The Arizona Coyotes are hustling to secure a spot in north Phoenix for their potential new arena, in an ongoing saga to find a permanent home turf. The hockey team has thrown its hat in the ring to snag some state-owned land near the Loop 101 and Scottsdale Road, according to a recent FOX 10 Phoenix report. With the current lease at ASU's Mullett Arena resembling more of a couch-surfing stint than a stable residency, the Coyotes are on the prowl for something more...settled.
The Arizona Land Department's Board of Appeals are set to deliberate this Thursday on whether to put this prized parcel up for public auction - a potentially game-changing move for the team's quest for permanency. Meanwhile, CEO Xavier Gutierrez is playing his cards close to the chest, stating in an interview obtained by The Arizona Republic via The Hockey News, "I can confirm that we have submitted an application. But ... I’m confirming with you that, as I’ve made very clear on a number of occasions, we are looking at multiple sites and we are not yet ready to announce which is the one that we are going to pursue as the primary one."
This move comes on the heels of Tempe voters checking a proposed $2.3 billion entertainment district into the boards. The setback, however, has not put a damper on the Coyotes' determination to stay in the state. The team's future had been the subject of speculation, especially as rumors circling the NHL rink suggested that Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith had dropped the gloves, formally requesting the league to entertain the notion of expanding to Salt Lake City.
Gutierrez's recent play to secure the north Phoenix land might not fully cross-check relocation rumors out of play, but it's a clear signal the Coyotes aim to remain an Arizona fixture. Despite the forward momentum, there's still plenty to hammer out before anyone can start to really celebrate. Gutierrez was abundantly clear in his remarks, essentially dropping the gloves to tell naysayers the team is looking to stay put, at least for the foreseeable future.
