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"Easy right?": Ex-NFLer JJ Watt's snarky response to fan quering his interest in Arizona Coyotes franchise
Arizona Coyotes own͏er͏ Alex Meru͏elo's de͏cisio͏n t͏o d͏issolve the N͏HL franchise sparked a flurry of reactions, inclu͏ding from f͏or͏mer NFL star JJ͏ Wat͏t͏. Whe͏n asked by a f͏an, i͏f he wou͏ld ͏jo͏i͏n a group of i͏nvest͏ors͏ t͏o revive the Arizon͏a Coyotes NHL franchise. Watt's ͏r͏eply,͏ post͏ed on X,͏ addr͏essed t͏he c͏h͏allenges͏ faci͏ng any potential revival effort.
"If for no reason other than this logo alone, the franchise needs to be revived properly. And Shane Doan should be involved. Just gotta gather up a couple billion dollars, have the people of Arizona approve a new stadium build & get Gary Bettman to approve it. Easy right?"
Meruelo's decision came shortly after plans for a $3 billion arena complex in north Phoenix were halted, following the cancellation of a land auction by the Arizona State Land Commission. Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego's reluctance to support a competing arena further complicated Meruelo's efforts.
The franchise, purchased by Meruelo in 2019 for $425 million, was sold to Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith for $1.2 billion, with operations relocating to Salt Lake City. Despite the sale, Meruelo retained the rights to an expansion team contingent on building a new arena within five years.
The Arizona Coyotes had faced financial losses, reportedly between $30 million to $60 million annually, exacerbated by venue changes from Glendale's Desert Diamond Arena to ASU's Mullett Arena.
Thursday's NHL Board of Governors meeting is expected to discuss Meruelo's decision, which involves returning the team's assets to the NHL, including the name, logo, and rights to the Phoenix area.
G͏ary Bettman discusses Arizona Coyotes' future
NHL Commiss͏ioner G͏ary Bettman addressed th͏e uncer͏t͏ain future of the Arizona Coyotes following owne͏r's decisio͏n͏ not to rev͏ive the fran͏chi͏se͏. S͏peakin͏g͏ at the league͏'s recent ͏Board͏ of Gove͏rnors' meeting i͏n Ne͏w ͏York, Bettman co͏nfirmed Meruelo͏'s formal notification͏ and cited the͏ challenges surro͏unding the Coyote͏s' arena situation.
"I think circumstances and political climate conspired against the Coyotes being able to move forward, and I think it was a smart, wise, appropriate response for Mr. Morello to conclude that people shouldn't be let on by the prospect" Bettman acknowledged.
He pointed to the cancellation of the land auction for a new arena and described the circumstances as having conspired against the team's revival.
When asked about the possibility of the Arizona Coyotes returning in the future, potentially through expansion, Bettman noted:
"Obviously, it's not something we're looking at today. Somebody would have to solve the arena issue, and based on the climate, and I don't mean the weather, in Arizona, I don't see the arena issue being resolved any time soon."
Regarding relocation possibilities, like Winnipeg, Bettman commented:
"That's an excellent question, and since this is all unfolding rather rapidly, it's something that we would have to take a look at."
Bettman's remarks show the complexities surrounding the Arizona Coyotes' future in Arizona and hint at potential future considerations for the NHL.
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