The Arizona Coyotes dubbed Mullett Arena “The Party Barn” for its raucous, closed-quarters atmosphere.The NHL's smallest arena ended up being one of the franchi
FILE - Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon , Arizona Coyotes center Nick Bjugstad , Jets center Adam Lowry , Coyotes right wing Dylan Guenther , and Jets defenseman Nate Schmidt look for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. Arizona Coyotes fans always had hope the franchise would find stability in the desert despite numerous difficulties.
The Coyotes' mantra through numerous ownership changes, three arenas and constant relocation rumors was that the franchise was here to stay.Barring an unforeseen circumstance, Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo will sell the team's hockey operations to Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith shortly after Arizona's season finale. Smith has pushed to have an NHL team in Salt Lake City and will have a ready-made franchise in pocket with the purchase of the Coyotes.
With no guarantees of building a new arena, Meruelo opted to sell the Coyotes' hockey operations for $1.2 billion — $200 million of which will be distributed to NHL owners as a relocation fee — so the players wouldn't be stuck playing at the not-up-to-NHL-standards Mullett. The franchise reached a deal to play at Arizona State's arena until it could find a permanent home and seemed to have found a landing spot near downtown Tempe. Voters last year then resoundingly shot down a referendum for an entertainment district that would include a new arena.A group that included developer Steve Ellman and hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky ran into financial difficulties and sold the team to trucking magnate Jerry Moyes in 2005.
Arizona Coyotes Mullett Arena NHL Ownership Changes Relocation Ryan Smith Utah
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