Current Events > The Arizona Coyotes are NO MORE

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1781045418752716856?s=46

They are joining the Jazz in Salt Lake City.

Suck it Gary Buttman
Now please call your new team the Salt Lake Soakers or Shakers

This fucking sucks. Hope the Roadrunners stay in Tucson, I like to see a few of their games a season

I don't watch basketball

Did I actually see that Phoenix is already back on the short list for the next group of expansion teams? I understand wanting that market, but maybe give everyone some time to reconsider the mistakes you made last time.

Cartoon_Quoter posted...

Did I actually see that Phoenix is already back on the short list for the next group of expansion teams? I understand wanting that market, but maybe give everyone some time to reconsider the mistakes you made last time.

It's that or Atlanta so...

realistically it should be Houston and Quebec City, or no more expansion until all the other Big 4 leagues expand first

rip yotes

Cartoon_Quoter posted...

Did I actually see that Phoenix is already back on the short list for the next group of expansion teams? I understand wanting that market, but maybe give everyone some time to reconsider the mistakes you made last time.

Part of it is because they were close to getting a new stadium made, so now the talk is if that does get made a new team would come here

Though last time we tried getting a stadium a bunch of out of state money flooded the election with VOTE NO adds. And if rumors are to be believed, that stems from the new owner from Salt Lake

Cartoon_Quoter posted...

Did I actually see that Phoenix is already back on the short list for the next group of expansion teams? I understand wanting that market, but maybe give everyone some time to reconsider the mistakes you made last time.

Yes, apparently Meruelo negotiated a clause into the terms of the sale that he has 5 years to "reactivate" the franchise, which includes requiring them to win a land auction and get an arena built.

I do hope if Arizona gets a new team it won't be under Meruelo, since so many of the problems are his fault

Damn_Underscore posted...

It's that or Atlanta so...

realistically it should be Houston

Those were the two cities I remember getting some buzz early this season, but then nothing came from it. Probably because expansion is still 10-15 years off.

firedoom666 posted...

Part of it is because they were close to getting a new stadium made, so now the talk is if that does get made a new team would come here

Oh. I thought Phoenix and Glendale both officially passed on that. That definitely explains it.

Though last time we tried getting a stadium a bunch of out of state money flooded the election with VOTE NO adds. And if rumors are to be believed, that stems from the new owner from Salt Lake

Yeah, ownership will always play whatever games they can regarding relocation to leverage the best deal from playing people against each other. (Besides fielding the best team their extreme amount of money can buy, of course). I wouldn't be surprised to see the same things from prospective ownership, too.

Bio1590 posted...

Yes, apparently Meruelo negotiated a clause into the terms of the sale that he has 5 years to "reactivate" the franchise, which includes requiring them to win a land auction and get an arena built.

Interesting. I wonder if that forces the new ownership to change the name.

Cartoon_Quoter posted...

Oh. I thought Phoenix and Glendale both officially passed on that. That definitely explains it.

It's not Glendale, but the Coyotes owner was already in the process of a land auction in Tempe.

Bettman interview more or less confirms this is similar to the Browns to Ravens situation. I missed some of it, but I'm assuming that means the name, logo, colors and records are all staying with the old ownership group for (at least) the negotiated 5 years. If that falls through, maybe they'll reconcile in Salt Lake City, or maybe it'll be held until another team is established in Arizona.