The Arizona Coyotes continue their search for a permanent arena that they can call home. While the Coyotes journey in the state of Arizona has not been easy by any means, team president and CEO, Xavier Gutierrez, is sure about one thing. “Arizona needs to be seen as the center of the sports business world in all aspects,” Gutierrez said via the Phoenix Business Journal. [https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2023/11/17/phoenix-center-sports-business-world.html] “If you think of what goes on from Nov. 1 through April, there is literally not a sport, a sporting event, a sports business that doesn't come and touch this community.” Arizona really has become a marquee sports destination. The 2023 Super Bowl was played in Glendale and the NCAA basketball Final Four is also set to take place at State farm Stadium in Glendale. This is why despite all the struggles the Coyotes have gone through to keep their franchise in Arizona, they see the potential success that the team could have in the Valley. André Tourigny spoke prior to the Coyotes matchup against the Jets. It’s really all about finding that permanent arena to play in and dominating on the ice. Once the Coyotes begin to make strides as a playoff caliber team, fans should take more notice and the popularity of hockey in the desert of Arizona will skyrocket. The Coyotes just have not been a winning caliber hockey team for the longest time which has led to a decrease in overall interest but that could easily change. The road is far from over but if the Coyotes organization is committed to both staying in Arizona and building a successful team that could compete in the near future, they will be in a good place.
