Bonsai Tree
Turning a new leaf
- Feb 2, 2014
- 9,243
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Speculation: Should Meruelo buy the Suns?
- Thread starter Bonsai Tree
- Start date
Kai Yo T
Registered User
If it were to happen I'd be fine with it. Prefer he just focuses on the Coyotes. I'd hate to see him pick a favorite. I'm not sure Sarver is going to end up out yet. Good chance though since even CP3 is speaking out. The backlash could grow louder.
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awfulwaffle
Registered User
If he does, what are the odds he'd ditch the Coyotes? I think it would be high since the main purpose seems to be the gambling license.
While I agree that the gambling license is important, his company is a very very small player in the game. The big ones (FD, Caesar’s, DK, barstool) take the majority of the action.
It seems like they started way late and no one really knows about them. Honestly the promos they have are also terrible.
I wouldn’t be surprised with all overhead/fees if he’s currently losing money on it.
I know it’s a long term hold type of thing but it can’t make him happy knowing he’s a very small fish in a huge pond.
- Jan 3, 2012
- 14,584
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And move them to Tempe. Phoenix politicians would explode.
- Oct 26, 2006
- 18,611
- 11,575
It depends on the TED. If Tempe kicked the TED to the curb, and if Meruelo subsequently bought the Suns, then the Mutts would be renting moving vans IMO.
But the Coyotes come with the TED, and if they get the green light for it, I doubt Meruelo even looks at the Suns for a while.
He doesn't have the money. The Suns would go for $2 billion at least.
Kai Yo T
Registered User
Sarver's share is reported at 35% ownership, so around $630M is what they are saying in the media. Rumors for years that the Sun's second biggest investor has wanted a bigger stake in the team too. This is probably his chance to grab majority stake.
Edit: It's Jahm Najafi, who has also called for Sarver to resign. Seems like he might already using this to his advantage, posturing.
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TheLegend
Megathread Gadfly
Other than he claims he doesn’t want control.
But then again, he and his brother and one other have tried to run Sarver out for years.
Baby Doaner
Registered User
- Mar 14, 2021
- 981
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It's really really bad right now. In July, Sahara Bets had total bets of $39,907.29 for the entire month. The whole "profit" for the month was $397.90. (This is without taking into account operating cost or salaries)
For comparison in the same month, DraftKings and FanDuel each had 3 million in bets.... per day.
RemoAZ
Let it burn
He doesn't have the money and with his PR issues over the last couple years, (late payments, Strang article), they wouldn't take him anyway. A better candidate would come forward no doubt. Plus, he wants a land deal. Starting over with the Suns would mean working out a whole new arena deal and getting out of their current one.
I prefer that he invest in a sport that the players have sharp blades on their feet, a stick in their hand, play on a slippery, harder than concrete, surface, slapping around a disc, than a sport that the players play in their underwear with a large ball.
I think AM could swing Sarver's share, but I doubt he wants it. He has his hands full with the Yote's. Mind you, the Sun's have everything in place and are running smoothly. Still, I think he has no interest.
rt
The Kinder, Gentler Version
Are they attempting to time their launch with the new arena or something? I know it’s launched. But it feels soft launches or in beta.
If so I don’t think it was very smart. People have already been way to comfortable with the other options available. This is coming from an avid bettor. I would love to support the coyotes by using sahara but to be honest it just flat out sucks.
TheLegend
Megathread Gadfly
Should not be a surprise.
DK and FD are well established entities to sports betting and had everything lined up to go at day 1 with massive ad campaigns.
Meruelo decided to go on his own and develop his own company from scratch. His one advantage is he’s hooked up with the largest gaming machine manufacturer/operator in the world in IGT.
It’s too early to tell how this will work out.
Kai Yo T
Registered User
If Sahara Bets was failing while Meruelo was doing everything he could to make it succeed I'd be concerned. Seems like he's all but ignoring it right now. Does seem strange to me, but I have no reason to think he doesn't know what he's doing. I agee with @TheLegend, "It's too early to tell..."
TheLegend
Megathread Gadfly
The other issue was stadium size. It needed to be a minimum of 10,000 seats but he was able to get a change in the law allowing an exception for playing a Mullett.
Existing Suns investors will and have wanted to for a while, buy Sarver out. They have been pushing this direction for some time. They don't need an outside third party to do it. The NBA kicked the can to the players, sponsors and existing owners by not forcing Sarver out, which they couldn't because the NBA would lose the legal battle. So, either the other owners convince him to sell, sponsors start dropping out if Sarver is still in, or the players refuse to play for him.
I think he will be out before the end of the year.
