Report links Arizona Coyotes moving to Las Vegas for 2016-17 season
Jun 30, 2015, 8:08 PM | Updated: 9:50 pm
Although the team earned positive accolades for their picks at the NHL Draft, everything else with the Arizona Coyotes seems to be one sigh after another.
The New York Post reported Tuesday night the Coyotes are headed to Sin City once they are purchased by billionaire William Foley.
Foley will move them for the 2016-17 season, the source said. The Post last year was the first to report Foley was backing a Vegas franchise.
MGM Resorts and arena operator AEG are building a 20,000 seat hockey-ready arena in Las Vegas that is slated to open in spring 2016.
The NHL acknowledged they are open to and looking for expansion teams and Las Vegas has been named as a potential destination.
Coyotes president Anthony LeBlanc, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly are denying any element of the New York Post’s story as true, according to Craig Morgan of Fox Sports Arizona and ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun:
Coyotes prez, CEO & co-owner Anthony LeBlanc: “The article in the Post is 100% false. No truth to it whatsoever.” https://t.co/cuXtOHR7p2
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) July 1, 2015
Gary Bettman: “The Post was told the story was completely untrue. They ran it anyway. The story is garbage. Team is staying put.”
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) July 1, 2015
Bill Daly on NY Post report regarding Coyotes moving to Vegas: “The most ridiculous and irresponsible story I have ever been … (con't)
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 1, 2015
“… associated with. Has never been contemplated or discussed. Not even notionally.'' end quote
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 1, 2015
On Monday, Maricopa County Superior Court ordered Glendale and the Coyotes to maintain the status quo and stopped Glendale from canceling the Professional Management Services and Arena Lease Agreement.