Ex-Coyotes Owner Alex Meruelo Formally Relinquishes Rights to Team

Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo speaks to the media at a press conference announcing his new ownership of the Coyotes at Gila River Arena in Glendale on July 31, 2019.
Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo speaks to the media at a press conference announcing his new ownership of the Coyotes at Gila River Arena in Glendale on July 31, 2019. / Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic via Imagn
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The dream of a speedy return for the Arizona Coyotes appears to be dead.

Former Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo has signed paperwork relinquishing his rights to reactivate Arizona in the next five years, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Craig Morgan of PHNX Sports Wednesday afternoon.

"The process is complete," Morgan wrote.

Meruelo's relinquishment follows the Coyotes' April 18 transfer to Salt Lake City, where they will begin play in 2025 as the Utah Hockey Club. As part of Arizona's sale to Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith, Meruelo received the right to reactivate the franchise within five years if he could find a suitable arena.

On June 21, the state of Arizona canceled a land auction critical to the Coyotes' potential reactivation.

Arizona ends its 28-year history in the desert with nine playoff appearances and just three series wins—two in 2012 and one in the pandemic-expanded 2020 postseason.

Utah is scheduled to open its inaugural season against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 8.


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Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .