TSN.ca Staff
The Arizona Coyotes will announce Monday afternoon that the team has completed a deal for a new arena, according to Scott Burnside of ESPN.com.
The 16,000-plus seat building will reportedly be located in the East Valley area south and east of Phoenix and Scottsdale – where most of the team’s fan base is located – and should be ready for the start of the 2019-20 NHL season.
According to Burnside, the team is also expected to extend its current lease at Glendale’s Gila River Arena until they move into the new building.
Been a long time coming but Arizona Coyotes will announce shortly a new 16,000-plus seat arena in East Valley area ready for 2019-20 season.
— Scott Burnside (@ESPN_Burnside) November 14, 2016
The Coyotes were looking at several new locations near Phoenix and Scottsdale after the franchise’s relationship with the City of Glendale – which built and owns Gila River Arena – took a downturn.
The team has played at Gila River Arena for the last 17 seasons after playing at America West Arena in downtown Phoenix from 1996 to 2003. The NHL owned the Coyotes for four seasons after the franchise declared bankruptcy in 2009 and the team was eventually taken over by businessman Andrew Barroway.
