Phoenix land sought by Arizona Coyotes gets OK to be sold; bidding to start at $68.5M

The Arizona State Land Department Board of Appeals on Thursday unanimously approved the $68.5 million appraisal of 95 acres of land sought by the Arizona Coyotes.

There were no questions or discussion about the appraisal on the land at the northwest corner of the Loop 101 freeway and Scottsdale Road, and the 4-0 approval took less than two minutes.

The board's decision clears the way for the Arizona State Land Department to sell the land at auction with a starting price of $68.5 million. The department now must issue a notice setting the auction date, which has to be publicly advertised for 10 weeks.

Coyotes looking for a new home: Here's what you need to know

That means the auction may not occur until June at least.

Most state trust land auctions draw just one bidder. But recent sales near Loop 101 in Phoenix and Scottsdale have prompted bidding wars and driven up prices, and the desirable location of the property sought by the Coyotes is likely to draw competition.

The Arizona Coyotes, through the law firm Fennemore Craig, put in an application to auction the land last June. In January, the name on the application was updated to Miracle Development, a new affiliate of Coyotes majority owner Alex Meruelo.

The application is for a mixed-use commercial development with initial phases of construction to be complete in 2027.

About 9 million acres of Arizona land are held in a trust that has existed since statehood. The land was given to the state to be sold or leased to benefit Arizonans. Most of the proceeds fund K-12 education. The steps required to sell the land, through an application process and later at auction to the highest bidder, are set by state law.

Coyotes leadership has said the parcel of land in north Phoenix is one of several options for their future arena home, and it is unclear how the appraised value or the prospect of a competitive auction could impact their plans. Coyotes President and CEO Xavier Gutierrez declined to comment after the board vote Thursday.

The team has played several seasons at Arizona State University's Mullett Arena while facing pressure from NHL leadership and others to find a permanent home. Tempe voters soundly rejected the Coyotes' prior plan to build an arena and entertainment district there last year.

The uncertainty and pressure spilled into the Board of Appeals meeting Thursday. The board approved two other smaller land sales in La Paz County, with no discussion on one and just a single question on the other.

Dozens of people dialed into the remote-watching option via Google Meet, a reflection of the high interest in the Coyotes’ saga.

Tim McWilliams, a Phoenix retiree and Coyotes season ticket holder, attended the meeting in person wearing a team polo shirt. He’d like to see the Coyotes buy the land off the Loop 101, which “given the location, should probably work out this time, to put it bluntly.”

He said he was highly disappointed the team could not pull off a permanent home in Tempe.

“I think it was a good opportunity for Tempe and the team," McWilliams said. “And I felt that the team drug their feet a little bit on getting the word out as to what they were doing, and how it would affect residents.”

His message to team leadership: “Be honest with us, forthright, and get it done.”

Meruelo assured fans at the start of the season he was committed to Arizona, yet speculation about whether the team will remain here continues. One fan made their pitch for a move just as the Board of Appeals ended its meeting.

“Bring the Coyotes to Houston,” a voice said before signing off the Google Meet.

Board member Norman "Ned" Chappell, a real estate appraiser for Maricopa County, declined to comment on the vote, saying he couldn't and that he was told to give a reporter a business card for the land department spokesperson.

Reach reporter Stacey Barchenger at stacey.barchenger@arizonarepublic.com or 480-416-5669.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: North Phoenix land wanted by Arizona Coyotes approved for sale