Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo pens letter reiterating commitment to keeping team in Arizona

“The Tempe arena proposal was defeated, but we were not. We got right to work,” Meruelo wrote. On to other options in the Valley. On to the upcoming NHL season.

“Were we disappointed by the vote in Tempe? Absolutely, but not defeated,” he continued. “I can’t ask our players to give it their all on the ice if I don’t do the same as the owner. Our organization can’t ask them to pick themselves up after a loss if we don’t all do the same ourselves. We are using all of our resources and reach to put together a great team on the ice, and to secure a new permanent home that will be the envy of Arizona and all of the NHL.

“Know this: we have left no potential option unturned to give our fans the permanent home they deserve. The Valley is where the organization and I want to be. My family lives here. We are all in.”

Meruelo went on to praise his team’s off-season acquisitions, including Matt Dumba, Jason Zucker, and Alex Kerfoot, as well as the signing of top prospect Logan Cooley to an entry-level contract.

The Coyotes also signed head coach Andre Tourigny and general manager Bill Armstrong to contract extensions this off-season, with new deals also given to the rest of Tourigny’s coaching staff.

But the team still lacks a permanent arena, and with potential relocation suitors waiting in the wings, the NHL has reportedly set a deadline around the All-Star break for the Coyotes to have a concrete solution in place.

Although it’s not a long-term solution, Mullett Arena is a fascinating place to watch a hockey game. The Coyotes posted a strong 21–15–5 record at the building in 2022–23.

“There is not a bad seat in the house. Our home is unique,” Meruelo wrote. “Our organization has created something special for you to watch games with your friends and family. There is nothing quite like it in the entire NHL.”