The Arizona Coyotes are one step closer to establishing a new home in the Valley of the Sun, as the Arizona State Land Department board of appeals has unanimously green-lit the hockey team’s bid on a parcel of land in north Phoenix. The $68.5 million appraisal for the 95-acre site paves the way for a state land auction, with the Coyotes poised to enter the fray in hopes of erecting a new arena, ESPN reports.
While the exact date of the auction remains uncertain, regulations require it to be advertised for 10 weeks prior to bidding, creating a timeline for aspirants to get their ducks in a row. Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo, having scouted several locations, has deemed this swath of land near Scottsdale Road and Loop 101 as the team's target. "People are craving certainty," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told ESPN. "And we are, too, but this isn't a 60-minute game where the light goes on and the game's over. [Meruelo] is working on it. We still have some time.
Sports fans got a glimpse into what the Coyotes' future might hold when the team unveiled renderings of the new arena and accompanying entertainment district on their app, although the images have since been taken down. The grand plan reveals a state-of-the-art venue with suite designs and a spellbinding multi-level entertainment district. This site is intended to replace the temporary digs at Mullett Arena, the 5,000-seat facility shared with Arizona State University hockey since 2022, as reported by ABC15.
The team's journey to a permanent home has been littered with false starts and disappointments since its former owner declared bankruptcy in 2009. Following the city of Glendale's 2015 exit from a long-standing lease agreement for the then-Gila River Arena, the Coyotes have been on a nomadic quest for stability. The latest glimmer of hope, the visual teasings of the potential new complex suggest a commitment to a long-term solution not far from the bustling energy of Scottsdale.
It's been a bumpy ride as the Coyotes' first bid for a new home base in Tempe fell apart after voters rejected the plan. After their search came back full loop around Loop 101 in the East Valley, the north Phoenix locale emerged as their land of choice, an effort that is now seeing some daylight. With the prospective auction on the horizon, this move could signal the dawn of a new era for hockey in Arizona and a bustling new hub for locals and visitors alike.
