With uncertainty surrounding the prospects of a new arena, the Arizona Coyotes are expected to remain at Glendale’s Gila River Arena for another season.
Earlier this year, the Coyotes were engaged in the pursuit of a new arena in either Phoenix or East Valley, arguing that a venue in that area was vital to their financial outlook. A bill to construct a new arena was introduced in the state legislature, but state lawmakers never passed the proposal despite calls to do so from the Coyotes and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
For now, the Coyotes are planning to continue playing at Gila River Arena. The deadline to inform arena manager AEG of whether or not they will return next season is December 31, and it is expected at this point that the Coyotes will call Gila River Arena home for the 2018-19 campaign. More from The Arizona Republic:
The Coyotes had until Dec. 31 to notify AEG, the arena manager, whether the team plans to play elsewhere for the 2018-19 season. If the team does nothing, the lease automatically renews for one more year in Glendale.
[Coyotes chief operating officer Ahron] Cohen noted the Coyotes have an “evergreen lease,” meaning it can continually renew annually with AEG.
Dale Adams, AEG general manager, said the Coyotes never gave him the impression that they would leave.
“I don’t know where they would go,” Adams said.
The Coyotes have played at Gila River Arena since its opening in 2003, and their lease was set to expire after the ongoing 2017-18 NHL season.