The NHL is positioning itself to potentially relocate the Arizona Coyotes to Salt Lake City in time for the 2024-25 season, and updated its board of governors on the situation with a status-report memo Wednesday, according to multiple sources who read the memo.
The status report, per those sources, said that there are a lot of moving parts with the situation and stressed that no decisions had been finalized. Multiple league sources cautioned against framing relocation to Utah as a done deal while confirming that those discussions are happening. While stressing that work needs to be done, one source said things could escalate quickly.
The Coyotes will wrap up their second season at the 4,600-seat Mullett Arena next week, and owner Alex Meruelo is still trying to finalize plans to build an NHL-quality facility in Arizona.
The organization announced last week that it intends to win a June 27 state land auction on a 110-acre piece of property in Phoenix that could house a new arena and entertainment district, but league sources said that even if Meruelo is successful in winning that auction, it would take at least three years before the Coyotes could play there.
Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox. Sign up
Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox. Sign up
Buy
Meanwhile, the NHL has a readymade solution in Salt Lake City. Billionaire Ryan Smith, the chairman and CEO of Smith Entertainment Group, which owns the NBA’s Utah Jazz and Real Salt Lake in MLS, formally asked the NHL to initiate an expansion process in January so that he could bring a team to Utah. Per a source close to the situation, SEG is not in direct talks with the Coyotes. Communication is flowing through the NHL.
If the sale happens, SEG has told the league that it could begin play immediately on an interim basis at Delta Center, which carries a capacity of roughly 14,000 for hockey, or upon completion of a new arena that will be constructed in the city.
Salt Lake City has a bid underway to host the 2034 Winter Olympics.
It didn’t go unnoticed that Smith sent a tweet Monday asking fans to submit potential nicknames for an NHL team.
If an NHL team were to come to Utah, what should we name it?
Fill out this survey and send your ideas:https://t.co/wmedXEUEyh https://t.co/BXhSRBqcPd
— Ryan Smith (@RyanQualtrics) April 8, 2024
A spokesman for SEG declined to comment Wednesday.
“The league is continuing to work on a solution to what has been a challenging and difficult situation,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic. “But we are not in a position to comment beyond that.”
If the NHL does leave Arizona, the area will immediately be viewed as a prime location for expansion down the road, assuming Meruelo or someone else can get an appropriate building built.
The region has become a hotbed for minor hockey and produced current NHL goal-scoring leader Auston Matthews, among other players. It’s also a major media market.
Required reading
(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
Christine Lake is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. With an extensive background in sports journalism, he covers everything from major league championships to grassroots sports events. When she’s not on the field or at the stadium, you’ll find Christine coaching youth sports teams.
