The Arizona Coyotes are running out of time. They keep saying they’re working hard at finding a site and starting the construction of a new arena in Arizona, but no result have come of this and now, they are running out of options. So much so that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that there will soon be a change in the ownership group, and most importantly that the time has come for the team to be sold or the NHL taking over the team to relocate it. This is what Friedman revealed on the 32 Thoughts podcast with Jeff Marek:
“I think that we are coming to the end of the line with this ownership group, I believe there isn’t something hard and fast in place in the very near future. They will begin the process of selling the team or the NHL taking over the team and selling it to someone else, I believe we will get there. I believe one of the reasons you hear the commissioner say nothing negative about them is he knows this could end up in a big legal fight and he doesn’t want to say or do anything that will end being used against him.”
Ever since the move to Arizona 1996, the Coyotes have been struggling to keep a steady home, moving from Phoenix to Glendale and now currently playing at Mullett Arena in Tempe which only holds about 5,000 fans. The plan was for the Coyotes to build a sports and entertainment district in Tempe, they did not secure enough votes in a special election last May causing them to move forward with the project.
Over the All-Star weekend in a press conference, NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh expressed his frustration with the lack of progress made in Arizona.
Walsh said: “If there’s no plan in Arizona, I would encourage a move to another location, absolutely. If Utah’s the place, Utah’s the place. I’d encourage it. I haven’t seen the data to back it up if Utah’s the place. “
And it looks like that’s where the Coyotes stand now.
When asked about a potential expansion in the league or even relocation at that same press conference, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman commented on recent news that Utah is interested in getting a team. While their interest has been the most aggressive, Bettman noted inquiries from Cincinnati, Houston, Atlanta, Kansas City, Omaha.
Andy Strickland believes a decision and announcement will be made some time soon after the Super Bowl.
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