A report Monday night that Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo was ending his pursuit of a new arena for the NHL franchise and walking away from ownership of the team brought a strong reaction on social media with many people rejoicing in the news, hoping it meant that a new ownership group could potentially bring an expansion franchise to the state.
But some lamented the fact that Meruelo potentially walking away could lead to a long drought of professional hockey in the desert.
After selling the franchise assets for relocation to Utah, Meruelo reached a deal with the NHL that would have given him the chance to bring back the Coyotes franchise as an NHL expansion team if he could build a suitable arena within five years. Meruelo retained the Coyotes brand as part of the deal.
But according to the report from PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan, the owner is walking away from that chance after the Arizona State Land Department canceled an auction for land on which Meruelo planned to construct a new arena, northwest of the Loop 101 freeway and Scottsdale Road.
Is Meruelo reportedly being done as an NHL owner in Arizona good news for hockey in the state?
Here’s how some on social media reacted to the report, which makes the NHL’s return to Arizona murkier, at least for the time being.
State Land Department:Auction canceled by doubts over Coyotes’ readiness
Social media reacts to Alex Meruelo Coyotes ownership report:
Do you think Alex Meruelo reportedly walking away from owning an NHL franchise in Arizona is good or bad for the return of the sport in the state?
Read more:Alex Meruelo is giving up on Arizona hockey? Good riddance
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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