Xavier Gutierrez's primary task as the new president and CEO of the Arizona Coyotes will be finding a way to keep the team in the desert.
"(Owner Alex Meruelo and I) are very focused on creating a sustainable long-term solution that keeps this team at home, here, in Arizona," he said following his hiring Monday. "This will be an area that I am especially focused on and will be taking the lead on to find the right solution."
The Coyotes ranked 28th out of 31 teams in average attendance this season, according to ESPN. The franchise hasn't finished better than 28th since 2006-07 when they ranked 24th. In December, Forbes valued the team at $300 million - the lowest in the league.
The location of the Coyotes' home rink - Gila River Arena - has played a part in the team's poor attendance figures. It's located in Glendale, which is about a 20-30 minute drive from downtown Phoenix. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said last year that Gila River Arena "is not viable long-term."
The Coyotes unveiled a design for a joint facility in Tempe with Arizona State in 2016, but the plans folded after the university ended negotiations.
Meruelo officially purchased the Coyotes last July, becoming the first person of Hispanic heritage to serve as an NHL chairman. Gutierrez, who says he's been business associates with Meruelo for "over a decade," became the first Latino in NHL history to hold the titles of president and CEO.
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