Phoenix Suns proprietor Mat Ishbia has his sights set on bringing hockey again to Arizona, Sportico reported Wednesday.
Arizona is now with out an NHL group after the Coyotes relocated to Salt Lake Metropolis following the 2023-24 marketing campaign. The franchise could have a brand new identify come the 2025-26 season, however when it performs video games this yr, it will likely be often called the Utah Hockey Club.
“I am undoubtedly going to be a part of the group, and if I might help deliver hockey again, I will have a look at that,” Ishbia told Sportico. “It is undoubtedly one thing I am all for. It is a four-sport city. I am disenchanted we do not have a hockey group, however I perceive what occurred, and we’ll attempt to repair that sooner or later.”
Ishbia, 44, additionally owns the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA.
Footprint Heart, house of the Mercury, hosted the WNBA All-Star Sport on Saturday. There may be additionally a brand new $100 million ladies’s apply facility, which Ishbia funded, behind the sector.
“I feel our area is first-class proper now. I really like our area,” Ishbia stated about Footprint Heart. “However in some unspecified time in the future we’ll need to get a brand new area.”
The Coyotes performed video games at 5,000-seat Mullett Area on Arizona State’s campus in Tempe, Arizona, from 2022 to 2024.
Based on Sportico’s report, Ishbia didn’t reveal if he was in talks with the NHL, and the league additionally stayed quiet. Ought to hockey find yourself coming again to Arizona, Ishbia would have the brand new area inbuilt downtown Phoenix.
Former Coyotes proprietor Alex Meruelo bought the membership for $1.2 billion.
