NHL approves Coyotes sale and relocation to Utah

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The NHL Board of Governors approved a new franchise for Utah for the 2024-25 season and pulled the plug on the Arizona Coyotes.

"Effective at closing, the approved transactions will result in the Coyotes franchise transferring the totality of its existing hockey assets – including its full Reserve List, roster of Players and draft picks and its Hockey Operations Department – to the Utah franchise," a league statement said. 

Coyotes fans were emotional Wednesday night at the team’s final regular-season game at Mullet Arena, the 5,000-seat arena at Arizona State University, knowing the possibility the franchise may never return. 

The Coyotes defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-2.

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Fans of the Arizona Coyotes hold up signs and react after a game against the Edmonton Oilers at Mullett Arena April 17, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

All of its operations will be heading to Salt Lake City, where Ashley and Ryan Smith of the Smith Entertainment Group, who own the NBA’s Utah Jazz, will be taking over. 

According to ESPN, Smith Entertainment Group acquired the team and its assets for $1.2 billion from Alex Meruelo, who bought the franchise for $300 million in 2019. However, the NHL grew tired of Meruelo not finding a long-term solution for an arena fit to NHL standards in Arizona and worked on a sale instead. 

"As everyone knows, Utah is a vibrant and thriving state, and we are thrilled to be a part of it," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "We are also delighted to welcome Ashley and Ryan Smith to the NHL family and know they will be great stewards of the game in Utah.