Alex Meruelo, Gary Bettman Address Arizona Coyotes Relocation To Utah

Arizona Coyotes chairman Alex Meruelo and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman met with the media on Friday to address the Coyotes' sale and relocation to Salt Lake City, Utah.
SUBSCRIBE: / @phnx_sports
Website:
gophnx.com/
PHNX Locker:
PHNXLocker.com
Social
Twitter: @PHNX_Sports
Instagram: @PHNX_Sports

[@jtfritz9169]

This isn’t entirely Alex Meruelo’s fault. Yes, there are plenty of errors he did, but previous owners of the Coyotes have pissed off the City of Glendale for years, and that’s why they were kicked out of Desert Diamond Arena. Nobody wanted to go all the way out to the middle of nowhere through rush hour traffic and that’s why nobody went to the games at Desert Diamond. Not enough revenue drawn from being in a bad location.

[@wild_lee_coyote]

The problem with Glendale was they had a 15 year lease, and then Glendale broke it. Meruelo did talk to them before moving to the Mullett but they insisted in a 20 year lease agreement. 20 more years in Glendale wouldn’t be viable for the franchise any more than Mullett was.

[@kermit1]

@@wild_lee_coyotenot only that, but the NHL wouldn’t allow him to buy the team if he had intentions to keep the team in Glendale

[@yetimelly523]

Right. Not making any money way out in Glendale. I hope Meuelo gets it done in Scottsdale. Tempe voters are dumb.

[@oracle013]

"Is that a question?" - Gary the Lawyer surfaces.

[@jimmyj-514]

This was a mastercass from Gary Bettman in how to step up and manage tough situations and questions. I'll watch this over many times on how to conduct myself as management in tough situations

[@Andre35_]

Say what you will about The Count, but he really is an HR genius. Both him and Adam Silver have to have the ability to work productively with over 30 billionaires with wildly different personalities and business styles. Regardless of how you feel about either of them, their work speaks for itself

[@oracle013]

If Bettman wasn't Meruelo's wingman for this news conference, this would have gone even worse.

[@garymartin1045]

This is just about getting the taxpayers to pay for this guy's stadium. Quit your lying

[@pierredupont1096]

Indeed. Mr. Bettman did some great damage control here and handled himself and Meruelo's tough questions masterfully. I'm extremely glad he's the Commissioner.

[@mattblom3990]

Gary basically took over for Alex after a few...Strongly worded...Comments from him. There was some pedantic "I got it" and tapping on the arm from Gary to tell Alex he needed to zip it.

[@splashnskillz37]

Gary Bettman showing Robber Manfraud how it's done

[@ethanmackler1160]

25:00 "It wasn't like anyone had planned this out in advance" I have a pretty shrewd idea the Smiths were getting plans together for awhile. Shows the difference in owner quality.

[@michaelkapel9033]

It is a known fact that the Smith's were actively pursuing an NHL franchise. They preferred an expansion team, but Meruelo's mismanagement of the Coyotes brought the opportunity to them. Want a contrast in management? Watch the press conference with the Smith's in SLC.

[@ethanmackler1160]

@@michaelkapel9033 I did, they're phenomenally impressive.

[@tao265]

Shane Doan needs to assemble an ownership group and buy the defunct franchise and resurrect (PHX style) above and beyond that previous owners have attempted to do.

[@richardtwaddle759]

True about that,because he's not the guy,he took the money and ran

[@chrissantoro9507]

I think Alex will really try to win the auction and build a stadium. What he is up against is all the other companies in the valley who are competing for the same resources and the same pool of skilled workers. There are just not enough skilled workers to go around . Companies are importing workers from other states and it is still not enough. I think 5 to 8 years is more likely with the labor shortages for a stadium which will be 3 years to long. I fear then will come a law suit which will tie up our hopes for a return even longer. The commisioner is 71. If this goes 10 years we will more than likely dealing with his succesor. The other thing is AZ has a plethora of retirees who probably wont be alive to see hockey return. Sad times.

[@habs4life41]

If i wanted to watch two snakes for 46 minutes, I'd go on the nature channel.

[@FAITHandLOGIC]

Oh shut up. It's your own faults for voting down the arena in Tempe. If you passed it, you'd still have a team.

[@jackmakackov7077]

It's the owners fault for not using union labor. There wouldn't have been an opposition campaign if they did.​@@FAITHandLOGIC

[@jbergstrom85]

😂😂😂

[@GoodPuck69]

Wait just a minute If this was a total done business deal lock stock and barrel then you would yell how come you didn’t tell us what was going on Anything the would of said could of gone a different way and then look out “Huge Liars”!!! I do understand why they couldn’t say too much until a-z was completed So please get behind the hockey arena being built and the players will have a class place to come to work in !!!

[@bradelenbaas76]

🙄🙄🙄

[@DR.DisInfect]

Utah Hockey is going to be awesome. Hopefully hickory m hockey will be back in the desert but wow they had so many great young players coming now if they get a team back they'll have to start from scratch. Yikes. I don't see this guy getting it done

[@splashnskillz37]

Vegas and Seattle starting from scratch and doing better than many long existing teams

[@richardtwaddle759]

That's not the problem,Alex is,anyone who doesn't speak up isn't great for our sport,I don't know how in the hell he makes money if he can't speak up

[@timfronimos459]

Meruelo looks like a school kid that got scolded by his daddy. Look at his eyes and facial gestures. Liar liar pants on fire. Gary looks pissed at 18:10 and has to pick up where Lou pisses in the soup.

[@rickcobos1724]

One of the most awkward press conferences I've ever seen, and I am a fan of pro wrestling that has lived through the death of WCW, the ongoing Vince McMahon scandals, etc. Bettman is fucking pissed about losing Phoenix.

[@EricKoinz]

Can Alex define offsides?

[@seanlynskey9235]

Alex Meruelo is not a very good public speaker, at all. He fumbles over his words and talks too quickly. Absolutely brutal press conference with the whole continent watching.

[@tombraiderstrums09]

And he gets flustered easily. And he makes it about him. And he doesn’t project confidence.

[@jackkaiser9275]

Alright Yotes fans… Alex Meruelo apologized, he said he takes “full responsibility”. Us Yotes fans should accept that apology and do everything we can to support him to get our team back. We WILL get it back!

[@JonDoe-ln6nl]

As a Sabres fan, I say “good on ya” … I wanted the Coyotes to succeed SO BADLY! But simply no arena to play in. Sad, but true. Reboot and come back better!!

[@richardtwaddle759]

Alex is not the guy to run a hockey team

[@smithsthoughts]

18:16 “I don’t like the media…Let me translate that a little bit.”😂 Well, we ask for honesty from owners

[@GoodPuck69]

I think everyone from the media are trying to activate a schedule where they can ridicule Alex and Gary !!!! If you guys would tell it black and white no gray then you wouldn’t be ridiculed so PLEASE STOP this is not a republican democrat bs garbage I win you lose Sorry That Helps Nobody But You and that is Totally Wrong and deceptive

[@bradelenbaas76]

🙄🙄🙄

[@aaronr8605]

Do the Roadrunners want to relocate to ASU? Lol Does ASU really want to continue being a part of this circus?

[@jay5207]

Ripping the roadrunners from my town, thank you "the valley". But then again, the tucson roadrunners of tempe lol. has a ring to it.

[@GreenSteedaGT]

They're one of the worst for attendance. Tucson is a dump anyway.

[@jay5207]

@@GreenSteedaGT the valley is an even bigger shh!t hole. Tucson loves the roadrunners. The valley started caring about the yotes when they knew they were moving. But we can all agree. Sad the yotes are gone.

[@AbeFromanSKC]

He’s a wanna be David Stern, a lawyer first and commissioner second. Also holds a grudge like Stern. At least he paid attention while he worked for the NBA it’s obvious. I hated Stern and I hate Bettman for the exact same reason…. Relocation of teams with crap owners after abusing a fan base and a city/state. At least this time the Utah owner seems like a decent dude certainly much better that the guy trying to kill hockey in two AZ markets, that’s not gonna make a whole state support the new Yotes. No taxpayer money used is also bs, the land has no water or sewer and closest hookup is a mile away, he wants someone else to pay for that as well as rerouting traffic.

[@powxchris]

Coyotes will never be back with this guy in charge.

[@DR.DisInfect]

Yeah I can't see it coming back with him.

[@ericbowers1620]

Agreed hes a POS that could careless. He already made money off the deal now he will slink away with it.

[@FallGuy-68]

I am glad they are gone.

[@ericbowers1620]

@@FallGuy-68 hopefully the dbacks and suns will follow in that case :)

[@FallGuy-68]

@@ericbowers1620 nah, they are good organizations, they will be around.

[@cinco_de_la_tarde]

God, I just don't understand the arrogance to sit up there and try to argue with people. I came in against him and I don't feel like anything he said changed my mind. If anything, it made me feel like it's probably best if nobody supports him so he fails to own the team and someone better can come in.

[@nickchristoforou7850]

Actually, you sound arrogant - and even spiteful. Here you are advocating to sabotage the guy's efforts to restart the team in a few years and make a ridiculous comment that some other billionaire is ready to swoop in and invest in his place. Both Meruelo and Bettman seem anxious and tired in this presser, but Bettman has worked consistently over a 20+ years to grow the sport in this market, and Meruelo has invested $millions of his own money to try and turn the Coyotes franchise around and stabilise it in the last 5 years. Neither of them is the villain many describe. It's also obvious that spending public money is out of the question in today's economy - not only in Phoenix, but elsewhere as well. Utah will acquire a largely rebuilt young roster to root for when Arizona fans had to sit patiently through several non-playoff years - so that adds insult to injury for them. This reminds me of when Denver got a young Quebec team that went on to win a Stanley Cup. In the long run, however, the Coyotes will be back and I wish Meruelo good luck with the land auction.

[@ericbowers1620]

Agreed…and Alex comes in with a bad reputation from elsewhere from what Ive heard.

[@markmccrory3004]

Wakey wakey. If there's no arena in 5 years, there won't be a team there period.

[@cinco_de_la_tarde]

@markmccrory3004 the Phoenix market is large enough that they'll get a team eventually. If Murelo keeps bungling the bag, they'd love to find a better owner. Even if they abandon the coyotes name completely and start anew

[@tombraiderstrums09]

I actually think he’s got a chance to make this happen. For no other reason than his ego won’t allow him to fail

[@seniorreilly7635]

living in maricopa, 12 year season ticket holder, glendale🎉 wasnt far, ... that was an excuse

[@brandonlewis5135]

glendale was far and horrible location

[@rickhopper2732]

Gary Bettman is the best commissioner in sports

[@pumpkinking5174]

Said no one ever.

[@user-zi6is2nt3b]

Go utah

[@doctorflush878]

5 more years of pot holes

[@ajonesaz01]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5uaeaKkrdt9arM Bettman looks like he wants to say Alex is full of shit. That is not body language of someone with trust and belief.

[@richardtwaddle759]

that's true 👍

[@ravensface]

Who owns the roadrunners?

[@ganderson5023]

Alex

[@tao265]

Gary is answering questions for Alex. Gary did everything he could to save this. Alex is squarely the dolt

[@sidneyschou7100]

Shouldn’t take tucsons success cause his failures

[@chrisb3976]

Alex is a f up where as bobblehead Bettman outclasses him in public speaking.

[@kevinhebert6836]

Meruelo is just not a likeable person

[@seanlynskey9235]

As likeable as a wet sock.

[@mosinc7388]

Best commissioner in all of sports

[@splashnskillz37]

Don Garber and Adam Silver exists

[@C1DPaintball]

Why have this press conference? Nothing positive for NHL can come from it

[@calebn5815]

Transparency

[@justinsmith7410]

If it was a hockey town u would still have a team

[@CollegevilleJohnnie]

Meruelo is cringe worthy

[@alexd481]

The NHL is in a very awkward position now. You can't expand by just one team, you would have to add multiple teams to balance the divisions out. Therefore, the NHL will have to line up three additional cities for expansion, should the former Coyotees owner get a stadium deal done. If the coyotes don`t get a deal done, then you have the awkwardness of lining up three additional cities and not moving forward. I think the NHL will be expanding to 36, with AZ competing for the 4th expansion slot.

[@richardtwaddle759]

This is true Arizona,Atlanta,Houston ,KC

[@jean-philippematte3701]

Bring a team back to Quebec City, they have the building, the fans and owners ready to spend a lot of money to make it work

[@JonDoe-ln6nl]

No. They DO NOT have the ownership. That’s the problem. And I loved (to hate) the Nordiques!

[@johnnyarana1876]

​@@JonDoe-ln6nlthe Quebeccor might still be interested in getting a team in Quebec City

[@richardtwaddle759]

why did he not go to the last game

[@michaellewter8671]

One thing I can never stand about Gary Bettman is how he always tries to control press conferences involving other hockey personnel like owners and things.

[@tombraiderstrums09]

He had no choice here, Meruelo was SO bad

[@aaronr8605]

He was 100% on damage control here lol For the sake of the franchise, they needed Bettman up there.

[@Itshadow306]

I will say as much as upset I am of the Coyotes relocating to Salt Lake City, I really believe that this was the plan all along move current Coyotes to Salt Lake City and move the Winnipeg Jets back to Phoenix and and rebrand as the new Coyotes.

[@garyszabo7742]

I don’t trust Alex with anything he’s saying as far as I can throw him haha, Arizona Coyotes welcome to Utah. This has been long overdue since 2009

[@ericbowers1620]

Alex is a snake and I guarantee you….look it up once the bidding starts…he will take the money and run. Hes not bidding on the land.

[@Chubbs52]

Salt lake sucks

[@thedukeparty]

They have an NHL team. So they have that going for them, which is nice

[@DR.DisInfect]

It is beautiful there hockey will thrive I'm going to see my Wings play there next year 💯 very exciting

[@rickcobos1724]

@@DR.DisInfect I'm stoked for the NHL there and find it be a custom-made fit. And yes, Utah is fucking beautiful including the Wasatch Front. So much outdoor activity to enjoy in addition to urban amenities.

[@mrvroom188]

It’s not their fault

[@brandonlewis5135]

​@@DR.DisInfectget good seats the arena sucks

[@JamesTKirk-yz5ng]

These two are fraud artists.