TEMPE. Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Coyotes will likely be sold to Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith shortly after the team’s final game and will include a provision guaranteeing current owner Alex Meruelo an expansion team if a new arena is built within five years, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Saturday. The $1 billion sale is expected to happen between the Coyotes’ final game of the 2023-24 season on Wednesday and the start of the playoffs on Saturday, barring unforeseen circumstances, the person said on condition of anonymity because the planned deal has not been announced. The deal will transfer the franchise’s hockey operations first to the NHL and then to Smith, who plans to move the team to Salt Lake City, and Meruelo will maintain business operations to move forward with a planned $3 billion project that will include a new arena in north Phoenix. Meruelo also will continue to own the Tucson Roadrunners, the franchise’s AHL affiliate, and plans to move the team to Mullett Arena in Tempe, the current temporary home of the Coyotes. |
Madonna shares behindJournalists critical of their own companies cause headaches for news organizationsWhy they call Ryan Giggs 'the Welsh Wanderer': Football ace had eightChipotle says workers can choose chicken once again, reversing protein policyMeta Platforms, O'Reilly Automotive fall; Chipotle, TransUnion rise, Thursday, 4/25/2024The LatestJapan's Kozuma takes a 1stFleeing suspect fatally shot during gunfire exchange with police in northwest IndianaAnne Hathaway's role in The Idea of You was nearly played by ANOTHER Hollywood ACyndi Lauper's rapper son Dex, 26, flashes peace sign as he arrives at NYC court hand