This afternoon, Arizona Cardinals reporter Craig Morgan was the first to report that the state of Arizona has canceled the land auction scheduled for next Thursday. This development deals a significant blow to the Coyotes franchise, which faces a tight deadline of five years to complete a new arena if they are to be reinstated into the NHL.
In the agreement that relocated the Coyotes to Utah, former owner Alex Meruelo secured rights to the team name and branding for five years. If he can develop the necessary infrastructure to sustain the team within this timeframe, there's hope for the team's revival. Otherwise, their future remains uncertain. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman corroborated this shortly after Morgan's initial report.
The cancellation seems to stem from issues with obtaining necessary permits for the project. This afternoon, the Arizona State Land Department released a statement explaining the cancellation of the auction, attributing it to the requirement for a special use permit to develop the proposed arena district.
At this juncture, the prospect of the Coyotes returning to Arizona appears increasingly uncertain. Hopefully, for the fans' sake, this outcome does not materialize, but ongoing issues with Meruelo and his team suggest otherwise. Stay tuned for further updates as Meruelo endeavors to reclaim the team.
