At times, it appeared like Arizona would lose its ice hockey team for good, and if not for the NHL stepping in, it likely would have. One could justifiably say that the past two-plus decades have been tumultuous for the ‘Yotes, both on and off the ice. From perennial bottom-finisher to now fourth place in the Western Conference, Central Division, the Coyotes are still without a home of their own. But that could soon change. Keep reading to explore the drama-filled history of the team that has often been considered the joke of the NHL and look ahead at the team’s future.

The Current State of Arizona Hockey

According to league sources and individuals associated with prospective sites, the team is deciding between developing land in Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale and a 65-acre section of vacant land within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The tribal land is no stranger to hosting successful businesses, and is currently home to enterprises such as Salt River Fields, Talking Stick Resort and Casino Arizona, to name a few. A professional sports arena though, would be by far the largest and most profitable leasee. If the deal goes through, fans could catch a game at the new arena and swing by one of the reservation’s casinos to try their luck or take advantage of an online free spins no deposit bonus to play an NHL-themed slot machine.

Regardless of where the team ultimately decides to put its roots down in the Valley, it will almost certainly be on privately owned land to avoid another letdown and the poor publicity that followed the team’s recent bid for an arena in Tempe—a proposal that was ultimately rejected by Tempe residents in May 2023. Commenting on the failed plan, league commissioner Gary Bettman said, “The NHL is terribly disappointed by the results of the public referenda regarding the Coyotes' arena project in Tempe.” The league official vowed that the Coyotes and the NHL would be reviewing other options moving forward.

For some, the writing was already on the wall and rumors soon began to spread across the sports world that the team would end up relocating. Speculation spread faster than ice melts on an Arizona summer day, as pundits and fans tossed up potential destinations for the beleaguered franchise. Houston, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, Sacramento and Quebec City were in the running, as well as Toronto and Connecticut. Less than a month after Tempe said ‘no’ to a new arena and entertainment district, the governor of Connecticut, Ned Lamont, announced that an ownership group had been formed with the funds necessary to purchase the Arizona Coyotes and relocate them to Hartford. The league and Coyotes ownership attempted to squash the rumors of relocation. “We’re in a better position to resist moving than maybe we were 20 or 30 years ago," Commissioner Bettman said. “We want to make sure we explore all options at this stage of where we are before we would consider having to relocate a club, and I’m hopeful we won’t have to.”

The Journey So Far: Struggling to Find a Home

So how did we get here? How does an NHL franchise with a healthy fan base end up playing at a college hockey arena with just a 5,000-seat capacity? It’s been a drama-filled history, to be sure. Without a dedicated hockey arena of their own, the team formerly known as the Phoenix Coyotes shared a home with the Phoenix Suns from 1996-2003, before settling in the West Valley. Co-owner at the time, Steve Ellman, struck a deal with the Glendale City Council to build a hockey arena and entertainment complex.

Then, in 2006, trucking baron and Glendale resident, Jerry Moyes, became the majority owner. Less than three years later, Moyes filed for bankruptcy, which led to the unique turn of events of the NHL taking on ownership of the franchise. The league defended the ‘Yotes from relocation when Canadian billionaire, Jim Balsillie, attempted, but failed, to purchase the struggling NHL franchise and move the team back north to Canada—this time to Hamilton, Ontario. Nearly twenty years since the puck was first dropped in Glendale Arena (later renamed Gila River Arena), the team was seen as an albatross around the city’s neck. Fast forward to the city of Glendale voting to not renew its lease, and eventually forcing the team out after the 2022 season.

For now, the Coyotes share Mullet Arena, a state-of-the-art facility with the Arizona State men’s hockey program. An impressive venue for collegiate athletics, but embarrassingly small for a professional hockey team. Hockey fans in the desert now wait to see which site will be selected for the team's new arena. Despite a tumultuous history in their Arizona home, Coyotes fans are optimistic as their team stacks up wins and appears to be on the cusp of finding a new home once and for all.