Coyotes' time in Arizona may be coming to an end soon

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Cooper Godin
February 7, 2024 (3:56 PM)

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Photo credit: Arizona Coyotes

Time may be running out for the Arizona Coyotes to remain in the desert and it's beginning to spark questions about what will come next for the organization.

The Coyotes continue to delay an announcement regarding the potential purchase of land to build a new arena. First it was supposed to come in late-December, then in January and then at the All-Star Game, but nothing was announced and it's beginning to frustrate people, as David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period is reporting. There's a possibility there could be some news coming on that front over the weekend.

In a post on The Fourth Period, David Pagnotta said that Ryan Smith, the owner of the NBA's Utah Jazz, has offered to purchase the Arizona Coyotes for a sum that is worth more than their valuation from Forbes and Sportico. Pagnotta also mentioned that Smith is willing to pay for the relocation fee as well.

"If it were up to Smith and his group, Utah will enter the NHL next season. That won't happen via expansion, but the wheels are most certainly in motion.

According to two separate sources, Smith has even offered to purchase the Coyotes for a significant sum, well beyond the current valuations per Forbes and Sportico, and is willing to cover the relocation fee on top of it." Pagnotta said.

Not only could it be the end of the road for the Coyotes in Arizona, it looks like their current ownership group may be out soon.

During the 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman mentioned that he thinks we're coming to the end of the line with the Coyotes' current ownership group and that they will begin the process of either selling the team or having the National Hockey League take over.

"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, believe we will get there. 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." Friedman said.

It's safe to say that it's going to be an interesting few months ahead for the Arizona Coyotes organization. The last time we had relocation in the NHL was in 2011. In May of that year, the Atlanta Thrasher were purchased and moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba and just four months later were in action. It's possible we could see a similar situation in 2024 as well.

«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»� NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) February 7, 2024

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POLL
7 FEVRIER \| 1220 ANSWERS Coyotes' time in Arizona may be coming to an end soon Should the Coyotes relocate to Salt Lake City as early as next season?
Yes	736	60.3 %
No, move to another city	340	27.9 %
No, find a way to stay in Arizona	144	11.8 %
LIST OF POLLS