With former Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo out of the picture, most have turned their focus to NBA Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia as the likeliest option to bring an NHL franchise back to the Phoenix area. Speaking with Sportico’s Barry M. Bloom, Ishbia confirmed acquiring an expansion franchise for Phoenix is something he’s “interested in.”
Doing so would require a new home. After all, the Coyotes’ inability to land a suitable permanent arena within the Phoenix metro area was what ultimately led to their hockey operations being sold to Salt Lake City’s Smith Entertainment Group, taking on new life as the Utah Hockey Club.
Ishbia realizes this and is keen on addressing it, even selfishly for his Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, which he also owns. He told Bloom that “a new downtown Phoenix edifice is part of the long-term plan,” regardless of whether NHL expansion to Phoenix occurs or not.
Asked about what transpired with the Coyotes under the Meruelo regime, Ishbia told Bloom that he was “disappointed we don’t have a hockey team here.” “Phoenix is a four-sport town… and I hope that one day we’ll be able to get hockey back,” he added.
But the NHL returning to Phoenix after the disbanding of the Coyotes in short order was already part of the plan. The original deal struck with Meruelo upon the sale of the Yotes’ assets to Utah in April assured him an exclusive five-year window to reactivate the Coyotes and trigger an expansion draft should he get a suitable arena built to replace the 4,600-seat Mullett Arena that hosted them for the last two seasons. But Meruelo’s plan to develop a lot in north Phoenix fell through after a city auction to purchase the land was canceled due to Meruelo’s group failing to obtain the proper zoning permits beforehand.
Ishbia “wouldn’t say if he’s already talking to the NHL, and the league didn’t respond when asked to comment,” Bloom wrote. But if discussions advance in the next few years alongside plans for a new arena, it wouldn’t surprise many to see the Phoenix market re-added to the league within the next ten years. The league retained the branding rights to the Coyotes when Meruelo conceded his rights to the franchise earlier this month, which could be sold to Ishbia as part of an expansion deal.
So much for letting that sleeping dog lie…
Too soon, Alex. Too soon.
Let’s go back to Atlanta too!!
All the while Quebec City sits there with a ready made fan base and a building.
Pathetic.
He’s in it for the long con for sure. Refused to work with Alex on sharing his arena and now is probably gonna put a couple 100 million into the downtown arena and bring back the yotes by himself
‘couple 100 million’ of his money or ‘city/county’ tax or levy funding fed by citizens?
A shared ownership and new stadium with the Suns would be the perfect situation. Throw it back to the original “Phoenix Coyotes” name as well.
Actually, the perfect solution would be to forget Phoenix and go for a genuine hockey town.
Yea see ya in Saskatoon…
How old is the existing Suns’ building and is there any reason beyond Ishbia saying no to the Yotes that it can’t be used for hockey now/quickly?
Existing arena opened in 1992 so is a little long in the tooth. It is inadequate for hockey–the Coyotes played there for their first few seasons and had to leave, just like the Islanders tried the Barclay Center and quickly bailed.
Built in 1992 America West Arena Isn’t this the one that has bad site lines for hockey? I guess similar to Delta Center in SLC.
No more NHL in Arizona. The city sucks for NHL and 3/4 of the fans in the stands are from the other team. Let it die and move on other deserving cities. Same thing with Atlanta no more NHL in ATL.
It’s apples and oranges between Phoenix and Atlanta. Arizona actually has a hockey culture there with fans and people playing the game, along with good youth hockey programs. Can’t say any of that about Atlanta. Georgia just really isn’t about hockey.
ASU hockey has helped promote the game to kids. They are becoming a strong program for hockey. Since the basketball and football teams usually stink.
Yes have written this before. Before Gary retires Arizona And Atlanta will have teams.