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Alex Meruelo has officially relinquished rights to the Coyotes: Report
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    Alex Meruelo has officially relinquished rights to the Coyotes: Report

    The Alex Meruelo era is officially over.

    According to a report by PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan on Wednesday, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed that the former Arizona Coyotes owner has relinquished his rights to the franchise.

    In late June, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed that Meruelo informed the team that he would no longer be pursuing a reactivation of the Coyotes after the hockey operations move to Utah.

    Meruelo made the decision to stop looking for another arena option after another bid for a new location fell apart.

    “Alex took over a franchise that had a number of challenges that he had nothing to do with creating,” Bettman said at the NHL’s Board of Governors meetings of Meruelo’s decision to walk away. “He invested a lot of himself and a lot of money in trying to turn things around, but I don’t think the stars aligned. And that franchise, well before he took over, had issues relative to an appropriate place to play.”

    After Meruelo sold the team to Smith Entertainment Group in April, he retained the rights to the Coyotes’ name, logo and trademark. He was also granted a five-year window to build an arena and reactivate the Arizona franchise.

    The reactivation of the franchise would have required Meruelo to pay back the $1 billion that he received when he sold the team.

    As for the future of hockey in the desert, Bettman said at the NHL’s Board of Governors meetings it is not something the NHL is focused on.

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    After months of speculation and uncertainty, it has been confirmed that Alex Meruelo has officially relinquished his rights to the Arizona Coyotes. According to a report from ESPN, Meruelo has decided to step down as the team’s majority owner, marking the end of his tenure with the franchise.

    Meruelo, who became the first Hispanic majority owner in NHL history when he purchased the Coyotes in 2019, has faced numerous challenges during his time with the team. From financial struggles to on-ice performance issues, Meruelo has had to navigate a difficult landscape in the world of professional sports ownership.

    Despite these challenges, Meruelo made significant investments in the Coyotes organization, including upgrades to the team’s arena and facilities. He also worked to improve the team’s community outreach efforts and fan engagement initiatives.

    However, it seems that Meruelo ultimately decided that it was time to move on from his ownership role with the Coyotes. The reasons for his decision are not entirely clear, but it is likely that a combination of factors played a role in his choice to step down.

    As the Coyotes begin the search for a new owner, fans and players alike will be watching closely to see what changes may come for the team. With new ownership on the horizon, there is hope that the Coyotes can turn a new leaf and find success both on and off the ice.

    In the meantime, Meruelo’s departure marks the end of an era for the Coyotes and leaves many questions unanswered about the future of the franchise. Only time will tell what lies ahead for this storied NHL team.