After a longstanding saga on whether the Arizona Coyotes were going to stay in Arizona, it seems a solution might have been found.
The Coyotes are reportedly looking to build an arena outside of Glendale and join the Arizona State Sun Devils in a joint arena in Tempe.
“The Arizona Coyotes are expecting plans for a new permanent home in the state to be finalized by the end of the regular season that will resolve the lease/arena issues that have plagued the team for years, writes Scott Burnside of ESPN.com“
Burnside reports there are still other options being considered, but a proposed partnership with Arizona State University is most likely. The proposed deal would take three years to be completed, so the Coyotes would continue playing at the Gila River Arena, where they are currently in the first year of a two-year lease.
Coyotes fans have been through hell, as the team seemed destined to relocate, so this development is surprising. In the last two years, the team has been sold to entrepreneur Andrew Barroway, had their 15-year lease terminated and seemed to be making little progress in sticking around. Arizona has defied all the noise in a season when many expected them to be a lottery team. Instead, the Coyotes currently sit third in the Pacific division, entering the All-Star break with a solid 24-20-5 record.
As Burnside notes, the move would bring the team closer to downtown and bring the Coyotes closer to its fan base. If the Coyotes are going to stay in Arizona, this proposal sounds like a win-win.
[ESPN]