Relocation speculation is swirling around the Arizona Coyotes after Tempe voters rejected a new arena for the team in an election on Tuesday.
The Coyotes attempted to quiet some of that speculation with a letter to season ticket holders on Wednesday.
The letter, written by President and Chief Executive Officer Xavier A. Gutierrez, said that the team was still committed to Arizona after the disappointing election result for the NHL franchise.
Tempe voters shot down Propositions 301, 302 and 303 in the election, dealing a major blow to the future of the franchise in Arizona.
More: Arizona Coyotes, NHL, others lament voters’ rejection of Tempe arena deal
Arizona Coyotes will play at Mullett Arena next season
The letter, addressed “To our Pack,” said: “While we are very disappointed Tempe voters did not approve the proposed Entertainment District, we want to thank all our loyal fans who supported the Coyotes over the years. Your loyalty is what makes our Pack strong.
“During the 2023-24 season, the Arizona Coyotes will play at Mullett Arena.”
More: Arizona Coyotes’ relocation speculation swirls after rejected Tempe arena deal
Coyotes looking for new permanent home in Arizona
The letter continued: “In addition, we remain committed to Arizona and have already started re-engaging with local officials and sites to solidify a new permanent home in the Valley. We look forward to sharing more with you in the coming weeks.”
Rocky Coyotes history in Arizona
The Associated Press reported that the Coyotes were left in shock after Tuesday’s election, as internal polling from the team showed the three propositions related to the arena would pass easily.
Voters had other ideas, however, overwhelmingly saying “no” to the proposed $2.3 billion Tempe Entertainment District, leaving the franchise still in a state of flux.
Questions about the Coyotes’ future in Arizona have existed since the team moved from Winnipeg to Phoenix in 1996.
The franchise shared then-America West Arena with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns before moving to Glendale’s Gila River Arena in 2003. When former owner Jerry Moyes took the Coyotes into bankruptcy, the NHL stepped in and ran the organization for four seasons.
A new ownership group brought hope in 2013, but turmoil resurfaced two years later, when the city of Glendale backed out of a long-term, multimillion-dollar lease agreement. The Coyotes leased the arena on an annual basis until Glendale announced it was terminating the contract after the 2021-22 season.
The Coyotes’ temporary solution was to share Mullett Arena, a 5,000-seat building that’s by far the smallest in the NHL, with Arizona State University.
Now the organization has to shift gears yet again after voters rejected a proposed new arena.
More: Tempe-Coyotes election recap: What happened, what’s next for city after massive loss?
What’s next for the Arizona Coyotes?
Potential options for the Coyotes include reaching a deal to share Footprint Center in Phoenix with the Suns and new owner Mat Ishbia, but the arena would have to undergo changes to host a hockey team again.
Phoenix sports radio speculated Wednesday about the possibility of the team potentially building an arena on tribal land, which wouldn’t require a vote.
Speculation about the team potentially relocating to Kansas City, Portland, Houston, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City or other cities swirled after the election results were made known.
It remains to be seen actually how “committed to Arizona” the Coyotes, or the NHL will be after the latest failed attempt for a new arena for the franchise.
The Associated Press’ John Marshall contributed to this story.
More: Can Phoenix be home to the Coyotes? What City Council members are saying
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Coyotes ‘committed to Arizona’ after failed Tempe arena vote
