(ksl.com 4-15-24)
Utah is a step closer to landing a NHL team.
The NHL's executive committee has approved the move of the Arizona Coyotes to Salt Lake City, according to a report from Sportico. The relocation vote will now go to the league's Board of Governors, which is expected to approve the franchise's move to Salt Lake City for the 2024-25 season.
The executive committee features 10 franchise owners; the Board of Governors includes all 32 franchises.
It's a complicated transaction that will feature the league purchasing the team from Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo and then selling it to Ryan Smith for $1.2 billion, according to multiple reports. Meruelo will receive $1 billion with the other $200 million going to the NHL.
While Arizona's hockey operations department — including the players, coaching staff, and front office — will be relocated to Utah, the Coyotes' name will remain in Arizona. Meruelo will maintain the name, logos and trademark as part of the deal and will be given priority for an expansion club, per multiple reports.
Meruelo will continue to pursue building an arena and stadium district with the hopes of resurrecting the Coyotes in the future. He'll have five years to get that done, according to Politico. If he's successful, he'll pay back the $1 billion for the expansion franchise.
The Coyotes will begin its Utah era in the Delta Center while a new arena project is developed in Salt Lake City. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed SB272 last month, setting up a "Capital City Revitalization Zone," which includes funding for a new arena.
"Utah has the foundation of being the next major sports and entertainment destination in the United States," a Utah Senate statement said in January. "With the fastest growing economy, youngest population in the country and a long history as a premier winter sports destination, Utah is excited about the prospect of being the new home to an NHL franchise."
General manager Bill Armstrong told the Coyotes players and coaches about the move Friday before their game in Edmonton, Canada — a move that sources have described as him "going rogue." The deal wasn't yet done, but with reports of the move being imminent, he wanted to give the team some clarity.
"I think our guys showed a lot of character in the last week," Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny, who will remain the coach in Salt Lake City.
Since the relocation news first broke last week, the Coyotes — who currently have the sixth-worst record in the league — strung together two overtime wins against playoff teams.
The Coyotes will play their final game in Arizona on Wednesday at the 5,000-seat Mullet Arena. The Coyotes moved to Arizona from Winnipeg in 1997.
"How about I digest that one?" Tourigny said when asked how he'll prepare for that farewell game. "We'll figure that out. It'll be a day off tomorrow (Monday), well-earned after that long trip and all the emotion."
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