In the never-ending saga of the fate of the Arizona Coyotes, it seems their owner Alex Meruelo is ruining the chances that the franchise can actually move towards respectability. His irrational lack of paying his financial commitments is literally ruining the Arizona Coyotes.
The Tempe Arena Project is Now in Jeopardy
By Alex Meruelo not paying his taxes and rent in a timely manner, it may come back to haunt him. It was revealed by Coyotes insider Craig Morgan that his sources have told him that the arena proposal lacks a majority vote it needs to go forward with the project. Apparently, there are three ‘yes’ votes, two ‘no’ votes and two undecided voters who are leaning towards a ‘no’ vote.
-
Ep 59: Stanley Cup Final Preview; Game 1 Thoughts
by Full Press Coverage on June 4, 2023 at 1:43 am
Jim and Chris give their thoughts on the Stanley Cup Final between Vegas […]
If that margin holds true, the entire $1.7 billion project may be scrubbed. It leaves Coyotes’ fans not only wondering where the team may play NHL hockey next season, but years down the road. It was almost a foregone conclusion that Tempe would approve the project which would bring in new jobs and revenue to the city. That could all be lost if the city council feels it can’t trust Meruelo’s lack of fiscal responsibility.
In other words, if he treated the city of Glendale the way he did, what’s to stop him from doing the same thing to Tempe? Good question.
Around FPC
NHL: Jack Hughes Proving He Is An Elite Player For The Devils
NHL: As Frustration Sets in, Ottawa Senators Continue to Play the Waiting Game
NHL: NHL Power Rankings: Florida Panthers Take Over Top Spot
NFL: Nitpicks & Nitwits: Is The Patriots’ Party Over Before It Starts?
Wrestling: NXT Black and Gold Shine In Loss To NXT 2.0 in War Games Match
PODCAST: Full Press NHL Podcast Ep 15: COVID Shutdown; Olympic Withdrawal; Contest Winner Announced
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
With Millions to Make From Sports Gambling Meruelo May be Losing Out
Even though Meruelo has an Arizona Sports gambling license, if he doesn’t own the hockey team, he could lose out on millions from gambling revenue. He is thought of as an astute businessman taking businesses over and making them successful. In the case of the Coyotes, he has darkened their image and made them the laughing stock of the NHL.
Then, to blame the unpaid bill oversights which inevitably are his responsibility on “human error”, just takes the cake. Perhaps he shouldn’t have purchased the team if he intends to act the way he has. This is not the pizza business and even in that business the owner must pay his commitments or the business will fail.
Things Started Out Nicely
When Meruelo bought the team he boasted of bringing the Stanley Cup to the valley. Teams who win the Cup have owners who pay their bills. He did spend to the salary cap limit in his first year owning the team. That was a step in the right direction. Acquiring and paying Taylor Hall $6 million was a bold move, but it failed. Hall moved on as he like most NHL players, wanted to win a Stanley Cup.
Then, Katie Strang from the Athletic wrote a stinging article depicting how the Meruelo organization was run. One striking comment in Strang’s article was from one of the 50 people she interviewed for the story. Their comment was, “If I was talking to a future employer, I’d say it’s been a learning experience. “If I was being frank with you, I’d say it’s a shitshow.” Another former employee stated that “they basically took how they managed radio stations, pizza chains, and casinos and used that same playbook for a hockey team.”
The Coyotes Future is Very Uncertain
When a team’s ownership has as many red flags as Alex Meruelo in the nearly three years he has owned the team, concern for the future starts to mount… sorta like those unpaid bills tend to do when ignored. Meruelo has had controversy to deal with, and yet has he EVER come out publicly to explain things? In fact, he’s had literally no press conferences since his cheerleading speech after he purchased the team. He allows his CEO, Xavier Gutierrez, to do that. Gutierrez was tasked with making certain that the arena project was his first priority. It was all the smokescreen involving how the team will not be relocating, remember?
The same lack of information about where the team will play next season is also frustrating. Do they think they have all the time in the world to decide this? The 2022-23 season starts in 10 months and not a peep from Gutierrez or Meruelo where the team can hang their hockey gear next season. If they’re stalling for time, it’s not working! Fans know it, the NHL knows it, but it seems the management of the team is oblivious to it.
If by some huge miracle this entire mess of a franchise can recover from all this, it will be difficult to see how they stay in Arizona. It’s those relocation rumours calling again. Maybe this time they will come true. It seems Mr. Meruelo should stick to what he knows best… pizza parlors, casinos, and radio stations. Thus far his track record as an NHL team owner leaves a lot to be desired.
-
Ep 59: Stanley Cup Final Preview; Game 1 Thoughts
by Full Press Coverage on June 4, 2023 at 1:43 am
Jim and Chris give their thoughts on the Stanley Cup Final between Vegas […]
-
Ep 58: Stanley Cup Finals Set, Changes In Toronto, And More
by Full Press Coverage on May 31, 2023 at 11:12 pm
Jim and Chris give their early thoughts of the Stanley Cup Finals between […]
-
2023 Stanley Cup Final Talk - Vegas Golden Knights with Willie G. Ramirez
by Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 12:39 am
Jim Biringer speaks with Willie G. Ramirez of ESPN Las Vegas, The Sporting […]
-
Florida Panthers Stanley Cup Final Talk With Bill Lindsay
by Full Press Coverage on June 3, 2023 at 2:34 am
Jim Biringer is back once again as he is joined by former NHLer, current […]
-
Ep 83: Stanley Cup Playoffs Are Here; Can Bruins Keep Up Pace?
by Full Press Coverage on April 17, 2023 at 4:06 pm
Ian and Chris are back to give their thoughts on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, […]
-
Ep 82: Bruins Set Wins Record, Pasta Hits 60, Playoffs Around The Corner
by Full Press Coverage on April 10, 2023 at 2:27 pm
Ian and Chris react to the Bruins 63rd win of the season, David Pastrnak's […]
-
The Hockey World Revolves Around Toronto
by Jim Biringer on May 23, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim is back for a fourth season of the Final Word on Hockey as he is […]
-
S4Ep28 - Stanley Cup Playoffs - Conference Final Preview
by Jim Biringer on May 16, 2023 at 7:28 pm
Jim is back for the fourth season of the Final Word on Hockey previewing […]
-
Panthers at Golden Knights
by Broken Controller Media on June 3, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Golden Knights at Stars
by Broken Controller Media on May 29, 2023 at 4:20 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Stars at Golden Knights
by Broken Controller Media on May 27, 2023 at 4:05 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Golden Knights at Stars
by Broken Controller Media on May 25, 2023 at 12:35 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Episode #141: Tend The Goal
by Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2023 at 2:24 pm
The 2023 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs have reached its final four teams, and […]
-
Episode #140: Stone Cold's 4th Line
by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 1:41 pm
And then, there were four. The 2023 AHL Division Finals have concluded, […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 769
by Charlie Saunier on June 4, 2023 at 4:31 am
Ep 769 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 5 Preview Game 6 Milwaukee […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 768
by Charlie Saunier on June 2, 2023 at 9:19 am
Ep 768 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 4 Preview Game 5 Milwaukee […]
-
Full Press Kraken - Thursday, June 1st
by Full Press Coverage on June 1, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Kraken have offseason work to do, AHL Playoff update. Learn more about […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - Thursday, June 1st
by Full Press Coverage on June 1, 2023 at 12:15 pm
What could the Blackhawks do to trade up in the 2023 NHL Draft? Who on the […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - Tuesday, May 30th
by Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Does picking Connor Bedard speed up the Blackhawks’ rebuild and few […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 767
by Charlie Saunier on May 30, 2023 at 4:01 am
Ep 767 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 3 Preview Game 4 Milwaukee […]
-
6/2 - Nuggets Take Game 1, Barry Bonds, Stanley Cup Chat w/ Jim Biringer
by Full Press Coverage on June 2, 2023 at 2:03 pm
Ian and John discuss the Nuggets Game 1 win over the Heat, the upcoming […]
-
6/1 - NBA Finals Preview, Aaron Rodgers, and More
by Full Press Coverage on June 1, 2023 at 1:53 pm
Ian and John discuss Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Nuggets and Heat […]
-
5/30 - Heat Dominate Celtics; Vegas Advances; Jimmy G
by Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 3:35 pm
Ian and John discuss the Celtics disappointing Game 7 performance against […]
-
5/29 - Celtics/Heat Game 7; DeAndre Hopkins Released
by Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 12:12 am
Ian and John discuss Game 7 between the Celtics and Heat as well as the […]
Comments 2