| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | The '''Arizona Coyotes''' are a [[hockey]] team based in [[Phoenix (city)|Phoenix]], [[Arizona]]. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ([[NHL]]).
| + | #REDIRECT[[Utah (NHL franchise)]] |
| − | | |
| − | The Coyotes started in the NHL as the [[Winnipeg]] Jets (not to be confused with [[Winnipeg Jets|the current NHL team of the same name]] and were moved to the city in 1996. After the move, they were known as the '''Phoenix Coyotes''' until June 27, 2014. They were previously partially owned by an all-time great of Hockey, [[Wayne Gretzky]].
| |
| − | | |
| − | The Coyotes previously played at the Gila River Arena (previously the Jobing.com Arena), in [[Glendale]], a suburb of Phoenix. The arrangement of a separate arena (instead of sharing the existing arena home of the NBA's [[Phoenix Suns]]) and the ensuing bad lease terms (which Glendale has repeatedly refused to renegotiate) has resulted in lack of fan support and repeated threats to relocate; their failure to pay lease payments has resulted in the team losing their lease after the 2021-2022 season. This led to endless speculation as to where the team would play: possibilities included another arena in the Phoenix area, or relocation to Quebec City (which lost the Quebec Nordiques), Houston (which had a successful World Hockey League and minor league teams in the past, and is the largest media market not to have a hockey team; it would also give the [[Dallas Stars]] a natural rival), and Kansas City, among others.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Ultimately the team signed an agreement to share an arena with the [[Arizona State University]] club hockey team; the 5,000-seat arena was by far the smallest venue of any professional franchise in not only the NHL but in all four of the major sports leagues. An attempt was made to build a new arena in the suburb of Tempe; however, the voters rejected three proposals which would have funded the stadium (deciding that the land's current use -- an illegal toxic landfill -- was a better choice.)
| |
| − | | |
| − | With no realistic plans for a new arena in sight, and facing continual losses from their tiny arena arrangement, in April 2024 the club was sold to the owners of the [[NBA]]'s [[Utah Jazz]] and will relocate to [[Salt Lake City]] beginning with the 2024-2025 season. The prior owner kept all rights to the Coyotes name and franchise records, and was given an exclusive five-year window in which to build a new arena, which if successful the NHL would grant the new owner an expansion franchise; otherwise, operations will officially cease.
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Team's Official Website ==
| |
| − | *[https://nhl.com/coyotes Official Team Website]
| |
| − | | |
| − | {{Nb_sl_nhl}}
| |
| − | [[Category:Arizona]]
| |