand new leisure venue disguised as a hockey enviornment, or congested freeway entry, or questionable enviornment zoning entitlement.”

Hockey might some day return to Arizona

“I’ve negotiated the suitable to reactivate the group throughout the subsequent 5 years, and have retained possession of the beloved Coyotes title, model and brand. I stay dedicated to this neighborhood and to constructing a first-class sports activities enviornment and leisure district with out searching for monetary assist from the general public,” a portion of the assertion learn.