[News] Tempe voters reject the Coyotes Arena and Entertainment District

[Jordan!]

My gut feeling is this: The team is 100% gone unless Meruelo sells the team to Mat Ishbia and the Suns. I just don't feel they have the competency to get anything done after the Tempe vote.. they miscalculated that entire process and from what I've heard have burned bridges with some of their options.

The league won't say it as they want to give them a chance but I think the NHL will making a call to The Suns owner by the time the season starts next year if no progress has been made by Meruelo. The Suns have a lease until 2037 but I think they can pull off something for 14 years there until Ishbia builds a new shared building for both of his teams... It's better than a college rink but it would definitely be a wonky setup like we used to have here at AWA and Barclays had w/ The Isles.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Jordan!

My gut feeling is this: The team is 100% gone unless Meruelo sells the team to Mat Ishbia and the Suns. I just don't feel they have the competency to get anything done after the Tempe vote.. they miscalculated that entire process and from what I've heard have burned bridges with some of their options.

The league won't say it as they want to give them a chance but I think the NHL will making a call to The Suns owner by the time the season starts next year if no progress has been made by Meruelo. The Suns have a lease until 2037 but I think they can pull off something for 14 years there until Ishbia builds a new shared building for both of his teams... It's better than a college rink but it would definitely be a wonky setup like we used to have here at AWA and Barclays had w/ The Isles.

Yeah I agree that a change of ownership is needed if there is any hope of making it work in the Phoenix area. And if he wants to own the team and move it, well those arena options are going to be slim IMO.

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Yeah I agree that a change of ownership is needed if there is any hope of making it work in the Phoenix area. And if he wants to own the team and move it, well those arena options are going to be slim IMO.

Ishbia knows that having a multi-team empire will help him build something new. no doubt.

[FlamesAddiction]

It's being reported that according to the governor of Connecticut, a group is trying to purchase the Coyotes with the intent of moving them to Hartford.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/artic...13132_38908000

[Locke]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It's being reported that according to the governor of Connecticut, a group is trying to purchase the Coyotes with the intent of moving them to Hartford.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/artic...13132_38908000

Awww.....if we could get the Whalers back??

Make it so!

[Muta]

I’m 100% in for the Whalers back in the league. Would be so f’ing cool.

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Once the nostalgia wears off no one will care about the Whalers, like before.

[Bill Bumface]

That would be one of the smallest US markets in the league, right there with Buffalo (but minus the Canadians flooding across the border to bolster numbers).

[FlamesAddiction]

I doubt Bettman would make it easy either. Even if Bettman relents and allows the team to move, I think they'll make it so they at least stay in the west.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Muta

I’m 100% in for the Whalers back in the league. Would be so f’ing cool.

As long as they bring back those original uni's and logo. One of the greatest sports logos ever designed.

[Strange Brew]

Maybe the NHL prefers Phoenix as a possible expansion market in 10 years. They have zero problem going back to failed locations.

[White Out 403]

the whalers being back would be ####ing cool af .

[TheScorpion]

There is zero chance that the league will move a team from a city of 5 million with no arena to a city of just over 1 million with no arena

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It's being reported that according to the governor of Connecticut, a group is trying to purchase the Coyotes with the intent of moving them to Hartford.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/artic...13132_38908000

Eric Francis joins the chat

[Reggie Dunlop]

Local boosterism. Politicians wouldn't be doing their jobs if they weren't hyping a refurbished facility.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

As long as they bring back those original uni's and logo. One of the greatest sports logos ever designed.

Only way it would work. Considering what else they are known for, Hartford Insurance Adjusters just doesn't have the same logo potential.

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

That would be one of the smallest US markets in the league, right there with Buffalo (but minus the Canadians flooding across the border to bolster numbers).

Connecticut is also a bit challenged in that most of the cities are crapholes, while the nicest areas and wealthiest people are spread out in the suburbs/countryside. There is plenty of money there to be spent on professional sports, as they have some of the richest people in the country, but I'm not sure you have enough concentration of people in any one spot to really make it work. I also imagine most of where the money is are the areas that start encroaching on Rangers/Isles territory.

I'd be all for the Whalers coming back, but I imagine it wouldn't be the most sound franchise business wise this go around either.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by FormerPresJamesTaylor

Once the nostalgia wears off no one will care about the Whalers, like before.

I don’t care about any of the teams that aren’t ours, and I’d rather look at Whaler jerseys than Coyotes ones.

[FlamesAddiction]

Doesn't the Carolina organization still technically own the Whalers trademarks and make money from the sale of Whalers merchandise? I wonder how much it would cost to by those rights.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Doesn't the Carolina organization still technically own the Whalers trademarks and make money from the sale of Whalers merchandise? I wonder how much it would cost to by those rights.

I thought 100% of merch sales in the NHL is shared among all 32 franchises.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Yes, though the Canes could probably be persuaded to part with that IP. The bigger issues are of course the unsuitability of the market, but also the Boston Bruins. Does anyone really think Jeremy Jacobs is going to sit still for another NHL team coming in down the road?