By Fox 10 Phoenix
PHOENIX – The former owner of the Arizona Coyotes is suing ASU and the Arizona Board of Regents.
What we know:
Alex Meruelo’s IceArizona Hockey Co. LLC wants its $3.5 million security deposit back after the team left Arizona for Utah two years into their three-year lease at ASU’s Mullett Arena.
The March 7 lawsuit says team ownership was “compelled” by the NHL to sell the team, leaving them unable to complete the contract.
The complaint argues that the sale counts as a “force majeure event,” and they should get their deposit back. That clause in contracts typically lets both sides break a contract if there is a natural disaster, pandemic, or other unavoidable event.
The complaint goes on to say the Coyotes owner tried moving the AHL team, the Tucson Roadrunners, to Mullett Arena, but there was a conflict with the Valley Suns, an NBA G League team that plays at the arena as well.
ASU and the Board of Regents say they are still owed $820,000 in rent for the last year of their contract with the Coyotes. The lawsuit says, however, ASU and the Board of Regents aren’t entitled to the money because of the “force majeure event.”
