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Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporterMar 20, 2024, 12:21 PM ET
CloseKristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.
MANALAPAN, Florida — The Arizona Coyotes’ success at an upcoming land auction could determine whether they remain in the greater Phoenix area.
Earlier this month, the Arizona State Land Department Board of Appeals unanimously approved a $68.5 million appraisal of a 95-acre parcel of land in north Phoenix that Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo is expected to bid on as the location for the team’s new arena. The land must be advertised publicly now for 10 weeks before the auction can take place, likely in mid-June.
If Meruelo doesn’t secure the land, it will again leave the Coyotes without a permanent arena or a pending site on which to build one. The franchise previously attempted to secure a different land deal in Tempe, Arizona, but that was voted down in a 2023 referendum.
The Coyotes have been playing temporarily out of a 5,000-seat venue at Arizona State University since being evicted from their former arena in Glendale; the agreement with ASU runs through next season, with an option to renew for 2025-26.
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Time is, frankly, running out for the Coyotes to stabilize their future in Arizona. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman continued to preach patience on the issue when he spoke Wednesday from the league’s annual GM meetings.
“We would have preferred [them] to be in a new arena by now. But there were certain things that couldn’t be controlled,” Bettman said. “We would have preferred that the referendum in Tempe went the other way, but it didn’t. We deal with what we can deal with.”
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly was asked if the NHL would be able to pivot and have the Coyotes play elsewhere next season if the bid is not successful.
“Probably not,” Daly admitted. “[But] I’m focused on the current. Currently, they are going to play hockey games in Arizona next year.”
Bettman allowed the league “[is] cognizant” that the auction results could come…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39771380/gary-bettman-says-nhl-stay-patient-amid-coyotes-arena-bid
Author : Kristen Shilton
Publish date : 2024-03-20 17:22:08
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