A potential deal to build a new arena in Tempe, Arizona for the Coyotes is dead, according to a report by Anne Ryman, Mary Jo Pitzl and Jessica Boehm of The Arizona Republic. A plan involving the Coyotes and Arizona State University to build a 330-acre athletic district which would have included separate arenas for the two had been in the works since November but Arizona State has withdrawn from the negotiations.
In a statement released this evening by Arizona State, the school “has no intention of proceeding to sign a development agreement or an option to lease or any other agreement with the Coyotes.”
The Coyotes have long been looking for a resolution to their arena situation in Arizona and this is just another setback for the organization. It’s unclear whether the team has any other options in Arizona at this point.
The decision comes just days after Senator Bob Worsley introduced legislation that would have ultimately provided funding for the project without impacting the state’s general fund. He agreed to sponsor the legislation with the express purpose of ensuring the Coyotes would remain in Arizona.
Unless the Coyotes have an in-state alternative, this news will almost assuredly lead once again to rumors of relocation with Quebec City an Seattle representing possible destinations, though the latter option would not create a further imbalance among the conferences.
That really, truly sucks for the Coyotes because it looked like they may have actually found resolution to this entire debacle. If relocation is brought back into the fold, their is no way Quebec is an option due to the already unbalanced makeup of the league.
It’s not a first choice but there is a really good likely hood they end up on the Indian reservation. They have casinos and money and more importantly would LOVE to have the team there!
I wonder what made Arizona State pull out of the deal. If there was a good chance of the legislation passing to provide funding for the project. It would seem like a no-brainer for both the Coyotes & Arizona State. There has to be something in the deal that Arizona State didn’t like for them to pull out
Why do they want to leave Glendale ?
Glendale just plays a lot of stupid games with the arena. They did the same thing when the Super Bowl came here and the NFL moved everything but the game to
Phoenix and Scottsdale. City council wants the Coyotes to pay more then the agreed upon figure. Coyotes don’t sell well. It’s amazing they haven’t been relocated yet but unless one of the reservations steps up this might be it
Just wish San Diego would grow a pair, build an area and bring in the NHL.
No hockey, basketball or football-no balls.
Who wants the Padres?
Give Seattle an expansion team and Quebec the Coyotes.
Coyotes should just pick up and move to either San Diego or Houston and be done with it.
Next (and very very very last) expansion should go to Seattle.
On a side note……The Islanders also should go to Quebec City and switch divisions with Boston.