[News] State of Arizona cancels land auction for Coyotes proposed arena land

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Congrats to Meruelo as well, he made a fortune on the back of his incompetence.

Billionaires often fail up at the expense of good people..

[getbak]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1804275335514517618

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Why are we still talking about this? It was bad enough to have this stuff coming up constantly when the team was still playing in Arizona. Now it's a big nothing burger.

Because Arizona has first dibs on an expansion team LOLOLOL

[btimbit]

Damn, if they keep this up they won't have a team anymore

[MissTeeks]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1804294877846606123

Oops.

[PaperBagger'14]

“The state is forgoing millions, perhaps billions of dollars.”

Let’s not put the cart billions of miles before the horse Meruelo, you couldn’t even fill a 5000 person arena lol.

[Geeoff]

I think it's clear that the NHL believes in the Arizona market and will try to come back here eventually. Could be good for fans of Arizona if Meruelo is not involved, even it takes a decade to come back.

[BigThief]

Did Bettman lose his virginity in Arizona or something? What's his obsession here

[Reggie Dunlop]

[curves2000]

Something here sounds and smells fishy, probably a corrupt attempt for others to potentially profit or maneuver in on getting access to the site/Coyotes.

I can fully understand that a lot of people may not want Alex Murrello as the owner of the new team in the Phx area but I don't think this a result of government officials thinking this was a site for youth hockey and not a commercial development for a 17k arena.

There has been enough noise about this development from everybody for a few years now and enough press conferences to indicate this was a development for the Arizona Coyotes NHL team and getting a proper NHL arena in a proper area. This wasn't miscommunication about development for tike hockey or the wrong box being checked.

This looks beyond weird and corrupt so that someone else can take over the Phx market and the other NHL owners get a bigger slice of the pie with an actual expansion price that is higher then the $200 million they just got.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by curves2000

Something here sounds and smells fishy, probably a corrupt attempt for others to potentially profit or maneuver in on getting access to the site/Coyotes.

I can fully understand that a lot of people may not want Alex Murrello as the owner of the new team in the Phx area but I don't think this a result of government officials thinking this was a site for youth hockey and not a commercial development for a 17k arena.

There has been enough noise about this development from everybody for a few years now and enough press conferences to indicate this was a development for the Arizona Coyotes NHL team and getting a proper NHL arena in a proper area. This wasn't miscommunication about development for tike hockey or the wrong box being checked.

This looks beyond weird and corrupt so that someone else can take over the Phx market and the other NHL owners get a bigger slice of the pie with an actual expansion price that is higher then the $200 million they just got.

I dig it. I definitely get the sense that Bettman/NHL is done with Murelo, and wants this to stretch out long enough that the clause falls, and a new owner can bring hockey back to the desert.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

Is it just me, or does AZ seem like a bureaucratic nightmare in terms of development?? I thought Republican states were supposed to be business friendly and reduce red tape? Between the numerous municipal jurisdictions, the differing rules and approval processes, the opportunities for constant citizen opposition and referendums, it is amazing anything gets done there outside of single family houses.

If anyone thinks this is a post excusing the ineptitude of the Coyotes, they are mistaken.

Don’t think it has anything to do with that. The Coyotes owner screwed the city twice. They are burying him.

[Strange Brew]

Time and again the Meruelo group is unable to accomplish anything since they don’t actually engage with local officials in substantial and transparent discussions. And then of course it’s never their fault. Think back to the lawsuit that would have derailed the Tempe arena plan even if it was passed by voters.

They are simply not the ones to get this kind of project done and it has been obvious for years. Phoenix will get a team once their timer expires and a potential owner comes forward.

[powderjunkie]

Is this not the ASLD trying to save the Coyotes from themselves? The order is a little odd, but if the Land Dept doesn't feel certain about granting the appropriate zoning then it seems reasonable to play out that process first

Like it might not be the best idea to sell a car to a teenager who you know doesn't have their driver's license yet...you can just tell them tough titties if they fail to get it, but there's also a strong chance their parents will keep harassing you to take back the car or something.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by curves2000

There has been enough noise about this development from everybody for a few years now and enough press conferences to indicate this was a development for the Arizona Coyotes NHL team and getting a proper NHL arena in a proper area. This wasn't miscommunication about development for tike hockey or the wrong box being checked.

While the Coyotes have been trying to find a new arena location for a number of years, this specific site only started being talked about in December. The mayor of Scottsdale expressed his opposition to the plan pretty much immediately after the Coyotes announced it.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by getbak

While the Coyotes have been trying to find a new arena location for a number of years, this specific site only started being talked about in December. The mayor of Scottsdale expressed his opposition to the plan pretty much immediately after the Coyotes announced it.

I fully agree I am by no means a fan of the Arizona ownership group and and have no real knowledge about the local politics in the area.

Something about how everything is intertwined does have an interesting odor to it. The NHL doesn't want this ownership group anymore but couldn't legally take away the franchise so they "paused" it for a period of 5 years, but more like 3.5 as they require 18 months notice to reactivate it.

This site was slated for auction to the highest bidder and was discussed openly about an NHL arena project and more, there should be no surprises. Clearly without any additional bids coming through, it does appear that the Coyotes were slated to win this bid but at the last minute a zoning issue about allowing NHL rink and more has snagged it.

I really don't care who wins or if Arizona get's another team but I think we may have just witnessed some crazy corporate robbery here. It does now appear that the ownership group may not be able to build a proper facility in a desirable location unless I am missing something here, now another owner will probably come in and reap the benefits and the NHL got rid of a problem owner legally and out foxed him.

I don't think we witnessed a misunderstanding or a zoning concern here, I think it's more and it's fascinating

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by curves2000

It does now appear that the ownership group may not be able to build a proper facility in a desirable location unless I am missing something here, now another owner will probably come in and reap the benefits and the NHL got rid of a problem owner legally and out foxed him.

And poor, poor old Mr. Meruelo will just have to walk away with his $800 million.

I wish someone would outfox me like that.

[bluejays]

Politics can be dirty. And given Bettman clearly loathed the guy, and Murelo himself tried to figure proof himself buy building in that five year clause, wouldn’t surprise me if the NHL played 4K chess and gave into his demand while also paying a lobbyist to get the township to drop it on their end, effectively kyboshing his clause. Smart.

[getbak]

I don't think we need to come up with any kind of elaborate conspiracy theories about this. Based on everything they've done, I think it's clear Meruelo's people are just totally incompetent.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1804285627141345485

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by getbak

I don't think we need to come up with any kind of elaborate conspiracy theories about this. Based on everything they've done, I think it's clear Meruelo's people are just totally incompetent.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1804285627141345485

Add him to the list..

but he's a special breed.

The "teams" response was mindblowingly stupid - threatening legal action with the stakeholder you NEED.

They're done.

Hello Phoenix Scorpions NHL team in 2035... likely owned by the Suns ownership group.