Today is the day Arizona Coyotes fans have been nervously waiting for. In Tempe, it’s the final day to cast a vote in the local referendum, which determines whether the team can move forward with its plan for a new arena and entertainment district in the city, as NHL insider Frank Seravalli outlines in his latest for Daily Faceoff.
While an already high turnout thanks to lots of mail-in ballots have the Coyotes optimistic about a ’yes’ result, Seravalli says it’s anything but a sure thing. Seravalli relayed reports from NHL sources that political opposition groups outspent the Coyotes massively on advertising ahead of the election, while the Coyotes management (including general manager Bill Armstrong) has been actively soliciting votes door-to-door in the community.
Results could be announced as soon as 10 p.m. CT tonight, with a ’no’ vote effectively killing the Coyotes’ future in the state. Further hurdles still need to be cleared in order for the project to move forward if Tempe voters opt to approve the project, such as ongoing legal battles with the City of Phoenix, but regardless, it’s a transformative night for the NHL and its most maligned franchise.
More from around the hockey world today:
- Per reports out of Russia, former Columbus Blue Jackets winger Jakob Lilja could be extending his stay overseas — this time with the NL’s HC Ambrì-Piotta. The 29-year-old Swedish winger played in 37 games with Columbus in 2019-20, his only season in North America to date, recording five points. Since then, he’s had three relatively successful seasons in the KHL with Barys Nur-Sultan (now Barys Astana) and Dynamo Moskva, but he’ll have a bit more ice time available to him in Switzerland. Ambrì-Piotta’s roster for next season already includes former NHLers Tim Heed and Filip Chlapik, as well as Arizona Coyotes center prospect Manix Landry.
- 2016 second-round pick Egor Korshkov has been dealt in the KHL, heading to Amur Khabarovsk after three seasons with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. The former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect never panned out, only playing one full season in the AHL, but he did score one goal in his only NHL appearance in the 2019-20 season. His player rights have since been traded to the Carolina Hurricanes and, later, the Florida Panthers, where he remains on their reserve list should he ever choose to return to the NHL. Now 26, Korshkov had just four goals in 40 KHL games last season.
Two major inaccuracies in this post: The Coyotes were the one who “massively” outspent the opposition, while the team’s future in the state would not “effectively” be killed by losing the Tempe city vote. Don’t forget that the new owners have one of the sports gaming licences that were awarded to all the major sports franchises in Arizona, and since the Coyotes owners are in the gaming business in Nevada, they’ll move on to a Plan B site in the Phoenix area.
Per Seravalli’s report, opposition PACs spent upwards of $2 million in campaign-related funds. The Coyotes spent $250,000.
Also, from Seravalli’s report:
“But if there isn’t a new permanent home in Arizona on the horizon and the Coyotes have to go back to the drawing board? The NHL and its Board of Governors, having exhausted all possible efforts, will likely have no choice but to pull up stakes and relocate the franchise. There is a reason the NHL has continued to take meetings with prospective owners in Houston, Salt Lake City, Kansas City and elsewhere – all of which would fit well as locations for a Central Division franchise. Because other owners are fed up with the Coyotes’ relative suck on revenue compared to other generating clubs and players are not happy playing in an NCAA arena. Really, it seems more like a question of ‘when’ and ‘where,’ not ‘if’ the Coyotes would relocate, if the project were to be killed.”
And Seravalli has never gotten one thing wrong in his reporting on Arizona? I’ll stick with our local sources, thank you. And don’t forget the sports gaming license …..
Not discrediting any local sources, either. When one of the most prominent NHL reporters says there’s a possibility of relocation if the vote falls through, though, it’s worth reporting on, and there were no inaccuracies in how Seravalli’s initial report was relayed.
Well stated.
@Josh – And, it’s a somewhat mediocre NCAA barn, too. They can’t hold a candle to “The Ralph”, in Grand Forks.
The Arizona Republic said the exact opposite, that the PAC financed by Merulo’s company spent $700,000 on it, and the oppo group spent $35,000. Seravalli knows better than the local newspaper?
Let’s hear it for the Houston Aeros/Quebec Nordiques!
Having Bill Armstrong go door-to-door, is like sending “Lurch” from the Addams Family out there.
Guy was a great minor leaguer, anyway. But seriously, how much desperation does THAT move reek of?
@Nha Trang – At around 6’5″, he casts an imposing shadow, which wouldn’t work if he resembled Billy Barty. Desperation, and then some, for sure.
Mail in ballots, eh? What could go wrong? :/
Just imagine if this comes down to a few hundred votes and GM Armstrong discovers dozens of ballots in a desk drawer! :D
@Gbear – I’d have beaten you to that one, if I hadn’t been sucked in by Hungary vs France! Don’t forget the extra “trash” cans full of ballot-sized confetti. This could have recount/audit written all over it. ;)
@Mac- I’m jealous I can’t be home to watch these WC games. Norway vs Latvia should be a good one tomorrow!
Word has it apperatchuks from Houston are stuffing the ballot box with “NO” ballots. :D
Just say NO
@Al Hirschen – No to taxpayer stadiums? Agreed!
Good luck with that one. Your clan has been yapping the same thing for decades. You are still winless.
@Josh isn’t bandying words about when he says “…one of the most prominent NHL reporters…”, regarding Frank. He is introduced on radio spots as “one of the most connected people in the business” for a reason. He has a history of being very thorough with his reporting.
GM going door to door? That’s ridiculous. It’s been how many years and they still don’t have an arena? If Bettman wasn’t in charge this team would of been moved years ago. It’s pathetic actually, I feel for the 9 fans they have in Arizona.
Yup. For twenty years now, Bettman’s pretty much made NHL-in-Arizona a referendum on his manhood, and he’s acted like his whacker would fall off if they relocated.
Polls are closed now in Tempe, and apparently all three ballot questions are going down to defeat by a broad margin.
Yep, the county’s election website reports a thumping defeat all around, and the Coyotes’ CEO conceded the loss.
Quebec City please. i know its a fantasy with Gary Bettman as commissioner, but c’mon.
The results don’t look good for the ‘yotes. 56% voted NO.
The Houston Armidillo’s coming to a nearby rink soon.