The Arizona Coyotes have long been the poster child for a “poverty franchise,” a term often tossed around in sports circles to describe teams unwilling—or unable—to spend what it takes to stay competitive. In the Coyotes’ case, this reputation was more than a metaphor; their cash-strapped operations over the years became almost legendary. A recent ESPN exposé by Emily Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski has shed light on just how deep the team’s financial woes ran, revealing some eyebrow-raising cost-cutting tactics.
The Coyotes’ tenure in Arizona, spanning nearly three tumultuous decades, was marred by unpaid bills, budget hotels, and even a sponsorship deal with Goodwill in 2022—a darkly humorous development given that the team was nearly locked out of their own arena a year earlier for unpaid rent. The situation forced the Coyotes into Mullett Arena, a modest 4,500-seat venue designed for Arizona State’s hockey team. Despite the NHL’s best efforts to keep the Coyotes afloat, including multiple ownership changes, the franchise never found stability.
Perhaps the most shocking revelation? Coyotes ownership allegedly went so far as to cross out totals on hotel bills and pay reduced amounts, a tactic sources say became common practice. Additionally, the team attempted to sidestep collective bargaining standards by booking subpar hotels, even stripping essential equipment like printers and copiers from the coaches’ offices to save a few bucks.
While Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo made a last-ditch effort to secure a new facility in Tempe, voters rejected a ballot initiative in 2023, leaving the franchise without a viable home. With financial instability reaching a breaking point, the NHL finally called time on the Arizona experiment. The Coyotes have since been sold to Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith, marking an end to one of the league’s longest and most controversial franchise sagas.
As the Coyotes prepare to move to Salt Lake City for the 2024-25 season, fans can only hope the team’s financial misadventures will become a thing of the past.
