Do Deactivated Sports Teams Actually Come Back?

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With all the talk of the Arizona Coyotes being deactivated, there hasn’t been enough attention paid to this peculiar subset of sports ownership. We do have a few interesting case studies that prove a best-case scenario is certainly possible.
That being said, the Coyotes have one huge difference between successful sports team reactivations that can’t be ignored. In fact, this is the biggest reason why hockey may not return to the desert.
For Arizona Coyotes fans, what happened to the Cleveland Browns and San Jose Earthquakes are the closet they have to a like-for-like comparison. Let’s start with the Browns.
In order for Art Modell to proceed with his move of the Browns 1.0 to Baltimore, the NFL had to make a ton of concessions to not get bogged down in legal uncertainty that would have blocked the move indefinitely.
One of those concessions was the promise to provide Cleveland with a new team by 1999. A promise, of course, is not a guarantee, and there was uncertainty as to whether this would be an expansion franchise of one that was relocating.
What was certain is that the new team in Cleveland would be the Browns with all its history. The franchise was deactivated and would be reactivated in 1999 after a three-season hiatus.
A similar situation played out with the San Jose Earthquakes nearly a decade after Cleveland’s football team had officially been deactivated.
After the 2005 season, AEG, the owners of San Jose and several other MLS franchises, were allowed to move to Houston with the Earthquakes placed on hiatus until new owners could be found. Apparently, MLS didn’t try all that hard because six months later Lew Wolff and John Fisher bought an exclusive option for a Bay Area franchise.
That was activated a year later, and the club would begin play in 2008. Interestingly, San Jose owners didn’t have firm stadium plans in place when the second coming of the Quakes resumed operations. In fact, groundbreaking on what would eventually become PayPal Park didn’t take place until 2012, and the team wouldn’t play there until 2015, some seven years after being reactivated.
The biggest issue with sports teams that have been reactivated in recent times is that teams find themselves in similar situations down the road. The Cleveland Browns are again agitating for a new stadium. San Jose Earthquakes ownership refuses to spend money on the team despite having a new stadium.
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[@ChrisFisher-hz5cy]

Winnipeg Jets to Arizona..... Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg as the Jets

[@geoffa87]

I wish the leagues would be more careful with who they let be an owner. The reason the Browns were so bad after they came back was because of the owner, Randy Learner. Dude was so checked out, our GM was going to the NFL Owners meetings for him.

[@robertlindey2538]

Weird MLB history. Today's NY Yankees were once the original Baltimore Orioles. Today's Baltimore Orioles were once the original Milwaukee Brewers.

[@mactheknife7049]

There've actually been many more "deactivations" than one might think, particularly if you're willing to go beyond the "big four" leagues. The MISL's Pittsburgh Spirit for example "suspended operations" shortly after the team was acquired by Ed DeBartolo, taking a season off so that the team's front office structure could be intertwined with that of another team he already owned, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The NFL's actually had *two* Cleveland franchises deactivate/suspend operations, only to return: the city's original team, the Cleveland Rams, jumped from the (second of four versions of) the American Football League, joining the NFL in 1937. They suspended operations in 1943, only unlike the Steelers they shuttered the doors entirely, returning in 1944. Ironically, the following year they'd (a) win the NFL championship, and (b) be relocated to Los Angeles immediately after doing so,

[@jbj7599]

I see that Pac 12 shirt that fits the bill

[@evanwright8286]

not tryna glaze or anything but you legitimately deserve way more subscribers and views. Extremely well researched and interesting videos. Props man keep up the great work

[@HALberdier17]

In the AHL the Pittsburgh Hornets a farm team of the Toronto Maple Leafs were deactivated in 1956 when they demolished the Duquesne Gardens. In 1961 they came back this time as a farm team of the Detroit Red Wings when the Civic Arena was built. They won the Calder Cup in 1967, their final season. They had to cease operations because they were being replaced by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

[@realalbertan]

Not coming back under this ownership group.

[@gerrylee1687]

I wouldn’t trust Morello

[@dmoran1093]

He is probably the only shot arizona has to get the coyotes back

[@LargeOhioSon]

I feel like the NHL lawyers did a good job setting up a scenario where Meruelo will fail and they can try again with someone else

[@homemadepecanpie]

Steagles baby

[@SortaNonymous]

There's kind of similar situations with other teams relocating, but leaving their history in their old city. The Quebec Nordiques' records never transferred to the Colorado Avalanche and would be retained if the NHL ever returned to Quebec. The Oklahoma City Thunder technically have the Seattle SuperSonics' stats, but that history goes back to Seattle the moment the NBA returns to Seattle. And most confusingly, about a decade after their arrival in the Big Easy, the Charlotte-turned-New Orleans Hornets-turned-Pelicans reliquished their pre-New Orleans branding and history to the modern Charlotte Bobcats-turned-Hornets. Also, if the Coyotes aren't revived by 2029 and cease to be, does that 52-year history (including the original Jets) just die? I'd find it weird if it didn't go the Utah team that emerged from Arizona (not like shutdown is likely, but you never know)

[@ZakhadWOW]

UNLESS something is done to eliminate Merda-uelo as franchise owner, any revival of the COyotes is almost assured a hellish road to try and recover, because NO ONE IN ARIZONA (or anywhere else for that matter) wants to deal with that lying piece of BLEEEEP at this point. I know many of us here in Utah are hoping they can have a miracle happen, but RIght now it doesnt look great.

[@rockvilleraven]

After the CFL pulled out of the US. the Baltimore Stallions became the reactivated Montreal Alloutees

[@anthonytitone]

Well the Sonics r coming back to Seattle, I doubt Arizona will ever have another Hockey team tho especially with the NHL at 32 total now

[@erich84502b]

Yes

[@CollisionUniverse]

I mean if the Jets could come back as a relocation, I dont see why other teams couldnt as expansions or relocations

[@Club420]

I hope they come back, because they already have a fanbase, it is a better place than Houston for a new NHL team.

[@sawyertuide7636]

This situation may also result in the restoration of the Jets 1.0 history to the current Winnipeg Jets so they can retire the numbers of Teammu Selanne and Dale Hawerchuk They’d have to pay the NHL for it obviously, but now the Jets can also claim some WHL silverware, and claim some kind of cup before the rest of Canada has.

[@ronpeacock9939]

The NHL has had one other de-activation in the expansion era... The Cleveland Barons... though it was re-activated as the San Jose Sharks.. over a decade later. Prior to the end of WWII.. teams coming and going in the NHL and NFL were as common as changing ones socks.. hard to tell who de-activated and reactived vs total shutdown and expansion. MLB was the only one stable through the early 1900's... but prior to that.. they did it too... hell, for a while.. they had 3 leagues...

[@michaellewter8671]

No no no.. The Sharks were not a reactivation of the Barons the Barons folded operations when they merged with the Minnesota North Stars. The Gund Brothers who owned the North Stars wanted to move them into the San Francisco Bay area. The NHL denied their request, with other owners wishing for the market to be used to draw a lucrative expansion fee. As a compromise, the league agreed to award the Gund brothers a new NHL expansion franchise to be located in the Bay Area, which would become the San Jose Sharks. The Gunds would sell the North Stars to an NHL-approved purchaser. One of the conditions of sale and expansion deal was that the Sharks would have the right to draft players from the North Stars organization. After that draft, the North Stars' roster would be replenished by the expansion draft as well.... There were no deactivated teams involved. The Barons went bye-bye for good and the North Stars were sold and moved to Dallas while the Gund brothers got an expansion franchise in San Jose.

[@GameShowMike]

@@michaellewter8671are you talking about Howard Baldwin and Morris Belzberg (who would eventually sell their shares of the North Stars to Norm Green in order to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins from Edward J. DeBartolo)?

[@aniballopez2719]

I always considered the San Jose Sharks to be a reactivation of the California Golden Seals. The NHL simply undid the 1978 merger between the Cleveland Barons and the Minnesota North Stars. It's officially an expansion team but back in 1990 it felt like a demerger to me. Thee Sharks took part of the North Stars roster. The Gunds brothers owned the Cleveland Barons and were minority owners in California. The Gunds brothers were instrumental in moving the Golden Seals to Cleveland. There is a continuation between California Golden Seals and the San Jose Sharks. I don't think the Sharks want to claim the history of the California Golden Seals- Cleveland Barons.

[@ronpeacock9939]

@@aniballopez2719 I fully agree. To me, it always felt like a reactiviation simply because... the ownership group stayed the same... Oh, they didn't divide the North Stars up.. (unlike when the merger with the Barons happened).. but the franchise started anew.Do they claim the history? I don't think I'd want to... but it was not like they bid for an expansion franchise and won the bid.. they were just allowed to start over..

[@Matthewjacobson1]

I'll believe Meruelo will do it when I see it

[@toddgelineau6536]

I don't think the NHL wants to continue with this owner. I wouldn't be surprised if the league secretly wants a new ownership group to buy an expansion franchise for AZ instead after the five year window closes. The league stands to gain a lot more money that way anyway.

[@realalbertan]

I would like to see the wording in the contract. I suspect the 5 year window is to finish the building and not break ground. Once it becomes mathmatically impossible for Murillo to meet the deadline they will start taking bids

[@jayanxiety]

What about the successful reactivation of the Winnipeg Jets, a team which ironically became the Phoenix Coyotes? I'm actually shocked that you didn't mention the Jets!

[@andrewalden8364]

The original Jets were never deactivated, they moved to Arizona and their team history will be traveling to SLC. It’s much like the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA who moved to New Orleans. That original team and its history continue with the Pelicans while Charlotte was given a new team with the rights to the name “Hornets”.

[@jayanxiety]

@@andrewalden8364 Possibly, but banners hang from the Jets arena indicating them for their three-time Championship wins when the team was in the WHA and they occasionally wear old-school Jets uniforms. So there IS a connection between the Jets and the original Jets.

[@user-jf4nj3ez2k]

The current Jets were the Atlanta Thrashers.

[@ZakhadWOW]

@@andrewalden8364 actually the history.records/awards remain in limbo in Arizona. THe situation in Utah is unprecedented anywhere in pro sports in the world. The assets/people/etc are coming to Utah, but a completely new history/name/etc will be created here.

[@andrewalden8364]

@@ZakhadWOW Yes and no. As in the case with the Cleveland Browns, all team records remained with Cleveland as long as Cleveland was re-activated. This is why there is nothing in Baltimore that has anything to do with Jim Brown. The same goes for Phoenix at the moment. However, if they fail to gain a team in the allotted time, then all the Coyotes history will travel to SLC.

[@jeffpearljam1976]

Charlotte Hornets? The entire USFL?

[@stevenbauer4799]

As long as az. yote 'deactivation' becomes 'dissolved' in 5 years when merulo has done nothing to 'reactivate' az. all is good. nhl just using the guise of 'deactivation' to contract yotes. And cali golden seals/cleveland barons the '70's version of yotes saga were 'dissolved' and merged with north stars with north stars retaining all baron players, assets in the deal as baron owner gunds took ownership of minn. You could say that was the precurser to '90 when gunds wanted out of dipilitated met center and to move minn. to bay area. So nhl gave gunds a new franchise in bay area the sharks to start play in '91 out of new arena in sj with gunds selling north stars to norm green who moved n stars to dallas in '93. sj got a dispersal draft of n star players in the deal as well as a '91 expansion draft. This az./slc deal reeks of golden seal/baron 'dissolving' of franchise. A way to rid nhl of a shitstain franchise.

[@timphares3061]

Washington waited 33 years to get back into Major League Baseball.

[@philipglover3295]

I think a team will eventually return to Arizona as I don’t think Gary Bettman and the NHL will want to admit defeat I think if they expand the league I think we will see a team in Arizona as well as Atlanta and Houston

[@user-jf4nj3ez2k]

No.

[@timphares3061]

Lew Wolff & John Fisher -- the people who deliberately destroyed the Oakland Athletics.

[@gordonwhitney6052]

Surprised you didn't cover the end of the NHL's New York Americans which might be worth a video of it's own. Struggling to make ends meet, the team suspended operations for the duration of the war after the end of the 1941-42 season. In 1943, Amerks GM Red Dutton agreed to become as NHL President on the condition the Americans be allowed to return at the end of the war. Post-war the other NHL owners reneged on the deal.

[@GameShowMike]

That’s why Red Dutton put a curse on the Rangers that prevented them from winning a Stanley Cup for the rest of his life. Dutton passed away in 1987, and the Rangers eventually broke another curse (the Curse of 1940) when they won the Stanley Cup in 1994.

[@Lucky2000Zx]

If the Browns did it, I don’t see how the Coyotes couldn’t

[@jbj7599]

Fans

[@avrowolf]

Need the fans (maybe Arizona State (and maybe a revived Northern Arizona team and/or a jump for Arizona to varsity hockey) can help generate enough hockey fans to one day justify the NHL expanding back down there)

[@Actionronnie]

The deactivation is stupid the way I see it. As a Jets 1.0 fan, I would have let Utah have it all. Not like there's a great history overall of the Jets/Yotes to remember. Just bits and pieces of good times.

[@ZakhadWOW]

it required some bizarre and tricky maneuvering to get around the asshole that is Meruelo.. The league could only do so much, on behalf of the staff and players. THus the bizarre bifurcation of the team: some equipment, all staff (who wish to relocate) and players are coming to Utah. EVERYTHING else tied to the franchise name stays with Meruelo at the present time. He would never have accepted a full mandatory sale, without getting all litigious about things.

[@charleshallsc]

You forgot the Utah Royals of NWSL. The owner who reactivated them? Ryan Smith

[@Lawomenshoops]

The California Golden Seals/Cleveland Barons could kinda of be considered a deactivated franchise. The Dumb brothers, I mean Gund brothers certainly strong armed the NHL

[@TheBandit025Nova]

Utah might keep the name coyotes and the New Arizona team would be the Road runners

[@jayanxiety]

To be fair, Phoenix has a long history with the ROADRUNNERS name. In fact, back in the 70s the ROADRUNNERS were a professional team on the World Hockey Association decades before they got an NHL team. Their AHL farm team also used the ROADRUNNERS name. It makes sense.

[@TheBandit025Nova]

@@jayanxiety plus it’s joke about the two looney toons characters

[@jayanxiety]

@@TheBandit025Nova Well ya. those names had great cartoon characters whom the team could capitalize on without infringing on copyright. Basically a merchandise magnet.

[@ZakhadWOW]

INCORRECT> The COyotes name is permanently linked to the franchise that Meruelo holds, even if it is dormant. Havent you seen al the news about the 8 names Ryan Smith has trademarked and wil have the Utah residents vote on?

[@BoulderCityBlues]

NHL expansion.. Bring back the Kansas City Scouts and Cleveland Barons

[@GameShowMike]

I love to hate any team in Cleveland, especially the Browns (the lone exception is the Cavaliers because Pittsburgh does not have an NBA team).

[@KWally]

The NHL will be back in Phoenix, but not with Meruelo.

[@kennethbuzzard6073]

The football team formerly playing in Cleveland in 1995 moved their entire operations, staff, players, etc to Baltimore and began there in 1996. No amount of self-delusion will change that fact. The 1999 expansion team that adopted the former Cleveland team's name was just that, an expansion team. They wore the initials A.L. on their sleeves, for Al Lerner, the founder of the Current Browns. The "Paul Brown" Browns are today's Ravens. Using the same name in the same city does not make the new team the same team as the old team. Were that the case, the 1960 Washington Senators (who moved to Minnesota) and the 1961 Washington Senators (who moved to Texas) are the same team.... which makes no sense when the Twins and Rangers play each other, lol. Cleveland should be happy just to have a team, without deluding themselves into thinking their history goes back to before 1999.

[@GameShowMike]

The history and records of the Cleve Sandlotters (apologies to Myron Cope) had to stay behind in Cleveland to prevent further court battles and congressional investigations.

[@AlekManoahisnotabadpitcher]

I hope the Yotes don’t come back

[@ozzmoises]

Someone explain to me why Arizona deserves another shot already over Quebec? Quebec is far more deserving and they are ready now. Dont give me this canadian dollar value or small market bs, they would still make ten times more money then Arizona. What has arizona done to show they deserve an nhl team? Notta damn thing where quebec has done everything possible to get the Nordiques reborn.

[@jackmakackov7077]

They already get the money from people in Quebec. Plus there is the rather large issue of the Montreal Canadians blocking it. There is no way they ever put a team there. The Nordiques still make a ton of money without having to pay a single employee. It's simple business. Phoenix is an enormous market.

[@ozzmoises]

@@jackmakackov7077 enormous market that failed miserably for almost 30 years. Sure NHL makes some merch money for the Nordiques but that's it. They bring the team back and make ten times more money then Arizona would ever bring in.

[@ODSTGodzilla]

Arizona should never come back!