The desert may once again ice over as Maricopa County's newly minted Chairman Thomas Galvin sets his sights on a chilly ambition: to bring the National Hockey League (NHL) back to the sun-scorched landscape of Phoenix, Arizona. Following the relocation of the Arizona Coyotes to Utah, Galvin, representing District 2, announced the formation of an "advisory panel of local leaders," diving into the possibility of resurrecting professional hockey in the Valley, as FOX 10 Phoenix reported.
During an address on Jan. 6, Galvin cited legendary hockey figure Wayne Gretzky, proclaiming, "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." Along with establishing this committee, known for aiming to solve intricate issues with visionary finesse, Galvin shared that he had conversations with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who "looks forward to working with us to identify an owner and the best location for a world-class building," Galvin said during the speech, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
With a background as a pro-business Republican and a partner at the Scottsdale-based Rose Law Group, Galvin's expertise in major development could be instrumental in the very public pursuit of making Phoenix NHL's next power play. Running contrary to past Board's reticence on pro sports engagement, especially after a supervisor was shot inside the board chambers back in 1997 over a baseball stadium tax, as noted by 12 News, bringing back hockey could be seen as Galvin's slapshot into the political arena.
Meanwhile, Bettman, who has steadfastly clung to the belief that Arizona can remain a vibrant hockey market, recently expressed his openness to the region's potential, albeit with a caveat. "We're not actively pursuing anything right now. And, quite frankly, the arena situation would have to be solved before we have any interest in looking at possibilities," he admitted in a discussion with Sports Business Journal, as per 12 News. No timeline for expansion or a solid game plan has been laid out by the Commissioner or the NHL as of yet.
