The Arizona Coyotes search for a new arena continues to be a storyline that refuses to go away. On Monday, NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh talked about the urgency the Coyotes need to have due to their current arena situation. “I think there are lots of rumors about two more expansion teams coming. I would say three expansion teams — the first one, really, is Arizona,” Walsh said during a session at the PrimeTime Sports Management Conference. [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/nhlpas-walsh-on-coyotes-these-are-nhl-players-they-deserve-an-nhl-rink/] “They’re playing right now in a college arena, 5,100 fans that go to those games, and they don’t sell out. I think that’s the first thing we have to do — figure out what is the long-term play on Arizona. “Those players are National Hockey League players. They deserve to play in a National Hockey League rink. So, hopefully we can do that. And that’s part of the business model too — you can’t have 31 teams playing in a full arena, and then one playing in a college arena, where you’re the second tenant, you’re not even the first tenant in that building.” The Coyotes are currently in the midst of their second season at Mullett Arena in Tempe. While the organization planned to build a sports and entertainment district in Tempe, their proposal was rejected in a special election vote, leaving their future in limbo. Walsh voiced his concern and frustration for how the Coyotes organization has handled its search for a permanent home. Logan Cooley spoke following the Coyotes 7-5 victory over the Predators. “I am [concerned]. I was hoping that would be further along right now, in what they’re going to do next,” Walsh said. [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/nhlpas-walsh-on-coyotes-these-are-nhl-players-they-deserve-an-nhl-rink/] “We met with them, I went there at the end of the season — they had promised they were going to work on some stuff. Right now, it’s just speculation. There’s nothing concrete. We’re at November 12, the season’s moving quickly. … I’d love to see more action [there]. “I mean, these are NHL hockey players. They should be playing in a good arena. Come up with a plan — we said, ‘If you come up with a plan, we can support it.’ But right now, there’s been no plan, no conversation. So that, to me, is showing that there’s no urgency on their side.” NHL commissioner Garry Bettman and Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo have made clear that they are both motivated and committed to keeping the Coyotes in the Valley which makes these comments from Walsh fairly strange. The future is still unclear but there should be more clarity regarding the Coyotes search for a new arena in the coming months.
