The NHL Board of Governors officially voted yes on the Arizona Coyotes' relocation to Salt Lake City on Thursday and the sale of the franchise to Ryan and Ashley Smith.

"As everyone knows, Utah is a vibrant and thriving state, and we are thrilled to be a part of it," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "We are also delighted to welcome Ashley and Ryan Smith to the NHL family and know they will be great stewards of the game in Utah. We thank them for working so collaboratively with the League to resolve a complex situation in this unprecedented and beneficial way."

While all of the hockey assets from the Coyotes will transfer to the new Salt Lake City franchise, the NHL's Board of Governors left open the possibility of hockey continuing in Arizona if owner Alex Meruelo has "fully constructed a new, state-of-the-art facility appropriate for an NHL team within five years," per the league's statement.

For the moment, the Coyotes are considered an "inactive" franchise.

Meruelo released a statement on Thursday after the sale saying NHL hockey in Arizona has not come to an end and that he's "committed" to bringing a new arena to the state without seeking financial support from the public:

The Coyotes, who have called Arizona home since 1996, played their final game in the state on Wednesday, a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at the 5,000-seat Mullet Arena on Arizona State's campus, where the team has played for the past two seasons.

Meruelo was not present at the game.

Wednesday's finale was a sad day for Coyotes fans and players alike.

"Hockey is more than just a sport," Shane Doan—the franchise's all-time leader in games played (1,540), goals (402), assists (570) and points (972), who is now a special adviser to Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving—told Chris Johnston of The Athletic. "It's the relationships, it's the fans, it's the people that worked here for their whole careers. It's the security people. It's the ticket people. It's everybody. It's a small tight group here, so that makes it tough."

But there remains the possibility that the Coyotes could return.

"This is not the end for NHL hockey in Arizona," Meruelo said in a statement. "I remain committed to this community and to building a first-class sports arena and entertainment district without seeking financial support from the public."

For now, however, the NHL is adding Utah and Salt Lake City to its roster of host locations.