Are the Coyotes About to Move to Utah?

Okay, I know I made a video on the Coyotes not that long ago, but it is a fluid situation and here's the latest.
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[@BoyNamedSue4]

The fact we went from “they’re not moving” to “no comment” is very damning.

[@darthvader3742]

A no comment in a situation like this speaks volumes.

[@brianjones7660]

@@darthvader3742 BINGO!

[@ryans413]

Ive been saying for the last 2 years now just move the team and be done with it. The NHL is the ones that dragged this on.

[@TheHeston83]

yep to Quote Gandalf " the Deep breath before the plunge"

[@bartsanders1553]

Bettman went from "I promise I will never die" to "You know I can't do that."

[@LSA30]

Shannon looks beyond DONE talking about the Coyotes😂

[@willbthebassist539]

Can you blame him?

[@LSA30]

@@willbthebassist539Not at all. Moving or getting a new building, this should have been resolved YEARS ago.

[@thewhale9527]

I think we all are 😅

[@atlantisource]

Just wait til he’s got to talk about Atlanta some more!!!

[@zanemarte9877]

I think we all have had enough, Except for a select very few fans who still want their team in Arizona which is a failed market. Why? SERIOUSLY!!!!! Arizona may be in the Top 5 metropolitan list, BUT the numbers don't lie when it comes to the business world especially in a professional sports market that has not seen much NHL success in their entire history. The team was kicked out of the Gil River arena and was left no choice but to use an arena not suitable for professional teams according to NHL standards. It's pretty clear the people there DO NOT WANT money wasted on a hockey arena the hockey market there is a complete failure. I just want this to be over with, so I can "slapshot" the fans in Arizona with a "I told you so." Arizona is a failed market in the NHL and you guys there just wasted time and money trying to build something the people there don't want.

[@jackhartmann1084]

"They've laundered a franchise" 😂😂😂

[@jfayiii]

Shannon is nailing it today.

[@tbell61]

Brilliant

[@ChurchOfTheHolyMho]

OK. So - a 3 way trade between Smith, the NHL, and Meruelo... with Meruelo receiving $1 billion + future considerations.

[@user-cr4kl3uf5w]

Sounds like a trade the yotes would do in real life 🤣🤣🤣

[@marionordqvist1668]

Joke of the week. 🤣🤣🤣

[@leftcoaster67]

"We have a trade to announce...."

[@Sick_Boy_Rick74]

Can we send Bettman back to the NBA for something like $15 and a six pack of cheap beer?

[@Actionronnie]

1 billion on LTIR 😂

[@notoriouseagle1074]

I can see a 30 for 30 or Netflix documentary/series about the saga of the Coyotes.

[@joedimaggio3687]

Yes, good call.

[@TheBalloonHoax]

This is a kinda once in a lifetime type thing...I think? I'm definitely thinking of buying a Coyotes jersey just for posterity.

[@drumline17]

Why? It's not like they've been any good or high profile in any way. Wouldn't be very interesting lol

[@TheBalloonHoax]

@@drumline17 While you are right about them sucking, those Kachina jerseys are fire!

[@butcherpete2286]

That would actually be really great. A deep, behind the scenes, exploration of it once it's all settled

[@arttkd1018]

“Ok…..so” Oh this is gonna be a long day

[@kingdom7777777]

I really hope they announce the team is moving prior to the last Coyotes game. Like allow fans to give the team a proper send off. I know this is unlikely because of the business side of things but it would really be nice if the Coyotes can have a Whalers or Original Jets style send off rather than the way the Thrashers left town.

[@HHSGDFootballJPD]

What ticks me off is that fans at the beginning of the season/end of the Tempe debacle suggested moving the team to SLC or Houston and give Phoenix a 2nd shot with their own building. I thought the NHL was smart and a little ahead of the curve; they waited until the last week of the season to do this?

[@jamiehomewood7733]

I'm sure that Coyotes fans will devastated, and watching them get their team ripped away is heartbreaking. We should do something nice for both of them.

[@geoffroi-le-Hook]

The Washington Senators who moved to become the Texas Rangers had to forfeit their last game in Washington because fans were damaging the field

[@edalder2000]

I was a kid when The Colts left Baltimore in the dark in a snowstorm. I am also an Oakland A's fan. My father took me to see The Bash Brother A's in Oakland when I was a kid. Those are the only good memories I have of him. My father died 2 years ago. Coyote Friends, it hurts me to know that something you supported so fervently is being taken from you.

[@closethockeyfan5284]

Erm, dare I ask for your NHL team? Are the Capitals on alert for possible move?

[@dominicpancella3012]

I live in St. Louis. We've had a baseball team and two NFL teams stolen from us. It sucks.

[@fuccckckkkkckkck]

Fuck Fisher for moving the A’s, granted I understand why Oakland can’t support a team with how bad the city is now. Ima miss you guys being in Oakland.

[@rile_up]

My ex wife is listed in my phone as Baltimore Colts

[@MarloSoBalJr]

​@@dominicpancella3012Sorry... from an Orioles fan 😅

[@flak_factory5022]

pov its 2054 and the coyotes are still trying to find an arena

[@michaelleroy9281]

Hahaha, I hope the league stays at 32 teams in 2054

[@jacobcorn7758]

@@michaelleroy9281same

[@Utred2012]

@@michaelleroy9281With how the owners acted during the last CBA negotiations, that should be considered less likely than the Maple Leafs winning a Stanley Cup.

[@slapshotjack9806]

And still hasn’t won a cup 😂

[@geraldjohnson7435]

If that's the case it reinforces my opinion that the Coyotes are run by a drug cartel

[@goadamson]

I can’t wait to watch the Phoenix Betmans in about 3-5 years.

[@Garvatron89]

The Utah government has stated and approved previously that they would give I believe close to 900m for an Arena. Since they are trying to get the Olympics, they would help fund the build. Win win for everyone in that case.

[@alexkueter9710]

Except for maybe the taxpayers lol

[@thejammydodger1839]

They actually will only make a slight raise on tax for tourist on like rental cars and stuff. That's what I heard

[@jeremyhelquist]

@@thejammydodger1839 two separate deals. The one you are referring to is for a MLB stadium. The 900mil for the arena does increase taxes on the public.

[@darren5956]

@@thejammydodger1839 That's always how they frame it, but in reality, local property taxes will be increased to help pay for it, which is 100% BS. Every penny should come out of Ryan Smith's pocket.

[@02RedWagon]

@@darren5956state money makes sense if they are trying to get the Olympics since that would be in the states interest. Pretty much the only reason though.

[@ryanlauzon177]

Imagine Keller being a coyote forever just to be relocated to Utah, and then have the coyotes come back 3 years later

[@atlantisource]

The league will expand 2030ish. QC, another CAN team, maybe back to AZ, another US team KC MKE HOU ATL

[@people3865]

​@@atlantisourceQuebec city is not coming back. The only reason the Jets are here, is because Atlanta was in panic mode, and they had no option.

[@mhop9775]

@@people3865 and there was a ready arena and a very rich owner, the struggles Winnipeg has had likely ensures that there will be no QC team

[@people3865]

@@mhop9775 exactly.

[@mat3714]

Trying to bank on small towns with fewer competition is smart but also kinda sad that Houston was probably deemed to crowded to survive. Hockey is an hard sell outside Canada.

[@nolanvernon2822]

Note about the NBA Utah Jazz in terms of players wanting/not wanting to play in SLC: They are definitely not considered a top free-agent destination, but at the same time, it has seemed to be rare for players to demand trades away from the Jazz. The last 2 stars they traded away (Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert) were seemingly in trade talks that the team initiated, not demanded by the players. In addition, the Jazz have a die-hard passionate fan base, though the market is small. All things considered, I don't think the market is as good as Vegas or Seattle, but it's far from the worst in the league

[@martharunstheworld]

My friends in SLC are very excited about getting a hockey team.

[@dominicpancella3012]

Utah is a more hospitable environment than Arizona for an NHL team, given all the mountains and forests that somewhat closely resemble central Europe

[@tehbeernerd]

I am not looking forward to the racial incidents from fans. Jazz fans are the Western version of Celtics fans

[@OldRustySteele]

Also, hockey players from the Canadian Prairie Provinces or from Eastern or Northern Europe might find SLC delightful. They’re a different demographic than most NBA players.

[@aramondehasashi3324]

@@tehbeernerd Are you from Utah? Like the other guy said how about you provide some incidents before you start slandering a fan base.

[@de-fault_de-fault]

“If this goes down, they’ve laundered a franchise” should be on THG merch. I’d get Bettman to buy that for me and then buy it from him in a heartbeat.

[@iam9991000]

Too wordy imo. I'd just say franchise launderer.

[@dominicpancella3012]

​@@iam9991000That as the caption over a picture of Bettman winking or giving finger guns or something

[@jeremybyington]

“This shirt has been laundered”

[@UnknownAccount32]

I also liked the quote from his April Fools Hockey Gods video where he said something like, "We'd have to sacrifice the entire city of Vancouver to get a Cup. And I'm OK with that."

[@de-fault_de-fault]

@@UnknownAccount32 everything in that video was pure gold honestly

[@shivanhaven]

100% agree. I worked for Atlanta when the Thrashers left and this feels the exact same.

[@XxxXxx-fm3wo]

And as a Winnipegger I thank you for having no plans for saving them.

[@InsignificantNick]

The story that never ends.

[@rozzie101]

Right!

[@ryans413]

I thought they were getting a new building and the university rink was just temporary

[@TheHeston83]

its going to soon

[@michaelpostsstuff9958]

Truly unfortunate for Coyotes fans. There’s nothing wrong with Arizona. If not for the franchise being poorly run, they would have had a similar trajectory as Florida and Carolina for sure

[@skidooboy8977]

30 plus years of pro hockey teams losing money in the valley says otherwise.

[@mike04574]

There is something wrong with Arizona. We wouldn’t be talking about them otherwise or have been for 30 years. No more excuses

[@oilersridersbluejays]

There is something wrong. The fact that the NHL beat this dead horse as long as they have and not let Quebec City have a team back says a lot.

[@macgobhann8712]

Florida was in the same boat until we got decent ownership. You don't just need a guy with deep pockets, you need an owner and leadership group that actually knows wtf they're doing. Unfortunately the coyotes never had that.

[@salamander8567]

They have and have always had terrible ownership. If you put a team like Tampas management in Arizona, it would have been a very different story. Just a trash situation for Arizona to have such a terrible organization representing them for 30 years

[@DIDDYKONG916]

This is a punch in the Gut. As a Coyotes fan this was the light at the end of the tunnel. Now it’s gutted out.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

Unfortunately for Coyote fans the light at the end of the tunnel was the 5:15 freight train barreling down on you. I think many of us who have seen other cities get the same treatment knew this was coming eventually.

[@jameson1239]

You guys deserve a competitive team owned by a compentent owner and GM I feel really bad for you guys

[@BrujaBanter]

Same dude 😭😭😭😭

[@griffisjm]

I can't remember, why Can't they share an Arena with the Suns? Seems like that would be a win for all as the arena would make more. Wasn't it just an owner of the suns who just didn't want it?

[@gregorybiestek3431]

@@griffisjm Not possible. The Arena you spoke of (Footprint) was recently in 2019 renovated to make it unusable for hockey. The owner, as you said, was against the Coyotes and got most of political powers to back him on the public-private renovation. Except for the few Coyote fans in the area it seems nobody is excited about the NHL in Phoenix.

[@tbell61]

I’m getting sick of the Coyotes situation, but as a native St Louisan, having lost two football teams to relocation, I definitely have some empathy for the fans in Phoenix. That said, SLC is an excellent market for the NHL to expand into. They can stay in the Central and have a rivalry with Colorado.

[@MDK2_Radio]

I’m glad they’re staying out west, where there still need to be more teams for geographical balance. I’d rather the Coyotes stay put and SLC get an expansion team (along with Houston) but this is the current reality.

[@RRaquello]

St. Louis also had a basketball team and oddly enough they were driven out of town by hockey. The Blues were so immediately & overwhelmingly successful that the Hawks packed their bags and moved to Atlanta. And the NBA's never been back since.

[@danglezbenderz]

"Whoever runs the Twitter of the Arizona Coyotes" Isn't that the owner's son?

[@everettfelix3905]

I heard it was but now it’s the guy from Vegas’ first year?

[@tehbeernerd]

@@everettfelix3905Oh nooooooo lol

[@CumLordGary]

There’s no definitive proof of that other than speculation on twitter

[@JPMadden]

If Utah gets the team but Arizona retains the Coyotes mascot for an expansion team, do the original Winnipeg Jets franchise records also go to Utah? The NHL should change this ridiculous policy and return the old Jets records to the new Jets.

[@Actionronnie]

Yup Jets 1.0 history records would belong to the Utah franchise. No different than the Devils history from Kansas City, Colorado. As much as I'd like the old Jets history,it's kinda hard to turn back the clock on the stat history now. To much time has passed

[@closethockeyfan5284]

Nobody is stopping anyone from celebrating previous iterations. There is a relatively recent Hawerchuk statue in Winnipeg, no?

[@dominicpancella3012]

That would be dumb. The old Jets and the new Jets are two completely different franchises. It's the franchise, not the city, that retains team records. Only the Cleveland Browns follow your nonsensical scheme.

[@Spilia4]

The old Jets have literally NO connection to the current other than they play in the same city

[@JPMadden]

@@dominicpancella3012 You said the old Jets have "literally no connection" to the new team in Winnipeg and then in the same sentence named one, which I find amusing. They share a second, the Jets mascot, and a more important third, the memories of fans. It's the Arizona Coyotes whose only connection to the old Winnipeg Jets is corporate history. Suppose that several NHL teams relocate their corporate offices to the Cayman Islands to save money on taxes; do all of their franchise records move there as well?

[@thenextkurt]

Been waiting Anxiously for this video today

[@DVLD0GG98]

Being in Utah . The next closest NHL team to me is 6 hours away.. I'm hyped for this. I know people hate it, but I love it

[@DM-bu6to]

Same here man. We’re gonna sell out every night I can’t wait

[@rhyta5042]

I don't trust Ryan Smith, he's only in it for himself just like Larry Miller treated the Eagles. It won't last, so they will just be back to where they are now. There is little interest in hockey here, even with a minor league team here since the 70's there just won't be enough fans here to support an NHL one.

[@coastaku1954]

Arizona doesn't deserve a team. SLC at least looks more like a Hockey city, though I wish a Canadian team was getting the team

[@flibbidyx2]

Being in Utah, I think it would be cool to get a team, but I'd rather it be via expansion rather than taking a team from another city and fanbase.

[@timdowney6721]

@@rhyta5042 No owner ever has more than .0001% of interest in anything beyond himself.

[@aidanroyals1857]

Thank you for always cranking out the high quality content!

[@scottjacoby2594]

The idea of waived expansion fee makes the launder-esque transaction make a lot more sense. It could be the way Bettman got the owners to agree to the move.

[@DoctorEw220]

I think that if Gary Bettman wanted to prevent a hockey team from moving to a colder city from a warmer city, he would have already said no to it.

[@deonal]

Salt Lake City like Seattle will make the NHL brand fresh and entertaining with a packed house.

[@rhyta5042]

What have you been smoking? One Frozen Fury game a year is not a guarantee of sellouts during the regular season. The local media will have do a better job covering the sport because the fans can barely support an ECHL team.

[@deonal]

@@rhyta5042 I don't smoke anything, but I am addicted to hockey. I don't ever recall turning on a meaningful game from or with Arizona.

[@frankcastle10]

Don't compare the Seattle insane market to SLC LMAO

[@rhyta5042]

@@deonal But the Arizona team will be coming here, local fans will have to support that team too. Let's see how long that lasts, there are some diehard hockey fans here, but enough to support an NHL team? I doubt it. Been attending hockey in SLC since the 70's, it will continue to be second to the Jazz, this is a basketball town.

[@deonal]

@@rhyta5042 This is not the 70's pal.

[@bmann1976]

So SLC gets all of our young talent that will be great in a few years. Damn!

[@wild_insomnia]

like Denver reaped everything that Quebec City had sown...

[@45crisess]

The coyotes are either terrible at drafting or developing players. If they stay in Arizona (which I’m perfectly fine with) they need to do a better job. They’re great with reclamation projects but not developing top picks. It’s Keller and that’s about it

[@macgobhann8712]

It's pretty funny how that seems to happen pretty frequently. Like how when the browns were stripped from Cleveland and won the Superbowl as the ravens just a couple years later. As if relocation wasn't painful enough.

[@RRaquello]

@@macgobhann8712 The Dodgers won the World Series their second year in Los Angeles after moving from Brooklyn, but it took the Giants over 50 years after moving from NY.

[@JerofBear]

I know we are all tired of it and whenever this is over and done with (whether they stay or go). Remember, there are people who work for the team that poured their heart and soul into this team. I’m sad for those who could have their livelihoods uprooted. That can’t be fun

[@alexkueter9710]

The only strange part is even if they had won the vote in tempe they would have still been at the mullet for 3 more years. It's not like staying this long at the mullet is news to the league.

[@redpillfreedom6692]

So with that in mind they should have just packed their bags as soon as they were kicked out of Glendale. Houston probably would have taken them

[@RRaquello]

@@redpillfreedom6692 They could have played their games in Puerto Rico for a couple of years like the Expos did, then come back when the new arena was finished.

[@hanslamontagne]

great video! really compelling story

[@Sick_Boy_Rick74]

I still remember how completely confused I was when the Colorado Rockies moved in the middle of the night, to NJ. I was just a kid and didn’t understand that teams could just do that. The thought of the Denver Broncos moving out was and still is so foreign to me. I love how well you help explain a lot of these things Shannon. It makes way more sense when I hear it from you vs old Gary trying to double talk it out.

[@MrPelkman]

Nice that Josh Doan got in this season and scored a few goals in a Yotes jersey before they are moved

[@lucasrodriguez507]

What is going to be interesting is how Fanatics will deal with this. Imagine the NHL announce the move this month, they tell Fanatics, "Hey, we have this new team coming to Utah and they need uniforms for everybody, come up with a design in 6 weeks and production done or in full swing by October." Imagine the logistics of that? They had all of the last year or so to do it for the already existing teams and now they have to deal with this brand new team. Could be very chaotic.

[@ElmerFudd16]

I legit think they should keep the Coyotes name and jerseys, to make it as smooth as possible.

[@jimmyzarkis6276]

they probably started on the project 3 years ago.

[@Wexter0083]

Odds are Utah ownership would already have designs ready to go to get to Fanatics. Name the team competitions are rarely anything more than marketing and gauging interest in ideas they already have. I bet much like when True North moved the Thrashers to Winnipeg they already have a strong idea of what they want. Only downside, Fanatics would probably not have Utah merch ready for the public till October, or meet demand till later, like when Vegas joined.

[@dominicpancella3012]

Given how much Fanatics half-asses everything (2024 MLB jerseys as the most recent case in point), this would pretty much be par for the course

[@lelouchvibritannia4028]

I miss CCM.

[@completefabricationmachine7915]

As always, very well done video.

[@w.l.graves7228]

hi shannon , you gave us a good laugh in the opening seconds ,yeah , we're scratching our heads in phoenix too !more rumors than are fathomable in the last 8 hours .. an even more massive distraction for our players , who have to go up and play at vancouver tonight ,, damn hard to keep your head in the game ,but our support and hearts are with them tonight as always

[@dsc4178]

Yotes have been a sink hole for money ever since they moved from Winnipeg.

[@brientaylorcohen]

And now the Jets 2.0 are losing money and have thousands of empty seats. Your point????

[@DarkForceEight]

As a Coyotes fan, I know none of us would trust Muerelo to bring a team back if they do move. The team was finally rebuilding correctly & we get to watch Logan Cooley, Connor Geekie & Dylan Guenther relocate? That is too much to forgive & start over AGAIN. Thank you for keeping it unbiased, Shannon. You're total class!

[@FAITHandLOGIC]

What else do you want the guy to do? He tried over and over again to get a new building. This shit isn't easy. It's the NHL pulling the plug, not your owner. Bettman and the NHL have bent over backwards to salvage this team in Phoenix over the last 15+ years. There's nothing else they can do.

[@DarkForceEight]

@FAITHandLOGIC We expected him to keep his word, but if he never says anything, I guess it isn't lying, right? "Keeping the team here" is NOT the same as "Selling the team & bringing another team back in the future."

[@carter7944]

Finally rebuilding? Youve been rebuilding for 12 years this is good for you to stop wasting your money on a garbage team with garbage players and to start cheering for a team that exists

[@tehbeernerd]

@@FAITHandLOGICMeruelo is a bullshit artist who doesn’t have as much money as he says he does. Seravalli mentioned that the team wasn’t paying its hotel bills early in the season.

[@dennis3351]

Hope Arizona gets to work it out. Not gleeful of relocations any longer. My feelings are for Coyote fans . I was in Hartford in 1997. And this seems like scavengers house flipping. I also don't like greed and everything becoming greed these days. Utah wants a team go expansion get their own.

[@mincraftisawsome1234]

Ong the vultures out in force today but when it’s their team tomorrow they’ll be silent.

[@richardferguson6893]

Hate to say it but I just don't think it's going to. As soon as the mayor of Glendale(correct me if I've got the wrong mayor) said they wouldn't be extending any of their infrastructure (especially water) out to that district, this deal was done.

[@Flash___]

North stars move to Dallas and the Wild come in type of situation here

[@michaelleroy9281]

Not exactly it was 7 years when the North Stars left, 1993 and when the Wild came in, 2000 that was too long

[@bradleyminoski2020]

@@michaelleroy9281To be fair the plan was for MN to get a team back in 1996 when Winnipeg was moving but that fell through

[@UnknownAccount32]

@@bradleyminoski2020 to be faiiiiiir kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKeam5aZnrB1ldU

[@flibbidyx2]

An NHL team moving to Salt Lake City would get a new arena a few years from now. $900 million in public funding has already been approved. They'd play in the Delta Center for a few seasons while a new NBA/NHL arena is constructed.

[@Hiram27]

If so, I like the name "Utah Wasatch" I think it's a good name for anyone familiar with Utah winters and it's always fun to see people unfamiliar with "Wasatch" try to say it. Though Brodie Brazil from the Bay Area nailed it when reporting about MLB relocation/expansion.

[@closethockeyfan5284]

​@Hiram27 How about the Prior-Day Saints or the 2002ers? Ah! No, the Sodium Chloride!

[@HenryHoolington]

They should put as much effort into the new arena as the Mormon church

[@RRaquello]

@@closethockeyfan5284 They could call them the "Fighting Saints" and use the old WHA Fighting Saints logo & uniforms, which were pretty cool. They'd sell a shitload of those.

[@badass420weedsmoker5]

@@Hiram27I like that one!

[@dix_neuf]

this rollercoaster is pretty high up... i wonder how long till the drop comes...

[@GordonSlamsay]

30 more years lol

[@OlSneakyPete]

I know you are tired of doing these videos, but I'm tired of trying to keep up with it all and do such a great job of compiling and presenting the news and information! Thank you

[@SaveznaRepublikaJugoslavija]

If this happens the final Arizona Coyotes game will be against my Oilers, just as the final WHA game was between the Jets and Oilers.

[@meddyven]

Very interesting factoid!

[@CharlesConover]

the only team to survive from the WHA merger.

[@SaveznaRepublikaJugoslavija]

@@CharlesConover Yes

[@neilflood6508]

Tomorrow's task for Shannon, create a moving truck magnet!

[@ugiswrong]

Welcome back

[@spencer2365]

Utah can get excited about the nhl blackout policy coming. Amazes me a league makes it so hard to consume its product.

[@judistzoinkiski3395]

VPN

[@CumLordGary]

MLB does the same trash. It’s so dumb that I can’t watch any California teams

[@chrisambs-ru8xh]

Choked on my dr.pepper at the opening. 🤣

[@rolandrodriguez1381]

Omg, 😂😂after you mentioned this. The NHL new expansion introduction of Arizona and Atlanta. I laugh so hard. So funny!

[@sterlingkeful340]

Love the chaos. Lets go!

[@badm0t0rf1ng3r]

Well if you've been following Puck Empire they sure seem to think its happening and happening soon.

[@badm0t0rf1ng3r]

@UsedNapkin1 find a hobby bro.

[@davidmollenhauer7580]

Phoenix Roadrunners. Just you watch.

[@markpnj]

You should do a video comparing the Atlanta & Arizona moves

[@grimshwiz]

The fact that there is still a team in Arizona after multiple decades of losing money and failure is an absolute joke.

[@cyan5161]

Was waiting for this after the reports of the relocation talks heating up dropped after your update video this morning, the ride really never ends with Arizona.

[@JonquaviusBartholomewl]

Going to the game this night vs Canucks! May be the last time I ever see them play in my life😅

[@chevelle1]

What most hockey fans (seemingly alot of the TO media too) fail to understand is the geography of the greater Phoenix area. Arena location is EVERYTHING. That region is so spread out. The reason the Coyotes have had so much trouble there is that they haven’t had an accessible arena since they left America west arena. First few years there, their attendance was good. Then they move to Glendale and downhill from there. The NHL would be foolish to not try to have a team there. 5 million people and plenty of fans. Arena location is everything. Hockey works in the desert. Look at Vegas. They have an accessible arena. Ownership has been a contributing factor as well. Make no mistake though, if another potential owner comes along and has an accessible arena in Phoenix, Bettman would be an absolute fool to not pursue it. It’s smart business.

[@Synovit]

What a ride with the coyotes, kinda just defeated to see it go either way honestly

[@GoodMenstruationAttitude]

got some killer jerseys out of it... be happy you became a fan before all hockey jerseys were ruined!

[@TayR0C]

They have to call them the SLC Punks.

[@DuatinDauphin]

Matthew lilard should be the spoksman for the team

[@angeloangelojoseph1494]

I remember watching the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in the 1970s, in the Central Hockey League. It was AA level. They won an IHL title with Ziggy Palfey and Tomas Salo in the 90s as the Grizzlies. So there is hockey history in the Wasatch.

[@meddyven]

The Golden Eagles monikor, dating back to the Salt Palace days, would bring back a classic name. The Grizzlies too. The fact that the former AHL and current ECHL teams kept that name, should make it a strong contender. Just tweek the logo.

[@Sick_Boy_Rick74]

It seems like it wasn’t that long ago I was a Denver Grizzlies season ticket holder for the first and final season. After the powers that be saw how much interest there was in hockey here, and how much money was to be made, comsat jumped on bringing the Nordiques here. That first Avalanche season was magical. I didn’t have the money to get my option to buy my seats for the Avs. I still managed to go to about a dozen or so games. I felt so bad for falling head over heels in love with the Avs when Quebec City was still in mourning.

[@RobertBeatty]

@@Sick_Boy_Rick74 That was a fantastic one season in Denver. A Turner Cup to get us ready for Stanley the next year. But was it known the Nordiques would be moving by the time the Turner Cup was won? Either way, I'm glad they went on to further success next door and it would be nice to see the Grizzlies as an NHL team. But it would be weird to have a rivalry of the Avalanche and the Grizzlies. Btw, I don't like the name Avalanche. They were throwing out Cougers and Black Bears along with Avalanche as the name finalists. I was praying for Black Bears. Enough of the singular uncountable noun team names (Lightning, Avalanche, etc.)

[@rhyta5042]

@@meddyven Great so we ruin Arizona's team and get rid of the Grizzlies. So when Smith sells the NHL team 3 years later, we don't have hockey. Not such a great idea.

[@rhyta5042]

@@meddyven No don't use either name, let Smith come up with one. The Eagles and Grizzlies deserve better. This is such a lame idea.

[@cbjgirl23]

unrelated but i remember that felt banner on the board! it came with mini banners of all the other teams at the time!

[@jerry2968]

The story Monday was the Houston and Atlanta ownership groups met with the NHL in NY.

[@BoyNamedSue4]

I’ll give this to the Yotes. They’re never boring.

[@GizmoBeach]

Like hell. This endless possible go or stay or this area or that area story is as eye-rolling boring as it gets. Getting 100% certification that they’re finally leaving will be the most exciting NHL news since Mario returned.

[@nottheguy4328]

Except on the ice

[@oilersridersbluejays]

Only team more exciting off the ice than on.

[@advanceriverpokemon]

Well I think what we can say for certain is something will happen to this team, and it will bring stability. Stay or leave.

[@jfayiii]

8:12 "the NHL has promised..." LOLOLOL

[@iFyvie]

Reminds one of the San Jose/North Stars transaction

[@procrvstinvtion8479]

Getting an NBA owner into the league would be immensely good for the NHL.

[@oilersridersbluejays]

Why?

[@TheHeston83]

Exactly we need a few less old heads deciding things

[@sportsgamer2342]

@@oilersridersbluejays cause nba owners do a better job bringing in money and promoting

[@carter7944]

James dolan

[@SeanK1998]

Feeling for arizona fans if the move happens, those young forwards look promising.

[@dudbike]

I thought you weren't going to make another video about this. 😂 They need to figure this out.

[@cpgame0154]

I think it would be really interesting if you made a video comparing fan reception between a brand new team and a different relocation

[@mgguygardening]

LOL good point about Steve Dangle, I wonder if he'll stay on set for this conversation? I say that with the utmost respect for Steve, I know he's just tired of hearing about the Coyotes situation like so many of us.

[@carter7944]

Answer was yes

[@ozzmoises]

Players will be happy to get out of that small college arena and into a suitable arena that will soon give way to a new arena in slc.

[@bobbypaluga4346]

Best channel for Hockey

[@carterpochynok4874]

Northern Utah boy born and raised: the market is far better here. An active winter sport culture and a town that is MAD for college football/Basketball. We're already trying to set aside a whole bunch of taxpayer funds to pay for an NHL arena. There's some valid argument to the wisdom of that, but it's what's happening. Im also in the Stagehand's Union here, so im really hoping we get the contract to work those games!! I work the Delta Center frequently!

[@rhyta5042]

You obviously don't know the history of hockey in Salt Lake. The former Jazz owner bought the Eagles so he could build the Delta Center then promptly sold the team 3 years later. We only got a hockey team back here because we won the Olympics bid and the Nordiques moved to Denver so the Grizzlies moved from Denver to SLC. It was an AHL team but later had to move to the ECHL due to low attendance. Why anyone thinks we can support an NHL team is beyond me. Ryan Smith is going to do a bait and switch on us too, so don't get your hopes up, there won't be a team here for long.

[@chrisguardiano6143]

I see the Coyotes situation as the NHL version of what's going on in MLB with the A's in which the A's are leaving Oakland after this season but are playing at least 3 seasons in Sacramento (while the new stadium in Vegas is being built) before moving to Vegas in 2028. I could definitely see a similar scenario for the Coyotes in which they announce next week they are moving to SLC but play in another city such as Portland or more likely Kansas City for a few seasons while the new arena is being built. However unlike the A's situation with Sacramento in which a minor league ballpark will need to be upgraded to MLB standards, both Portland & Kansas City have NHL ready venues which is why they would be considered as a temporary home for the Coyotes. It would be a great chance for either city to show the league they are capable of hosting NHL hockey & should be considered for expansion if it happens. Of course this scenario only happens if the Coyotes are unable to win the land auction in June.

[@michaelleroy9281]

Forget Kansas City most here don't remember the Scouts, they played from 1974-1976 they were a big time failure

[@dominicpancella3012]

Depending on its flexibility, the arena the Jazz play in might be able to support a hockey configuration

[@bradleyminoski2020]

A. There’s zero guarantees that building gets built in Vegas B. There moving to SLC and SLC only. There not playing in a city temporary. No league would agree to that so that dumbass thinking from a long drawn out post

[@alanpettibone]

Phoenix is just not a hockey town, apparently. The mayor basically said as much when discussing his desire to get behind a satisfactory arena for an NHL team. I don’t know why, but there is something satisfying when bad things happen in Arizona…😂 Maybe it’s just all the miserable old people I see getting on the Allegiant flights to Mesa.

[@generalimlerith8356]

Shannon was the final curse after the video today also Shannon you looked good on Brodie Brazil’s vid loved it

[@geoffroi-le-Hook]

The Maverik Center where the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) play seats about 12,000 for hockey, and saw the finals in the 2002 Olympics.

[@mclew1234]

Ultimately the NHL can like the market as much as they want but if the city & the residents don't want them then soon enough you have to admit defeat and move somewhere that does want them

[@darthvader3742]

When a city decides to choose a literal dump over a new stadium and entertainment district. Then that's a sign that things are going wrong.

[@brianjones7660]

@@darthvader3742 retail is collapsing in the US , chains are closing, but lets build a mall, sure...

[@oilersridersbluejays]

Meanwhile in Quebec City you have a rabid fan base of diehards who still cheer for a team that hasn’t existed since 1995.

[@macgobhann8712]

​@@oilersridersbluejaysdawg Quebec city isn't ever going to happen give it up

[@TheHeston83]

@@oilersridersbluejays The Avalanches are the Nordiques just be an Avs fans The Nordiques are part of our team history

[@Lesverts]

Salt Lake City is hosting the 2034 Olympic Winter Games. The Delta Center is in line for renovations for that already.

[@meddyven]

Iean, if the NHL doesn't like the sight lines at the Delta Center, and the ends are abysmal, they could trade off the 3/4K fans less, and play at Maverik center for 2 + years. It's a nice hockey building.

[@ITGuyJim1241]

@@meddyven Maverick center would have to renovate its ice currently it has Olympic regulation Ice not NHL regulation size also the area for Maverick center would be god awful for a professional sports team. I have gone to many Grizz games and concerts there and I absolutely hate going there.

[@rhyta5042]

@@ITGuyJim1241 It is a lot better than the Delta Center and at least the Jazz don't get any money from it. But now they will ruin hockey in SLC again just like Miller did.

[@rhyta5042]

@@meddyven So where do the Grizzlies go? If we get rid of them then when the NHL leaves in a few years we have no hockey

[@garrettmckinney7565]

Thanks for the insight and fun content over the years Shannon, with the departure of the coyotes, so am i. I cannot bear it and im going to stop watching the sport all together, a huge piece of my life was taken from me. I will be fond of the memories and fun times over the years, but im done with hockey...its heartbreaking

[@the6ig6adwolf]

We can certainly hope so.

[@MrGrimm13]

So your asking a owner to move a team that's in a temporary arena to another temporary arena that needs renovations, to give up a high end draft pool, and risk angering fans that have stuck around through thick and thin. That's a joke.

[@MrGrimm13]

And you let him go through that whole land bidding process just to move??

[@SaveznaRepublikaJugoslavija]

What if he sells the team bro

[@Dnt461]

No. What’s a joke is the past 25+ years of hockey in Arizona.

[@TheGoldenutz]

The coyotes have been bogged down with financial problems since they were the Jets. I just don't see what a relocation will do to fix the issue with the team. Good luck SLC. Sincerely, a life-long coyotes fan

[@JordieG8]

A fan base, a building and a stable owner?

[@RoodStreetCollectibles]

Ryan Smith is a billionaire with significant interest in growing sports in SLC. He'll be the wealthiest and most committed owner in the history of the franchise.

[@peterroberts4415]

​@@JordieG8with a ton of draft capital and a couple of pieces to build on to boot

[@TheGoldenutz]

@RoodStreetCollectibles Hey man thats cool. It's going to take years to undo the financial ruin of the team. Looks like Muruelo was able to get the team to start turning a profit for the first time since like 2003. Maybe a new owner can fix it but Coyotes fans know all too well that new owners hardly make a difference

[@TheGoldenutz]

@JordieG8 Lmao you can't say they have a fan base when they haven't played a game yet. It'll take about ten years before they have a chance at a cup run. That's if these prospects are any good. Let us know how great the fanbase will be when they have to endure 15 years of garbage hockey

[@RRaquello]

Two times in baseball a team went into spring training as one city and came out of it another. Both times involved Milwaukee. In 1953 the Braves started out as the Boston Braves and shifted the franchise to Milwaukee in the middle of spring training. In 1970 they cut it even closer. The Seattle Pilots became the Milwaukee Brewers a couple of days before the regular season started. Now they're talking about the Brewers moving.

[@evman7911]

I’m so sick of Atlanta and Arizona getting more and more chances even when it’s clear it just won’t work, yet somehow places like Quebec don’t get a second glance

[@donaldwobamajr6550]

I was really hoping that the Coyotes could make it work in Arizona. I still think that hockey can work can work there, but it would require a fresh start with more competent ownership. I really don’t like the gatekeepers who are dancing on the team’s grave and declaring this as proof that hockey should never ever expand beyond “traditional” markets.

[@user-pw3ji3rn3s]

Wow this is a win-win-win-win-win. The Coyotes get out of Mullet, SLC gets an NHL team, Coyotes owner gets $$$ and stops the bleeding, AZ gets an expansion team with the same name and 3 years to build a new stadium. Add to that the league gets $$$$. Now given that its 5 winners, it probably won't happen!

[@Earthboundmike]

I mean if that worked out that way that'd be a win for Bettman too.

[@Peksisarvinen]

There is no chance anyone's going to fund an expansion team there, not after the run Phoenix and Arizona have had with the Coyotes.

[@joshciviletti3032]

@@PeksisarvinenThe point is Meruelo pays the expansion fee if the new stadium is built

[@revan5293]

So my team has to start over and suck😭 we already do but at least the core is ok.

[@ryanbrown3283]

It’s definitely not a win for Coyotes fans. An expansion franchise is not what we want

[@AstroTrain100]

And the show goes on...

[@Utred2012]

This makes me think of a considerably more amicable version of what happened to the Cleveland Browns in 1996.

[@5ch3nk]

Would be the most Bettman thing ever to move the team, then bring them back as an expansion franchise. Probably going to happen lol

[@HALberdier17]

Something like this happened in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. They moved to Baltimore to become the Ravens then a few years later the Browns came back as an expansion team.

[@Theemptylife]

Can you imagine a 27-28 expansion featuring the brand new expansion teams of Phoenix Coyotes and Atlanta Thrashers lmfao

[@Falconforge89]

Nothing to imagine. That’s going to happen.

[@ephraimboateng5239]

Least exiting expansion ever

[@Falconforge89]

Phoenix Coyotes and Atlanta Thrashers 27-28 expansion. Houston Aeros and Quebec Nordiques 29-30 expansion

[@Theemptylife]

@@ephraimboateng5239 “you’re gonna have franchises in Atlanta and Phoenix and you’re gonna like it!” - Gary Bettman

[@georgecoumbos2511]

Speaking of sports expansion, I would love to see the NBA back in Vancouver!

[@jerry2968]

Just when you think the situation is getting stable it takes a sharp left turnn

[@alexandresasseville6268]

This was Quebec city only chance.... Dang Utah

[@oilersridersbluejays]

I think Quebec and Houston have a good chance at expansion.

[@retroblue69696]

the investors are conspiring against a team goin to quebec city.

[@donaldwobamajr6550]

@@retroblue69696It’s not a conspiracy, it’s economics.

[@carter7944]

Quebec never had a chance they are canadian stop being delousional

[@carter7944]

Quebec never had a chance to begin with its too small a market shut up about it it just wont make money its too small

[@timdowney6721]

Bettman should admit Arizona was/is a mistake. I think it’s 28 years of instability now.

[@skidooboy8977]

longer. they had the RoadRunners go broke before the dogs

[@TheHeston83]

yeah I also think it hurt our PR as a league even the NFL & NBA don't have problems with there franchises even the awful ones at least those awful ones have stayed in one place.

[@Conservativelawyer]

Utah Coming to an NHL near you!

[@mpkrist5701]

A couple things from an Arizona resident: 1. Originally from NJ and have always been a huge hockey fan. 2. Coyotes do have a presence here with merchandise and vanity license plates. 3. Selfishly, I don’t live anywhere near Scottsdale / N. Phoenix or Glendale for that matter so giving the yotes my money is difficult and I wanted Mesa or Tempe to happen. Closest hockey rink just to skate is probably 45 minutes away. Back east I could get to 5 rinks in 30 minutes or less. 4. I work with 100+ people and the hockey buddies I have at work, aren’t from here. 5. I have 2 kids and can’t watch them on TV because we have Sling TV and espn+ blacks out local games. It’s great to watch my favorite team though. 6. If my kids really get into hockey, they have some obstacles if this expansion team happens and they choose to follow them. Also, playing the sport is next to impossible due to travel distance.

[@moose9689]

Here comes the Salt Lake Sister Wives!

[@dnasty312]

I was thinking Beehives or Arches

[@alvizothegreat8096]

Salt Lake Pearl Of Great Price🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ronaldwayne7092]

@@dnasty312 Salt Lake Swarm

[@rhyta5042]

What a bunch of lame ideas, get real. You really think you are funny

[@Palt__]

If we don't see the "Utah Wapiti" with a majestic bull elk logo next year, I'd call that an opportunity missed.

[@oilersridersbluejays]

I actually like this. Even if it was called Salt Lake City Elks, that would be bad ass.

[@rhyta5042]

Good Lord No, just No