Meruelo leaving – Most sports owners I’ve encountered, aren’t good at what they attempt to do…

Alex Meruelo was NEVER going to be the answer. 

The day he was introduced as the owner of the Coyotes, I was sitting in the media throng in Glendale, wondering what would make this guy different from all the others before him. The Coyotes had been a yawn show from an ownership standpoint for over two decades. Gluckstern, Burke, Moyes, Ellman, Gretzky, etc, etc, the NHL itself, and others in the wake. I remember having Shawn Hunter in the radio studio many times, singing the praises of hockey in the Valley. Only a few now would remember Shawn. Los Arcos Arena should’ve happened, and we may still have the Coyotes if that move had been made on the chessboard. 

IF The History Channel did a documentary on the franchise’s entire run in Arizona from 1997 to 2024, it would be littered with arena angst and challenges, coaches, GMs, PR firms, rebranding, jersey unveils, and politicians. Media jumped up and down for joy because a new owner would come to town saying, “I am the one!!” many in our industry would fall hook, line, and sinker for it every single time. I was at a high-end corporate event just this last February where the Coyotes were praised on stage, and I turned to the nice people who invited me and said, “You know they are leaving, right?”. I had to step out shortly after because I couldn’t handle the nonsensical comments from the podium. 

Meruelo used the “I sure as [expletive} want to win” line at his introductory press conference, and of course, the orgasm that followed from the Coyotes faithful was predictable. The continued off-ice “bleep show” in Glendale, the turnstile of executives, coaches, and players. Landslide losses at the ballot and box office and the lack of faith in leadership.  So here we are. But before turning the page, I have to point out the poor ownership/leadership groups in Phoenix. Robert Sarver was fined $10 million and suspended by the NBA for misconduct and racially insensitive comments for a year. He eventually pulled the ripcord(was pushed out the door) by the League. The Arizona State football embarrassment with the NCAA over violations within Herm Edwards football program. Herm and Ray Anderson were given big payouts by the President of the university as parting gifts, which had EVERYONE not getting a paycheck from ASU wondering what the “bleep” is going on here. The pro football team in town hasn’t been all glitters and gold, either. 

Most, if not all, sports owners have HUGE egos. Most I’ve come across want to make it about them and think they are the smartest people in the room because of where their decimal point falls. Truth is, in my forty years of doing this, most of the owners I’ve encountered aren’t good. I hit the jackpot terribly while cutting my teeth in San Diego with Donald Sterling and Alex Spanos. Meruelo and Sarver were just people who made money off of the backs of those around them who looked the other way as though to say, “Nothing wrong here; we have it all figured out.”

So, it’s time to look at who WILL be the white knight(knights) coming in to bring NHL hockey back to Arizona. I know of one group already down the road with a very good vision, arena location, and more than enough funding. They will soon want to be identified, but today isn’t the day. 

We will have pro hockey again in Arizona. Let’s not wallow in the Coyotes’ departure. What’s done is done. There is no reason to waste time living in the rearview mirror unless it’s to remind those of the laundry lists of mistakes made by many of our owners and leaders…