The Arizona Coyotes face an uncertain future as their quest for a new arena in Tempe hits a roadblock after voters rejected the relocation proposal on Tuesday.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the league and Coyotes ownership would be exploring alternative options for the team. ESPN hockey writer Greg Wyshynski reported that Houston is being considered as a potential destination due to its hockey-ready venue, the Toyota Center, and the fact that the Coyotes currently compete in a division that includes the Dallas Stars.
“The NHL is terribly disappointed by the results of the public referenda regarding the Coyotes’ arena project in Tempe.”
Gary Bettman, National Hockey League commissioner
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s spokesperson has expressed support for bringing an NHL team to the city.
“The mayor’s very supportive of professional sports in our city, because Houston is a sports town,” said mayor spokesperson Mary Benton.
“He thinks they add a lot to our city in terms of pride and enthusiasm, and a lot of these organizations give back to our city.”
Coyotes’ struggle to find new home
The franchise has faced challenges, including poor management, disputes with cities and lackluster on-ice performance since it moved from Winnipeg to Phoenix in 1996.
However, the current situation is more critical than ever, and a decision regarding the team’s future is expected within the next few weeks.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed that the Coyotes are in the first year of a three-year deal to play at Mullett Arena.
The arena, which was shared with Arizona State’s hockey program this past year, will at least serve as their temporary home for the upcoming season. Beyond the 2023–24 season, however, the team’s future location remains unknown.
Initially, developers were looking to build a $2.3 billion entertainment district in Tempe, but according to early results, voters were 56-44 split against the project. The proposed complex would have retail, entertainment and residential space along with the Coyotes’ new arena.
Coyotes president and CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez was “disappointed” that the three proposals did not pass, despite Tempe Mayor Corey Woods calling it “the best sports deal in Arizona history.”
Potential new homes
In a recent episode of the “32 Thoughts” podcast, hockey insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned Houston as a top potential destination for the Coyotes if they choose to relocate from Arizona.
Although Friedman believes the Coyotes and NHL will initially explore options to keep the team in Arizona, he listed Houston, Atlanta, Kansas City, Sacramento and Salt Lake City as the leading choices for relocation.
Houston has a history with hockey, hosting two teams called the Aeros. The first Aeros were successful in the World Hockey Association from 1972–78, winning two league championships. The second Aeros played in the International Hockey League and American Hockey League from 1994-2013 as a minor league team.
The second option is Atlanta, the largest market in the U.S. without an NHL team. However, Atlanta has a bad history with hockey, with two teams failing, and it is located in the east, while Coyotes are playing in the Western Conference.
Kansas City is on the list, but it already has the Blues at St. Louis. The state houses two other professional sports teams, but like Atlanta, its NHL team did not work. Another problem is the T-Mobile Center. The venue has never hosted an NHL team before, which means the NHL needs to approve it beforehand.
Sacramento is also eyeing a hockey club. So far, only the Kings are in the Northern California city. If the Coyotes decide to move to Sacramento, they would need to either build a new arena or modify the existing Golden 1 Center, currently available for basketball and concerts.
The last most probable option is Salt Lake City, which has never housed an NHL franchise. Its Vivint Arena is available for hockey games and has hosted the annual Frozen Fury game since 2021. Ryan Smith, the owner of the Jazz, is also excited to bring an NHL club to the state after failing to acquire the Penguins in 2021.
