Coyotes Tempe arena project rejected by public referendum - will remain at Mullett Arena for 2023-24

[WaitingForThatCab]

I wonder if they had gotten Bredard, would that have changed voters minds?

Highly doubt it. Having the #1 overall pick isn't going to win you a referendum against the concerted opposition of powerful labor unions.

 

[GrkFlyersFan]

The NHL's statement is the closest I've seen Bettman to giving up. I'm thinking one more year at the college arena, move to Houston 2024. Probably too late to do it by the fall.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

The franchise is staying in the US. Houston probably, Salt Lake or Utah maybe a 2nd resort, Atlanta I doubt it.

I feel for Coyotes fans. No fan wants what this team has been through.

 

[Adrianopolous]

Houston Coyotes

 

[Divine]

 

[La Bamba]

The NHL's statement is the closest I've seen Bettman to giving up. I'm thinking one more year at the college arena, move to Houston 2024. Probably too late to do it by the fall.

I doubt it's too late. The Thrashers moved pretty quickly to Winnipeg in 2011. The team was purchased in May and relocation approved by June.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Salt Lake City may be destination IMO now that I think more about it

Remember this a few weeks ago from the Jazz owner



One would think NHL had to have some planning in place in event this vote failed

 

[viper0220]

He can look all he wants, but if there's no building that can host them in the state long term then the dream is dead.

By the sounds of it, everyone is already fed up with Mullet Arena to the point i'm not sure even a second season there is viable.

They're not dead and buried quite yet but the hole for the coffin is dug and people wanting to pay their respects are starting to gather.

You maybe right but when it comes to the Coyotes, it always seems that Bettman, has an Ace up his sleeve.

 

[LosPollosHermanos]

who cares tbh, this was too predictable from the start.

 

[viper0220]

Keep playing in the 5k arena with a huge financial loss?

It is a tough spot but I don’t know why I can’t bring myself to seeing the Coyotes moving. This has been going on for 15 years.

 

[jetsv2]

I doubt it's too late. The Thrashers moved pretty quickly to Winnipeg in 2011. The team was purchased in May and relocation approved by June.

The Jets already had a functioning hockey ops, marketing and business team in place. They had an almost brand new NHL caliber practice facility and an arena. TNSE had spent at least 2 years as the NHL emergency backup plan for the Coyotes at that point and had been running their AHL team essentially as an NHL team during that time.

There is no location who fits that criteria currently.

 

[Menzinger]

Sorry that Coyotes fans have to go through this. Stuff like this always sucks.

Seems as if Ownership could have handled the campaign a bit better

 

[Martin Skoula]

Gary Bettman has other ideas.

He’s got a buddy with a gently used synthetic ice half rink in his backyard, and if they only schedule games between 9am and 5pm on Thursdays (not including holidays) they can use both his garage lanes for parking.

 

[Blitzkrug]

You maybe right but when it comes to the Coyotes, it always seems that Bettman, has an Ace up his sleeve.

Eventually you run out of aces.

Mullet Arena isn't viable long term as he clings to hope for some magic deal to come from the sky. Players hate it and there's now speculation the PA is starting to push back on Bettman regarding that.

Footprint center had all of it's ice making capabilities removed recently after the arena got upgraded/renovated. That won't work

The Arizona Veteran's Coliseum was a shithole back in the day and hasn't gotten any better. Also only holds 14k which makes it the smallest rink in the league if they even considered it.

Literally the only option for a rink is go crawling back to Glendale which i can't imagine the team nor Bettman would be willing given the constant slapfights with that city over the years. That or the Salt River Reservation plan isn't just a bunch of hot air and they have something there. Given the league and team's statements tonight, that doesn't seem likely.

 

[La Bamba]

The Jets already had a functioning hockey ops, marketing and business team in place. They had an almost brand new NHL caliber practice facility and an arena. TNSE had spent at least 2 years as the NHL emergency backup plan for the Coyotes at that point and had been running their AHL team essentially as an NHL team during that time.

There is no location who fits that criteria currently.

It's true the Jets were well prepared but if the Arizona Coyotes played a season in a 5k capacity, college arena, I honestly think they can make it many other places too. The bar is low AF right now

also, I'm sure the NHL has some kind of backup situation tucked away that the general public doesn't know of

 

[MichaelFarrell]

If you’re cheering that a fanbase may be losing their team, you’re an asshole.

I don’t understand why people hate Arizona so much and now gloat about them potentially losing their team.

It’s really not like this has ever effected them. Canadians seem to think that Arizona is the reason Quebec doesn’t have a team. The Nordiques haven’t been a team since 1995. The NHL had expanded several times since then without giving them a team back.

It’s not happening.

 

[DingDongCharlie]

Gary Bettman has other ideas.

All outdoor games on fake ice coming. People can tan and watch hockey at the same time. Come on Gary make it happen

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Houston or Atlanta is my guess. I'd imagine Houston is most likely given it's closer proximity but idk

Gotta feel for Yotes fans though. That's just brutal.

Atlanta failed like twice , enough. Houston first if not then Quebec.

Arizona been a complete failure for Bettman.

When you can't even fill an arena of 5000 persons , this is just laughable. Why even bother making a new arena.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

There's no doubt that if the team has to go (and now it does) Gary wants to move them to Houston. Long term, league revenue depends on new fans, and that's where the biggest chunk of not-currently-hockey-fans live.

They've got a stadium.

They'd comfortably play in the Western Conference.

They do not have an owner. So I imagine that's what Gary is doing right now - talking to prospective owners. The Sens (partly because of the real estate involved) have billion or near-billion dollar bids from ownership groups from all over the continent, and I wonder if Gary is possibly trying to steer some of them towards interest in a team in Houston instead. Imagine a Snoop Dogg led team in Houston!

Gary doesn't want a team in Quebec City but I'm not sure that we can completely rule it out if they can't get an ownership bid in Houston.

Issue is rockets owner controls the arena. If someone else owns team could be problem.

 

[Xanlet]

I notice none of the official statements say anything about respecting the wishes of the voting public and appreciating ALL participants in this democratic process. Just a bunch of soulless, ghoulish lawyer speak, probably trying to leave a long shot open to try and overturn the results in some kind of legal challenge. The team is not wanted, the team is not viable. We've known this for decades now. It's time for the NHL to stop embarrassing itself by trying to make this project work.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Atlanta failed like twice , enough. Houston first if not then Quebec.

Quebec has failed twice as well, yet that isn't enough?

 

[Kennedys]

An ice hockey team in Arizona wasn't the best idea ever.

 

[Non Player Canadiens]

A moment of silence for Gary. Poor guy.

Eh, his 2023 final four is VGK-DAL-CAR-FLA. Don't feel bad for him

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

When you can't even fill an arena of 5000 persons , this is just laughable. Why even bother making a new arena.

They sold out every game. At least have the decency to avoid making up obvious bullshit when trying to dump on fans you consider to be beneath you.

Thanks in advance.

 

[SensontheRush]

So, Coyotes ownership didn't even bother to try? Spent just enough to posture that they care? Sure seems like they were like "well, we can go either way on this thing..."