NHL’s Arizona Coyotes potentially being relocated to Salt Lake City, as soon as next season, while team says it’s committed to keeping hockey ‘in the desert’

The Arizona Coyotes are potentially being relocated to Salt Lake City, as soon as next season. Meanwhile, the franchise’s social media posts state the team is committed to keeping hockey ‘in the desert’.

As the Coyotes played against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night, the rumors about their future amid failed stadium proposals and the local shaky ground the team has been on for over a year manifested itself.  

Without a long-term plan for a stadium, and currently playing games at the 5,000-seat Mullett Arena on Arizona State’s campus, a permanent move away from Arizona could be in the Coyotes future. 

The shaky ground started for the Coyotes in August 2021, when Gila River Arena in Glendale chose not to renew its operating agreement with the team. Options have been discussed to build a new stadium in nearby Mesa and Scottsdale as well.  

Now, instead on trying to find a local solution, the NHL may be stepping in to give the franchise to another city. Yet, the Coyotes remain firm about their desires to keep the team in the Phoenix area.  

‘We block out the noise,’ a post on the Coyotes social media stated. ‘For our fans and for our state, we push forward and give our all. For the love of the game.’

‘Committed to keeping Coyotes Hockey in the desert & building an arena in Phoenix,’ another Arizona post stated. 

The Coyotes have played in the Phoenix area since 1996 after the original version of the Winnipeg Jets were relocated out of Canada. 

The current version of the Jets were relocated from the expansion Atlanta Thrashers in 2011. 

Salt Lake City has tried to court another professional franchise to Utah for well over a decade, focusing on the MLB and NHL in those efforts.