Speculation and rumors about the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes potentially moving away from the desert were addressed on Friday night when general manager Bill Armstrong reportedly informed the team that they are headed to Utah. The NHL has facilitated a sale to Ryan and Ashley Smith, who own the NBA’s Utah Jazz, and the team will play in Salt Lake City starting next season. The Coyotes will play at the Delta Center, home of the Jazz, but renovations are needed to ensure the team’s long-term stay in the city.
The Arizona Coyotes have faced instability since former majority owner Jerry Moyes drove the franchise into bankruptcy in 2009. While the team found stability playing at the Gila River Arena just outside of Phoenix in Glendale, the city terminated their lease agreement after the 2021-22 season. Voters also rejected the team’s plan for a new entertainment district in Tempe last year. As a result, the Coyotes have been playing at Mullett Arena on the Arizona State University campus, which has a limited seating capacity of 5,000 spectators.
Last year, the Coyotes were actively looking for a new arena in the Phoenix area, considering six potential locations. Ryan Smith, the prospective owner of the team, recently asked for suggestions for a new team name, leading to speculation about potential relocation. Reports surfaced that the league has been working on contingency plans in case the Coyotes move this summer to Utah. Smith also has government backing to make improvements to the Utah arena, with a bill passed to fund renovations for an entertainment district in anticipation of professional hockey in the city.
The Smiths, owners of the Utah Jazz, are set to take over ownership of the Arizona Coyotes and relocate the team to Salt Lake City, where they will play at the Delta Center alongside the Jazz. While hockey-centric renovations are needed for the Coyotes to stay in Utah long-term, the team’s move has shed light on their future plans following instability in Phoenix. Members of the team were reportedly informed of the move by general manager Bill Armstrong, providing clarity amidst rumors of potential relocation.
The Coyotes’ move to Utah marks a new chapter for the franchise after facing uncertainties in Arizona, including lease terminations and failed expansion plans in Tempe. Ryan Smith’s ownership of the team, supported by the Utah government for arena improvements, has paved the way for the Coyotes’ relocation to Salt Lake City. As they prepare to play at the Delta Center and establish themselves in a new market, the Coyotes are expected to bring professional hockey to Utah alongside the NBA’s Jazz.
In conclusion, the Arizona Coyotes will be making a significant move to Utah, where they will play at the Delta Center under new ownership by Ryan and Ashley Smith. This decision follows years of instability in Arizona, culminating in a failed plan for a new arena and lease terminations in Glendale. The team’s relocation to Salt Lake City, with government support for arena renovations, signals a fresh start for the franchise in a new market alongside the Utah Jazz. Despite uncertainties in the past, the Coyotes’ move to Utah brings clarity to their future plans and offers a glimpse of what’s to come for the franchise in the NHL.
