The Arizona Coyotes are gearing up for a potential move back to Phoenix, as they have put in an application to acquire about 200 acres of state trust land in the city's north. The application, confirmed by the Coyotes to 12News, is for a parcel northwest of the Loop 101 Pima Freeway and Scottsdale Road, a stone’s throw away from local landmarks like the Scottsdale Harkins theatres and the Mayo Clinic. However, the team hasn't explicitly mentioned an arena in its land application.
Having been ousted from their previous home at the now-renamed Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, the Coyotes are halfway through their second season at the much smaller Mullett Arena on Arizona State University's campus. According to an Arizona’s Family report, although NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman remains optimistic about the Coyotes' arena situation, there's growing concern from other voices within the league. Players’ Association executive director Marty Walsh stated, "If there’s no plan in Arizona, I would encourage a move to another location, absolutely."
Confirmed. We have every intention of staying in the desert. We owe it to the best fans in the world to make it happen. #YotesForever https://t.co/wp3hVN0UHe
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 3, 2024
The Coyotes' land application could bring about an auction for the site if approved, initiating further steps that include financing, infrastructure development, and potential government tax incentives. The Arizona State Land Department Board of Appeals is set to convene on Feb. 8, leaving room for both the Coyotes and Miracle Development, the purported development firm behind this project, to still make it onto the agenda before then. Bettman has thrown his support behind Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo, expressing confidence in his commitment to the project. "Alex Meruelo, as recently as last week, told me he was certain he was going to get this done and I don't make it a practice of contradicting owners unless I have hard facts to the contrary," Bettman said in a statement obtained by 12News.
Meanwhile, the team's immediate future appears secured, with an agreement in place to play at Mullett Arena through the 2024-25 season, possibly extending beyond that. Still, the complaints from players over the current arena conditions are loud and clear, suggesting the urgency for a more fitting venue is peaking. "The next deadline for me is tomorrow," Walsh indicated in a report by Arizona’s Family. "It’s now. It’s right now."
The quest for a new arena comes amid the backdrop of another NHL team potentially entering the mix. The owners of the NBA's Utah Jazz have shown strong interest in planting an NHL team in Salt Lake City. On the matter, Walsh commented, "If Utah’s the place, Utah’s the place," underlining that Utah’s growing population could potentially mimic the successful franchise launches seen with the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Seattle Kraken. As the situation evolves, the Coyotes remain without an official announcement on their new arena plans, but the application signals a clear intention to keep the team's roots in Arizona's soil.
