The Coyotes’ move to Utah is happening, at least according to one of the parties involved.
Prospective Yotes buyer and Jazz owner Ryan Smith seemingly confirmed that a deal to sell the team to Smith Entertainment Group is nearing completion during an interview Wednesday at the CAA World Congress of Sports.
Smith never mentioned the Coyotes specifically, but certainly hinted at it during the appearance at the annual event.
“There’s no secret on what’s out there online,” Smith said. “Normally, not everything on the internet is true, but in this case, it’s pretty true.”
By all accounts, the NHL, Smith and current Coyotes owner, Alex Meruelo, have been working to complete a complicated sale of the hockey team.
A deal has not been signed, according to Sports Business Journal, and it would require the approval fo the NHL Board of Governors.
Wednesday is expected to be the team’s final game in Arizona when they host the Oilers at Mullett Arena in Tempe.
Smith has been vocal about his desire to bring an NHL team to Salt Lake City, but it had been reported that he had hoped to originally do it through expansion.
“I have incredible faith in the people of Utah. We show up,” Smith said Wednesday. “We’ve had the NCAA Tournament there, and the arena was packed at 11 a.m. … I’m excited about showing that, but “I want to spend all my time this summer launching a whole new brand and going through all the little things and every single little detail.”
The potential new owner of the Coyotes added that there was a lot of work ahead of them once a team arrived in Salt Lake City.
“There’s practice facilities — you name it, we’ve got to do it. There’s nothing we don’t have to go do. We’ll find a way. If everyone’s in, we’ll find a way. We’ve done harder stuff,” Smith said.
A relocation of the Coyotes ends a decades-long saga to find the franchise a permanent home that allows it to be successful on and off the ice.
However, the pending move doesn’t mean shutting the door on hockey in the desert.
As part of the likely sale of the team, Meruelo will have a five-year window to build a new arena and bring an expansion NHL franchise back to the Phoenix area, according to multiple reports.
The Post’s Larry Brooks reported that Arizona would move to the head of the expansion line.