The Arizona Coyotes are still looking for a home next season. ASU may have the answer
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The Arizona Coyotes are still on the prowl for a place to play next season after the city of Glendale ended the lease agreement for the team’s longtime home, Gila River Arena.
Now, the Coyotes are in talks to move to Tempe and play on Arizona State University’s campus.
Hear ESPN's Greg Wyshynski discuss the Coyotes' potential move with Host Steve Goldstein on The Show
ASU’s chief financial officer confirmed Thursday that the school may allow the Coyotes to play at a multipurpose arena scheduled to be completed in December.
The 2022-23 NHL season is set to begin in October 2022, meaning the Coyotes would have to find another temporary solution for the first two months of the season if construction isn’t finished ahead of schedule.
The new structure, where ASU’s hockey team will play next season, seats only 5,000 fans, while Gila River Arena holds over 17,000.
An ASU spokesperson says if a deal is approved, the Arizona Board of Regents would need to sign off and an additional $15 million-$20 million would be needed to construct NHL-level training and dressing rooms.
The hypothetical agreement would only be temporary, as the Coyotes look to find another solution to keep hockey in the desert. The team proposed a nearly $2 billion stadium and entertainment district in Tempe, but the city has not openly discussed the idea.
The Coyotes have the second-fewest wins in the NHL this season, and an average attendance of over 11,000.
