While the Arizona Coyotes have been one of the league's largest perennial deficit teams, both the team's ownership group and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman have publicly declared that they remain committed to keeping the team in Arizona.
The move simply does not make much sense from a business standpoint, as the market in Arizona isn't even close to profitable and appears to be borderline unmarketable in its current location (Glendale).
This year, we have seen the Coyotes ship off tenured assets in exchange for bad contracts and draft capital to trigger a full blown rebuild, turn out record low attendance rates, fail to pay the appropriate taxes and get ousted from Gila River Arena, which has the team attempting to work out a deal to build a brand new arena in Tempe, Arizona.
During the most recent edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman stated that he strongly believes that the league is looking at potential plans to move the team out of Arizona.
ADS
"I believe 1000% that they are looking at exit plans if they have to because no commissioner worth anything wouldn't be doing that," said Friedman.
A rumour had surfaced in November that Houston, Texas is the preferred location for the struggling franchise, but there is also a large contingent of hockey fans and pundits who believe that the NHL needs to return to Quebec City.
ADS
RELATED ARTICLES
ADS
