— The Arizona Coyotes will likely be sold to Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith shortly after the team's final game and will include a provision guaranteeing current owner Alex Meruelo an expansion team if a new arena is built within five years, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Saturday.
Once an arena is built, Meruelo will pay back by the $1 billion and move forward with the expansion franchise. The NHL had supported the Coyotes' plan to buy a tract of land at auction to build a new arena, but was hesitant to have the team continue playing at 5,000-seat Mullett Arena, which they share with Arizona State University's hockey team. The Coyotes had hoped to close a deal on the land valued at $68 million by the end of last year before delays pushed the auction until June.
The Coyotes have been on uncertain ground almost since the day the franchise relocated from Winnipeg.
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