The Arizona Coyotes have an unclear future after Tempe residents voted against a proposed arena and entertainment district project on Tuesday.

The Arizona Coyotes, their community and fan base did not get the result they wanted on Tuesday night. Their arena and entertainment district project was voted down in a Tempe referendum, according to the unofficial results.

The early unofficial results indicate that 56 percent of voters chose “No” to Props 301 and 302, as well as 57 percent voting “No” to Prop 303 out of 29,153 ballots cast. Voter turnout was 32.55 percent of eligible voters.

Proposition 302 allows voters to decide whether to allow rezoning the property to a mixed-use district. Proposition 301 is about whether to allow the council to amend the city’s general plan to make this rezoning possible. Proposition 303 is about whether to approve an agreement that allows the city to sell the property to the Coyotes and their development arm, Bluebird Development LLC.

The proposed plan would have been rolled out in four phases. 

Phase 1 would have featured a 650,000-square-foot arena that housed 16,000 seats and featured 54,000 square feet of available retail space. Surrounding the arena would have been 1,100 parking spots and a 1,500-square-foot emergency response and safety facility. 

Phase 2 would have focused on developing the surrounding area starting with the Coyotes' practice facility and team office. Additionally, the plan proposed the development of a 68,000 outdoor event plaza and a 50,000-square-foot music venue that would include approximately 3,000 seats, along with a boutique hotel featuring 200 rooms, 160,000 square feet of Class A office space, 80,000 square feet of available retail space, and 195 multi-family residential units. 

Phase 3 would have then taken things up a notch, proposing the development of 177,000 square feet of available retail space, a conference hotel with 300 rooms, another 39,000 square feet of retail space, and up to 600 multi-family residential units. 

And, finally, Phase 4 proposed an additional 1,200 multi-family residential units and even more retail space, 143,000 square feet to be exact. 

With the citizens of Tempe having blocked this project from happening, it has become very likely that the Coyotes' days in Arizona are numbered, with the NHL reportedly set to meet with Coyotes ownership in the coming days to discuss the next steps for the franchise. 

"We are very disappointed Tempe voters did not approve Propositions 301, 302, and 303," said Coyotes President and CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez in a statement on Tuesday night. 

"As Tempe Mayor Corey Woods said, it was the best sports deal in Arizona history. The Coyotes wish to thank everyone who supported our efforts and voted yes. So many community leaders stepped up and became our advocates and for that we are truly grateful.

"While we wanted a different outcome, we remain grateful to all those who volunteered their time and talent. What is next for the franchise will be evaluated by our owners and the National Hockey League over the coming weeks."

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman issued a statement shortly after, saying "The National Hockey League is terribly disappointed by the public referenda regarding the Coyotes' arena project in Tempe. We are going to review with the Coyotes what the options might be going forward." 

With ominous wording like that, one can only wonder if the Coyotes will be re-located to a new home in the near future.