What Happened to Arizona Coyotes?
The Arizona Coyotes, an NHL franchise with a history of arena struggles, officially relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah, in April 2024, becoming the Utah Mammoth. Following the relocation, former owner Alex Meruelo initially retained the Coyotes' name and intellectual property with a five-year window for a new arena, but he relinquished these rights to the NHL in June 2024. As of September 2026, the NHL is in discussions with multiple groups interested in bringing an expansion team back to the Phoenix area.
Quick Answer
The Arizona Coyotes officially ceased operations in Arizona in April 2024, when the franchise's hockey assets were sold for $1.2 billion and relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah, to become the Utah Mammoth. The team's former owner, Alex Meruelo, initially held onto the 'Coyotes' name and intellectual property with a conditional right to reactivate the franchise, but he relinquished these rights to the NHL in June 2024. Currently, the Arizona Coyotes are an inactive franchise, with the NHL actively engaging with at least two groups in Phoenix regarding a potential future expansion team for the market.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
City of Glendale Terminates Arena Lease
The City of Glendale informed the Arizona Coyotes that it would not renew the team's lease for Gila River Arena (now Desert Diamond Arena) after the 2021-22 season, citing unpaid bills and a desire to pursue other entertainment options for the venue.
Coyotes Announce Move to Mullett Arena
The Coyotes signed a three-year agreement to play their home games at the 5,000-seat Mullett Arena on the campus of Arizona State University, beginning with the 2022-23 season, as a temporary solution while pursuing a permanent arena.
Tempe Arena Proposal Rejected by Voters
Residents of Tempe, Arizona, overwhelmingly rejected a proposed $2.1 billion arena and entertainment district development that would have served as the Coyotes' new permanent home. This vote was a major setback for the franchise's future in the state.
Scottsdale Mayor Opposes New Arena Plan
Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega publicly announced his opposition to a Coyotes' proposal for an arena in northern Phoenix near the border of Scottsdale, adding to the team's difficulties in finding a suitable location.
Reports of Imminent Relocation to Utah Emerge
Reports surfaced that the NHL, Arizona Coyotes, and Smith Entertainment Group were making significant progress on a deal to sell and relocate the franchise to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the 2024-25 season.
NHL Approves Sale and Relocation to Utah
The NHL Board of Governors unanimously approved the $1.2 billion sale of the Arizona Coyotes' hockey assets from Alex Meruelo to Ryan and Ashley Smith, owners of the Utah Jazz. The franchise's hockey operations were immediately transferred to Salt Lake City.
Meruelo Retains Coyotes Name and Five-Year Window
As part of the relocation deal, Alex Meruelo retained ownership of the 'Arizona Coyotes' name, brand, and logo, along with an exclusive five-year right to reactivate the franchise if he could build a new arena in Arizona.
Alex Meruelo Relinquishes Coyotes Rights to NHL
Following the indefinite postponement of a crucial state land auction for a new arena site, Alex Meruelo announced he would no longer pursue arena options and relinquished all remaining franchise rights, including the Coyotes name, logo, and history, to the NHL.
Utah Hockey Club Begins Inaugural Season
The relocated franchise, temporarily named the 'Utah Hockey Club,' began its inaugural NHL season in Salt Lake City, playing its home games at the Delta Center.
Utah Team Permanently Named 'Utah Mammoth'
After a fan voting process, the Utah Hockey Club officially unveiled its permanent name as the 'Utah Mammoth,' along with new logos and colors for the 2025-26 season.
NHL Board of Governors Expresses Continued Interest in Phoenix
The NHL Board of Governors stated that they were still interested in Phoenix as a potential market for an NHL team, contingent on a suitable arena solution.
Multiple Groups in Phoenix Discuss NHL Expansion
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed that the league has had discussions with "at least two groups" in Phoenix about a potential expansion team, indicating ongoing efforts to bring hockey back to the market.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Arizona Coyotes' journey in the National Hockey League was marked by persistent challenges, primarily revolving around securing a stable and suitable arena. After years of playing in Glendale's Gila River Arena, the city terminated their lease in 2021, citing unpaid bills. This forced the team to seek a temporary solution, leading them to Mullett Arena, a 5,000-seat college facility at Arizona State University, starting in the 2022-23 season.
The move to a small college arena underscored the urgency for a permanent home. In May 2023, a crucial turning point occurred when Tempe residents rejected a proposed $2.1 billion arena and entertainment district development in a public vote. This rejection was widely seen as a significant blow to the franchise's future in Arizona.
Amid mounting pressure and continued uncertainty, speculation about the team's relocation intensified throughout early 2024. On April 18, 2024, the NHL Board of Governors unanimously approved a $1.2 billion sale of the Coyotes' hockey operations from owner Alex Meruelo to Ryan and Ashley Smith, owners of the NBA's Utah Jazz. This deal facilitated the immediate relocation of the team's hockey assets—including players, coaching staff, and draft picks—to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the 2024-25 season.
Initially, the agreement included a provision allowing Alex Meruelo to retain the 'Arizona Coyotes' name, brand, and logo, along with a five-year exclusive right to reactivate the franchise as an expansion team if he could construct a new, NHL-caliber arena in Arizona. The new Utah team played its inaugural season as the 'Utah Hockey Club' before being permanently named the 'Utah Mammoth' in May 2025 following a fan vote.
However, Meruelo's plans for an Arizona return quickly dissolved. In June 2024, a planned auction for a 110-acre parcel of state trust land in north Phoenix, where he intended to build an arena, was postponed indefinitely due to zoning issues and political opposition. Shortly thereafter, Meruelo announced he would no longer pursue arena options and relinquished all remaining franchise rights and intellectual property, including the Coyotes name and history, to the NHL. This effectively ended his involvement and the five-year window for reactivation.
As of September 2026, the 'Arizona Coyotes' are an inactive franchise, but the NHL has not abandoned the Arizona market. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed in August 2026 that the league has been in discussions with "at least two groups" in Phoenix about a potential expansion team, emphasizing that the league's concern was always the arena location, not the market itself. One of these groups reportedly involves Andrea Doan, wife of former Coyotes captain Shane Doan, working to bring NHL hockey back to the Valley. The future of NHL hockey in Arizona hinges on a viable arena plan and new ownership, with competition from other interested expansion markets like Atlanta, Houston, and Austin.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Arizona Coyotes made different choices?