Arizona Coyotes players were informed that the franchise is being relocated to Salt Lake City, multiple media outlets reported on Friday, though at least one report indicated those conversations weren’t quite so definitive.
The potential move would come along with a change in ownership per ESPN, as the NHL has worked to help negotiate a sale to Ryan and Ashley Smith, who own the NBA’s Utah Jazz.
“We are interested. We are ready, and we’re a partner,” Ryan Smith told The Athletic earlier this week. “The arena is done. We think we have a solution. And that’s my message to the NHL.”
The Athletic reported that the Friday conversation between Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong and the players was slightly more contingent in nature, confirming only that relocation “is possible,” but that players would have a chance to visit Salt Lake City should the sale occur.
The Coyotes’ future has been in flux for some time, as the franchise has had difficulty finding an appropriate home arena in over recent seasons.
After not being able to reach an agreement to continue playing in Glendale at their previous home, Gila River Arena, the Coyotes have played in Arizona State’s 5,000-seat Mullett Arena the past two seasons.
That was seen as a stopgap solution by the NHL, which urged team owner Alex Meruelo to find another stadium deal or sell the club.
Ownership announced plans last week to buy land in Phoenix to build a privately funded arena and entertainment district.
However, that plan hinged on the club winning a June 27 land auction for the 110-acre site that will be auctioned off by the Arizona State Land Department. The appraised price of the site is $68.5 million.
The NHL franchise relocated to Arizona from Winnipeg in 1996 and played in Phoenix until a move to Glendale, Ariz., in 2003. The latter city terminated its lease with the Coyotes following the 2021-22 season.
Last year, the Coyotes lost an election with Tempe voters in a plan to build a $2.3 billion arena and entertainment district.
Smith added to the relocation speculation on Monday with a post on X, formerly Twitter, soliciting potential team names for a Salt Lake City NHL team.
–Field Level Media
