NHL

[Coyote]

NHL Board of Governors approves Coyotes' move to Salt Lake City:
Team will begin play in new home next season

The Arizona Coyotes saga is officially over. According to an announcement from the NHL, the league's Board of Governors approved the Coyotes' relocation to Salt Lake City, and the team will begin play in its new home beginning in the 2024-25 season. Ryan and Ashley Smith, who own the NBA's Utah Jazz, are purchasing the team. The transaction will result in the Coyotes transferring all of their players and draft picks to the new Utah franchise.

[Coyote]

NHL on ESPN
Arizona Coyotes fans say goodbye in final Phoenix home game



See the potential final home game of the Arizona Coyotes in Phoenix, AZ as the team is on the verge to move to Salt Lake City under new owner, Ryan Smith.

[Coyote]

The NHL is coming to Utah



he National Hockey League’s Board of Governors has approved the establishment of an NHL franchise in Utah that will be owned and controlled by Smith Entertainment Group, led by Ryan and Ashley Smith, beginning in the 2024-25 NHL season.

Effective at closing, the approved transactions will result in the Arizona Coyotes franchise transferring the totality of its existing hockey assets – including its full Reserve List, roster of Players and draft picks and its Hockey Operations Department – to the Utah franchise.

[Stargazer]

I guess that takes SLC out as an expansion city competitor.

[CBJason]

I guess that takes SLC out as an expansion city competitor.

Yes but Phoenix just takes their place for now.

[F0R_L1F3]

I just want Omaha to have one. As much as there's UNO and their hockey team at Baxter, it just feels like it'd be way better to be in an atmosphere with a professional team. Hopefully when expansion is considered, Omaha is up there.

[Brad]

I guess that takes SLC out as an expansion city competitor.

Yes but Phoenix just takes their place for now.

Phoenix has been a massive failure, why would they take their place?

SLC will suck for a few years until the new hockey arena is built. The Delta Center is not a hockey arena, but they will be wedging a rink in there for the first couple years.

[CBJason]

I guess that takes SLC out as an expansion city competitor.

Yes but Phoenix just takes their place for now.

Phoenix has been a massive failure, why would they take their place?

SLC will suck for a few years until the new hockey arena is built. The Delta Center is not a hockey arena, but they will be wedging a rink in there for the first couple years.

The league gave the Phoenix owner a 5 year agreement to continue getting their house in order to be at the top of the pecking order for expansion.

Legislation in Utah has provided financing for upgrading the Delta center to be hockey compliant and also provide funding to overhaul and upgrade a nearby entertainment district.

[Brad]

Legislation in Utah has provided financing for upgrading the Delta center to be hockey compliant and also provide funding to overhaul and upgrade a nearby entertainment district.

The article I read said they could remodel the delta center or build a new arena. Not sure how you remodel the delta center without completely reconfiguring the lower bowl. Its shaped for basketball. See the image below. They have no seats on the ends (RED) because they have to fold them all up to fit the rink. Then the sections I highlighted in Green are facing the center, so in order to see the goal, you must look over your shoulder. I'm sur they can rebuild the lower bowl, but they way everything goes today, I can't see most cities spending that kind of money on a 33 year old arena.

DeltaCenter.JPG

[CBJason]

Legislation in Utah has provided financing for upgrading the Delta center to be hockey compliant and also provide funding to overhaul and upgrade a nearby entertainment district.

The article I read said they could remodel the delta center or build a new arena. Not sure how you remodel the delta center without completely reconfiguring the lower bowl. Its shaped for basketball. See the image below. They have no seats on the ends (RED) because they have to fold them all up to fit the rink. Then the sections I highlighted in Green are facing the center, so in order to see the goal, you must look over your shoulder. I'm sur they can rebuild the lower bowl, but they way everything goes today, I can't see most cities spending that kind of money on a 33 year old arena.

DeltaCenter.JPG

Honestly, I thought I had previously read something about a new being built also but now I didn’t see that, so I’ve been kinda confused by this whole thing. Maybe they are doing a short-term retro fit to the Delta, while readying for a new arena. My next question would be if a new arena would be for both teams or not?

[TitosBuritoBarn]

I'm quite confused by what the team is doing with their move to SLC. My understanding is that Instead of "relocating," the Coyotes are going to be "dormant" and the new Utah team, while technically the Coyotes, will be an expansion team, beginning play next season. Should the ownership secure an appropriate arena by 2029, the expansion team goes away and the Coyotes are restored. But this is despite being the same team? Am I missing something? Why would they do this?

[CBJason]

I'm quite confused by what the team is doing with their move to SLC. My understanding is that Instead of "relocating," the Coyotes are going to be "dormant" and the new Utah team, while technically the Coyotes, will be an expansion team, beginning play next season. Should the ownership secure an appropriate arena by 2029, the expansion team goes away and the Coyotes are restored. But this is despite being the same team? Am I missing something? Why would they do this?

It’s all about the name Coyotes. The Phoenix owner retains all the rights pertaining to the name, logo, image and licensing to use again if he can get a new arena. So, Utah is essentially a new team in a roundabout way as opposed to the Jazz who relocated with the same owner keeping the name, logo, etc.

[Doctor Fate]

I'm quite confused by what the team is doing with their move to SLC. My understanding is that Instead of "relocating," the Coyotes are going to be "dormant" and the new Utah team, while technically the Coyotes, will be an expansion team, beginning play next season. Should the ownership secure an appropriate arena by 2029, the expansion team goes away and the Coyotes are restored. But this is despite being the same team? Am I missing something? Why would they do this?

It’s all about the name Coyotes. The Phoenix owner retains all the rights pertaining to the name, logo, image and licensing to use again if he can get a new arena. So, Utah is essentially a new team in a roundabout way as opposed to the Jazz who relocated with the same owner keeping the name, logo, etc.

It's like when the Sonics were bought and then relocated to Oklahoma City as the Thunder. Seattle is likely next up for an NBA expansion team and would probably become the Sonics again but it would be an expansion team, just like the Coyotes if/when the NHL returns to Phoenix.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

I'm quite confused by what the team is doing with their move to SLC. My understanding is that Instead of "relocating," the Coyotes are going to be "dormant" and the new Utah team, while technically the Coyotes, will be an expansion team, beginning play next season. Should the ownership secure an appropriate arena by 2029, the expansion team goes away and the Coyotes are restored. But this is despite being the same team? Am I missing something? Why would they do this?

It’s all about the name Coyotes. The Phoenix owner retains all the rights pertaining to the name, logo, image and licensing to use again if he can get a new arena. So, Utah is essentially a new team in a roundabout way as opposed to the Jazz who relocated with the same owner keeping the name, logo, etc.

I think I get it now. The Utah team is an expansion team that happens to use all of the same people and capital from the Coyotes in the way that a relocated team would. The reactivated Coyotes would be a restored team with the same name, logos, and records, but has to build a new team from the ground up like an expansion team would. Do the reactivated Coyotes need to be in greater Phoenix, or is that just what the previous owner prefers?

[jomaha9]

I'm quite confused by what the team is doing with their move to SLC. My understanding is that Instead of "relocating," the Coyotes are going to be "dormant" and the new Utah team, while technically the Coyotes, will be an expansion team, beginning play next season. Should the ownership secure an appropriate arena by 2029, the expansion team goes away and the Coyotes are restored. But this is despite being the same team? Am I missing something? Why would they do this?

It’s all about the name Coyotes. The Phoenix owner retains all the rights pertaining to the name, logo, image and licensing to use again if he can get a new arena. So, Utah is essentially a new team in a roundabout way as opposed to the Jazz who relocated with the same owner keeping the name, logo, etc.

I think I get it now. The Utah team is an expansion team that happens to use all of the same people and capital from the Coyotes in the way that a relocated team would. The reactivated Coyotes would be a restored team with the same name, logos, and records, but has to build a new team from the ground up like an expansion team would. Do the reactivated Coyotes need to be in greater Phoenix, or is that just what the previous owner prefers?

There is a precedent for this in the NBA. When the Charlotte Hornets were bought and moved to New Orleans, the name of the team and brand were dormant for the next ownership group. Eventually, a new ownership group expanded into Charlotte and resurrected the Hornets name and brand.

[nebugeater]

Would it be similar to what happened when the NFL left Cleveland, but Brown's name stayed with the city?

[CBJason]

I'm quite confused by what the team is doing with their move to SLC. My understanding is that Instead of "relocating," the Coyotes are going to be "dormant" and the new Utah team, while technically the Coyotes, will be an expansion team, beginning play next season. Should the ownership secure an appropriate arena by 2029, the expansion team goes away and the Coyotes are restored. But this is despite being the same team? Am I missing something? Why would they do this?

It’s all about the name Coyotes. The Phoenix owner retains all the rights pertaining to the name, logo, image and licensing to use again if he can get a new arena. So, Utah is essentially a new team in a roundabout way as opposed to the Jazz who relocated with the same owner keeping the name, logo, etc.

I think I get it now. The Utah team is an expansion team that happens to use all of the same people and capital from the Coyotes in the way that a relocated team would. The reactivated Coyotes would be a restored team with the same name, logos, and records, but has to build a new team from the ground up like an expansion team would. Do the reactivated Coyotes need to be in greater Phoenix, or is that just what the previous owner prefers?

You got it! Don’t forget the NHL wants a successful team in Phoenix, so they are giving this guy 5 years to get it done weather it’s the Coyote name or not. He could get a new arena approved, get the expansion team and then rename the franchise if he really wanted to.

[CBJason]

Would it be similar to what happened when the NFL left Cleveland, but Brown's name stayed with the city?

I don't know/remember specifics but my guess would be yes