PHOENIX – The Arizona Coyotes’ run in the Grand Canyon State has officially come to an end, at least for now.
In the statement, NHL officials thanked the owner of what was once the Coyotes, Alex Meruelo, for “his commitment to the franchise and Arizona,” further stating that they “fully support his ongoing efforts to secure a new home in the desert for the Coyotes.”
“We also want to acknowledge the loyal hockey fans of Arizona, who have supported their team with dedication for nearly three decades while growing the game,” read a portion of the statement.
“I agree with Commissioner Gary Bettman and the National Hockey League, that it is simply unfair to continue to have our Players, coaches, hockey front office, and the NHL teams they compete against, spend several more years playing in an arena that is not suited for NHL hockey,” Meruelo wrote.
Meanwhile, a report from Tucson television station KOLD-TV states that according to Meruelo, the Tucson Roadrunners, which were the AHL affiliate of the now-former Coyotes, will be moving to Tempe.
With the team’s sale, Phoenix has joined a list of U.S. and Canadian cities that have lost NHL franchises. Other cities on the list include Atlanta, Cleveland, Denver, Hamilton, Hartford, Kansas City, Bloomington, Minn. (which is near Minneapolis), Montreal, the New York City area, Oakland, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Quebec City, St. Louis, Toronto, and Winnipeg.
Team had a rocky time in Arizona
The team originally played in Winnipeg, located in Canada’s Manitoba province, as the Winnipeg Jets before moving to the Phoenix area before the 1996-1997 NHL season.
Renderings of the Tempe Entertainment District, including a new arena for the Arizona Coyotes. The plans were rejected by Tempe voters via a referendum in 2023.
Officials with the Coyotes have proposed a new stadium in North Phoenix, but those plans came under rather intense criticism at one point from Scottsdale’s mayor, who wrote, in an open letter, that the proposed venue “was presented without mention of market demand for a new entertainment venue disguised as a hockey arena, or congested highway access, or questionable arena zoning entitlement.”
Hockey could some day return to Arizona
“I have negotiated the right to reactivate the team within the next five years, and have retained ownership of the beloved Coyotes name, brand and logo. I remain committed to this community and to building a first-class sports arena and entertainment district without seeking financial support from the public,” a portion of the statement read.