The Arizona Coyotes will continue to call Glendale’s Gila River Arena their home, as the organization confirms plans to return to the venue for the 2020-21 NHL season.
Since 2016, the Coyotes have played at Gila River Arena on a year-to-year lease with venue manager ASM Global. It automatically renews on December 31 of every year, barring an opt-out by the Coyotes, and the organization has confirmed that it will return for the 2020-21 campaign.
While there are still questions about how the Coyotes could proceed with arena plans in the long run, attendance numbers are up in Glendale this year, with a successful season on the ice–the Coyotes currently sit in first place in the Pacific Division–helping the team draw its strongest crowds in years. More from the Arizona Republic:
“We will absolutely play the 2020-2021 NHL season in Gila River Arena,” Coyotes CEO Ahron Cohen said in a statement on Friday.
The team is riding a high this year, with more people at its games and a better record on the ice than it has enjoyed in years.
It has been under an annual lease with arena manager ASM Global, formerly AEG Facilities, since 2016. The lease automatically renews at the end of each year unless the team opts out, which Cohen said it doesn’t intend to do….
Average attendance at home games is higher this year so far than it has been since the 2008-2009 season. An average of about 14,064 people have attended after 16 of 41 home games, according to NHL data.
Gila River Arena has been the home of the Coyotes since its opening in 2003.
