Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo abandons his plan to bring the team back to Arizona

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Tyler Ball
June 25, 2024 (11:58)

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A report coming in from a source in Arizona has confirmed that former Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo is abandoning efforts to bring a team back to the state.

Just a couple of months ago the Arizona Coyotes were relocated to Utah under new ownership with Ryan Smith. The relocation came after the Coyotes ownership and Alex Meruelo could not find a stadium for the team to play in.

When the team was sold to Ryan Smith and the Utah group NHL commissioner Gary Bettman put a clause in the sale allowing Arizona and Alex Meruelo to get an expansion franchise if they secured a stadium.

As I reported on ABC intermission expectation is deal to send Coyotes to Utah will be completed next week.

Meanwhile, Alex Meruelo, business staff & AHL team will remain in Arizona�maintain youth hockey presence & try to win land auction for new arena.to bring the NHL back.

This was the plan and the Arizona group including Alex Meruelo even had a land auction set up for this week. Shortly before the auction was set to begin it was canceled because the land was not fit to have a full NHL arena built on it. The Coyotes' official account on X would then go on to call out the Arizona government.

Just days after this ruling was handed down now reports are coming in that Alex Meruelo is done with the franchise.

Alex Meruelo abandons ownership of the Arizona Coyotes

A story first reported by Craig Morgan has confirmed that Alex Meruelo is stepping down from ownership in the Arizona Coyotes.

BREAKING:

It's over. Multiple sources confirm to @PHNX_Sports that Alex Meruelo is walking away from his ownership of the Coyotes.

Coyotes staff were reportedly informed on Monday that ownership would no longer be pursuing further arena options.

As of now this seems to put a permanent end to the Arizona Coyotes as a franchise. It remains to be seen if the NHL and Gary Bettman will go searching for a new ownership group or just leave things as they are. Regardless the NHL being rid of Alex Meruelo is a good thing and potentially clears the way for a competent group to take over bringing the Coyotes back.