Arizona billionaire and NBA owner begins plan to bring back the Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes officially moved to Utah this off-season, but they may not be defunct for long if one billionaire has his way.
After years in Arizona, owner Alex Meruelo couldn't keep the team in Phoenix, as they have now officially relocated to Utah as the Utah Hockey Club, with the Coyotes now becoming a defunct organization. However, that may not happen for long, as billionaire and Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishiba has reportedly expressed interested in reviving the team in the future.
Mat Ishiba has expressed interest in bringing an NHL franchise back to Phoenix, Arizona 🇺🇸 as an expansion franchise.
Ishiba wouldn't comment on if he has already had talks with the NHL, but if discussions advance in the next few years alongside plans for a new arena, it wouldn't surprise many to see the Phoenix market re-added to the league within the next ten years.
The league retained the branding rights to the Coyotes when Meruelo conceded his rights to the franchise earlier this month, which could be sold to Ishbia as part of an expansion deal.
The 44-year old is the CEO and chairman of United Wholesale Mortgage, and is the owner of the Phoenix Suns (NBA) 🇺🇸 and Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) 🇺🇸
He is worth $10.1b as of May 2024.
Ishiba wouldn't comment on if he has already had talks with the NHL, but if discussions advance in the next few years alongside plans for a new arena, it wouldn't surprise many to see the Phoenix market re-added to the league within the next ten years.
The league retained the branding rights to the Coyotes when Meruelo conceded his rights to the franchise earlier this month, which could be sold to Ishbia as part of an expansion deal.
The 44-year old is the CEO and chairman of United Wholesale Mortgage, and is the owner of the Phoenix Suns (NBA) 🇺🇸 and Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) 🇺🇸
He is worth $10.1b as of May 2024.
That interest is reportedly in the preliminary stage at this point, as it hasn't been confirmed that Ishiba has made contact with the NHL, but given the outpouring of support the Coyotes got just before relocating, they would be welcomed back in a big way. Ultimately, it makes sense for the Coyotes to one day come back to the NHL given the incredible youth program they put together, and with support, if Ishiba does this right, he could revive this organization to great success.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 25 | 391 ANSWERS Arizona billionaire and NBA owner begins plan to bring back the Coyotes Will the Arizona Coyotes return to the NHL in the next five years? | ||
| Yes | 108 | 27.6 % |
| No | 283 | 72.4 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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