We want to build a world-class organization with elite players and the best management team in the front office.". "It's absolutely great to have a Latino owner and CEO," Hinostroza said. This comes one year after Alex Meruelo made history by purchasing the Arizona Coyotes, becoming the first Latino to own an NHL team. The Coyotes are making history again. He moved with his family to Los Angeles as a toddler before spending time in the Bay Area. "I'm a huge fanático de las Chiv​as," he said, referring to the Liga MX team based in his birthplace of Guadalajara, Mexico. "I have three nephews [in Southern California], and they liked the Kings and the Ducks because they reached out. Meruelo purchased a controlling stake of the Coyotes from Andrew Barroway in October 2019. "Vamos a trabajar MUY duro para que ustedes se puedan sentir como parte de nuestra familia, de este equipo, de SU equipo, los Coyotes de Arizona." You leave your family, country, and you come to a new place. For years, Gutierrez mentored students in an effort to give back. Even in the midst of a pandemic, the Arizona Coyotes hockey team is doing what it can to give back. That was the case for Xavier Gutierrez, who became the first Latino team president and CEO in NHL history when he joined the Arizona Coyotes on June 8. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nhl | pageType: stories | That gesture can be considered a first step. “This is an organization that when [Coyotes owner] Alex Meruelo bought it … In recent years, the NFL, NBA, MLB and UFC have all held events in Mexico to capitalize on a market heavily interested in American sports leagues, a trend temporarily halted in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. On the CBC Board, Mr. "We both want to win. Today, the NHL's first Latino team president and CEO will undoubtedly have a chance to make an impact on the ice and on the community his team serves, with the express aim of bringing the two together through a marriage of on-ice and business success. Meruelo, 56, attempted to purchase the Atlanta Hawks in 2011. The league has yet to announce any programs or events in Latin America, though a few franchises are working on doing so. Unlike any other sport, you feel part of the rink and the action itself.". The NHL has never held a game in Mexico. To that end, the Coyotes formed a Hispanic advisory board shortly after Meruelo became the majority owner and invited community leaders to help the franchise develop strategies to better reach Latinos throughout Arizona. GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Alex Meruelo made history last year by becoming the first Latino controlling owner in the NHL when he purchased the Arizona Coyotes. The Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights, for instance, are among a small group of teams with Spanish-language broadcasters, a group the Coyotes hope to join soon. He has a 20+ year career as a business executive, investor and dealmaker focused on investment management, corporate strategy & operations, finance, and business development. Admittedly, new Arizona Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez's first sports love was soccer. "We're building to gain inroads within our community.". "This is a historic day for the Coyotes and the entire NHL.". The Coyotes have ranked in the bottom five for home attendance every season since 2006-07, when NHL icon Wayne Gretzky coached the team. And did you know the Arizona Coyotes has one of the largest employee bases of women in the league?. 6-keys: media/spln/nhl/reg/free/stories, at "That's something we need to look into," Gutierrez said. Admittedly, new Arizona Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez's first sports love was soccer. Arizona can also boast representation on its roster by way of Vinnie Hinostroza, an Ecuadorian American player acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018. "With the Latino community, they have to know and understand they have the opportunity to succeed," he said. section: | slug: coyotes-xavier-gutierrez-becomes-first-latino-team-president-ceo-in-nhl-history | sport: hockey | route: article_single.us | Gutierrez, who is a Stanford Law School graduate, has experience in pro sports administration, having worked as a financial analyst for the NFL from 1996 to '97. On Monday, Xavier Gutierrez was named the team president and CEO of the Coyotes, making him the first Latino to hold those positions in NHL history. 1:46 pm ET, NHL Power Rankings: Vegas pushing for the throne, Golden Knights' San Jose hotel suddenly shuts down, Penguins apologize for altered photo of fans in masks, Flames fire Ward, hire Sutter as head coach, Why the NHL's chaotic weekend in Lake Tahoe worked, WATCH: Isles' Barzal scores incredible goal vs. Sabres, VGK kicked out of San Jose hotel that suddenly closed, Auston Matthews still day-to-day with wrist injury, Lundqvist 'months' away from thinking about return, Rangers deny abuse claims from Russia against Panarin. • Guide to all 24 postseason teams GLENDALE, Ariz. - Monday, March 8 is International Women's Day, a day for women to be celebrated for their economic, cultural and political achievements. Growing up in the U.S., however, he quickly identified with Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela and then Jim Plunkett and Tom Flores of the NFL's Raiders, all champions who represented his favorite teams and his heritage. Xavier A. Gutierrez serves as the President and CEO of Arizona Coyotes, and is the first Latino team President & CEO in NHL history. "I have the utmost trust in Xavier to lead us forward and help us to become a world-class organization on and off the ice.". Among the challenges facing Gutierrez is the push for a new arena, which the Coyotes have tried to secure for more than a decade. Hinostroza is one of a select number of NHL players with Latino heritage. In September, the team debuted social media accounts in Spanish to bolster its efforts. Gutierrez also spoke about the power that sports provides in one’s effort to make a difference in their community. Gutierrez, whose addition was announced June 8, joins his friend of more than 20 years and business partner Alex Meruelo, who is Cuban American, in forming the NHL's first Latino owner/president duo. "I am very proud to name Xavier as the first Latino team President and CEO in NHL history," Meruelo said through a statement after Gutierrez's introduction. Gutierrez and the NHL hope to see that group grow. Gutierrez served as a chief investment officer for the Meruelo Group, a company that deals with casinos, construction, financial services, and media. Retired left winger Raffi Torres, whose parents hail from Mexico and Peru, spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons with the Coyotes. In 2017, the Dallas Stars visited Mexico City to set up a "Learn to Play" youth clinic, assisted by the Mexico Ice Hockey Federation. "When you sit there, you feel the ice. The Coyotes are making history again. "It was the first time when I had the chance to see behind the curtain. PHOENIX — Arizona Coyotes President Xavier Gutierrez joined 12 Sports' Chierstin Susel in an exclusive 1-on-1 interview, where he addressed how … Meruelo made another bit of history on Monday, naming Xavier Gutierrez as the first Latino team president and CEO in NHL history. From turning Gila River Arena into a voting location to amplifying the voices of small business owners, he and the Coyotes staff are proving that the words “Coyotes care” is much more than a slogan. The NFL, it's an incredible business.". PHOENIX (Olivia's Book Club) -- Coyotes President and CEO Xavier Gutierrez knows the power of language and education. With the NHL on pause since March 12, the league and players' association have come up with a return-to-play format featuring 24 teams. Gutierrez maintains one significant sports connection to his place of birth. During his introductory video call, the new president and CEO delivered remarks in Spanish. The Coyotes will allow limited fans at home games. To better engage with fans in the region, Hinostroza said he's working on bettering his Spanish. "We're constantly mindful that we're in the middle of a pandemic," Coyotes President and CEO Xavier Gutierrez said. We plan to do that, too. Have the Kings arrived ahead of schedule -- and are they playoff-bound? Meruelo has previously stated that there's been interest to remain in Glendale, but the eastern side of Phoenix has also shown interest. It wasn't until his freshman year at hockey-mad Harvard, where he earned a degree in government, that Gutierrez discovered the sport that would make him a trail blazer. Gutierrez does want to find a permanent home for the Coyotes, but also wants to keep the franchise in the area. "Mr. Meruelo and I share a very compelling vision for this franchise," Gutierrez said. There are a variety of theories as to why the Coyotes aren't in the mix. Gutierrez, who was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, became the first Hispanic NHL president and CEO June 8, 2020 when he rejoined forces with longtime … I see it as an opportunity," said the 47-year-old Gutierrez, a career financial consultant who was previously the managing director of California investment firm Clearlake Capital Group. It wasn't until his freshman year at hockey-mad Harvard, where he earned a degree in government, that Gutierrez discovered the sport that would make him a trail blazer. "[Hockey] was just so fast, and there was such skill involved," Gutierrez, who was born in Mexico, said of taking in his first Harvard home game. Arizona Coyotes Xavier Gutierrez was named as the Coyotes President, CEO and Alternate Governor on June 8, 2020. It wasn't until his freshman year at hockey-mad Harvard, where he earned a degree in government, that Gutierrez discovered the sport that would make him a trail blazer. An NHL push into Latin America by way of Mexico would bring things full-circle for Gutierrez. "I don't see it as pressure. In that role, he got an up-close look at the league's business side. ", How Coyotes CEO Xavier Gutierrez plans to reach out to Latino fans, 'I just don't feel like myself': NHL players' experiences with mental health in an isolated season, What NHL players have learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dach (wrist) returns to practice with Blackhawks, NWHL to finish virus-stalled playoffs in Boston, Bruins' Carlo will be out 'a while' after Wilson hit, Emotional Gretzky eulogizes 'remarkable' father, San Jose hotel's closure forces Knights to move, Predators' Duchene goes on IR, out 3-5 weeks, Caps' Wilson suspended 7 games for Carlo hit. That's the power of sports. In early June, the league announced the creation of four committees to address diversity issues. Xavier A. Gutierrez was named as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Alternate Governor of the Arizona Coyotes Hockey Club on June 8, 2020. • Latest updates from around the NHL. Frequent changes in ownership and relocation rumors undermined the franchise's bid to grab a foothold in the Phoenix-area fan base. © 2004-2021 CBS Interactive. The two met while working together in the real estate industry and co-own a bank in California. “The question becomes: what are you going to do with that power?” he said. He played multiple sports at Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, California, before graduating in 1991. If we can do it, we'll inspire some people along the way. Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, who grew up in Arizona and whose mother is a native of Hermosillo, Mexico, is among those with the highest profiles. The Coyotes are currently playing at Gila River Arena temporarily after the city of Glendale terminated a 15-year lease. The NHL's success in attracting Latinos can be traced through not only outreach initiatives but also visible representation. All Rights Reserved. We need to involve the entire community.". Gutierrez seeks to emulate those efforts in Arizona and beyond. - Xavier A. Gutierrez pic.twitter.com/NEwlP95qdD. It wasn't until his freshman year at hockey-mad Harvard, where he … You're here to work, to achieve, to be educated," Gutierrez said. 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Gutierrez credits his mother, Lucía, and stepfather, David, with providing him the tools to succeed. Gutierrez comes to the Coyotes as the replacement for Ahron Cohen, who left the team last month after serving as the president and CEO since 2017. Similarly, the Anaheim Ducks have made efforts to broaden their fan base and attract fans of diverse backgrounds. Admittedly, new Arizona Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez's first sports love was soccer. On Monday, Xavier Gutierrez was named the team president and CEO of the Coyotes, making him the first Latino … Additionally, the team hosted "Noche de los Yotes" to honor Hispanic Heritage Month and auctioned off Spanish-language jerseys to benefit the Arizona Coyotes Foundation. Meruelo and Gutierrez run a team in a city in which 40% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, an important demographic for the Coyotes and the league. Xavier Gutierrez, CEO of the Arizona Coyotes, joins "Squawk on the Street" to discuss the start of the hockey season. Now in a highly visible role in a market with a significant Latino population, his leadership skills will come to the forefront. Covering the impact of coronavirus on the sports world. "With the Coyotes, we want to be a successful sports team and a successful business enterprise. Posted in Arizona Coyotes, Featured, Hockey, NHL Tagged Alex Meruelo, Arizona Coyotes, Bill Armstrong, COVID-19, Xavier Gutierrez 2 Responses You are logged in as Test Pingback: Oliver Ekman-Larsson Narrows Trade List to Two Teams A year later, the Kings held a youth camp there for more than 100 players. "It would be great to bring hockey to Mexico in some way.". The Arizona Coyotes have made Xavier Gutierrez the first Latino team president and CEO in NHL history. "I have known Xavier for many years, and he is a great person, an incredible leader, who has had a very successful business career," Meruelo told the Associated Press. "It's absolutely an area we're going to spend time and resources on," he said. Coyotes President and CEO Xavier Gutierrez … We want the Coyotes to be a winning team on the ice and a winning business organization off this ice. ... not just Black History Month," said Xavier Gutierrez, president of the Arizona Coyotes. Admittedly, new Arizona Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez's first sports love was soccer. In places with scarce access to ice rinks, the Kings have organized ball hockey tournaments. The Arizona Coyotes have made Xavier Gutierrez the first Latino team president and CEO in NHL history. "I'm very proud of my heritage, and if we can inspire young Latino kids to look at hockey and want to play in the future, that's an amazing thing.". In this role, Mr. Gutierrez oversees all business operations, strategic planning, significant organizational decision-making, and government relations for the club. The Los Angeles Kings, division rivals of the Coyotes, sell a quarter of their tickets to Latino fans as a result of their marketing and outreach programs in traditionally Latino communities throughout Southern California. When Ahron Cohen stepped down as team CEO in May, Meruelo tapped Gutierrez to become his top executive. His siblings, Jaime, Ana Lucía and Lyda, have all matched his Ivy League diplomas. • Details on the return-to-play plan "It definitely prepared me [for this job]," Gutierrez said. Coyotes CEO Xavier Gutierrez said said the decision was made after they learned about the situation involving Meyers-Crothers. “It’s been a whirlwind, I … Arizona Coyotes' Xavier Gutierrez becomes NHL's first Latino CEO The Associated Press Jun 8, 2020 Jun 8, 2020 Updated Jun 8, 2020; Xavier Gutierrez. “We recognize one thing and that is this is a turnaround,” Gutierrez told Arizona Sports’ Doug & Wolfon Friday.