Alex Meruelo became agitated when asked about season ticket refunds

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Ryan Hall
April 20, 2024 (8:55)

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It's been a rollercoaster ride for former coyotes owner Alex Morello as he brokered a sale between the NHL and Ryan Smith to move the team to Utah. During his press conference with Gary Bettman, he became agitated when a reporter asked him about Coyotes season ticket refunds.

Whether it was the stress or the speed of the sale or the fact the NHL has put a clock on this deal in that he has five years to get a building constructed and win the land in the upcoming June 27th auction may have gotten the best of him.

«Well look at it and address it immediately. Just give me a chance to breath a minute. «

Bettman also made it clear during the press conference that Meruelo does not have an option to flip the team after the building has been constructed and the team has been reactivated. He is to remain as owner five years after this has happened to which Meruelo awkwardly interrupted saying that Bettman and the NHL want him to remain for a long time.

Many across the NHL feel that Morello had plenty of time to take care of business and settle the issues in Arizona so that the Coyotes would prosper and become the team they all hoped they would be.

However, it became a debacle and an embarrassment to the league and to the NHLPA as the Coyotes were settled to play in a University arena that only had 5000 seats and had substandard conditions for an NHL franchise.

It's a tall order to have all this done and there are many parts of this agreement that will need to be fulfilled and achieved in a very short period of time. Only time will tell on whether Meruelo can come through.

Source: Blades of Steel - Alex Meruelo gets frustrated when asked about season ticket refunds