Mat Ishbia Aims to Resurrect Hockey in Arizona
By the 2025-26 season, the Arizona Coyotes will have completed their transition to become the Utah Hockey Club based in Salt Lake City. This move caps a significant chapter in Arizona's hockey history, with team ownership changing hands and the last puck dropping at Mullett Arena by the end of the 2023-24 campaign. For Phoenix Suns and WNBA Phoenix Mercury owner Mat Ishbia, however, this is less an ending and more the beginning of a quest to reintroduce hockey to the Valley of the Sun.
Under Ishbia's dynamic leadership, already highlighted by the construction of a $100 million women's practice facility behind the Footprint Center and the successful hosting of the WNBA All-Star Game, the vision extends beyond basketball. Ishbia, who acquired both the Suns and the Mercury, has expressed a clear interest in diversifying Phoenix's sports landscape. "I'm definitely going to be part of the community, and if I can help bring hockey back, I'll look at that. It's definitely something I'm interested in. It's a four-sport town. I'm disappointed we don't have a hockey team, but I understand what happened, and we're going to try to fix that one day," Ishbia told Sportico.
The Coyotes' departure is rooted in the limitations of their interim home, Mullett Arena, a modest 5,000-seat venue located on Arizona State University's campus in Tempe. The arena, although cozy and unique, was unsustainable for a professional franchise in the long term. The team's former owner, Alex Meruelo, ultimately decided to sell the Coyotes for a staggering $1.2 billion, leading to the team's relocation. As the Coyotes gear up for their final season in Arizona, the focus shifts to Salt Lake City, where the renamed Utah Hockey Club will begin its new chapter in 2025.
Given this backdrop, Ishbia's ambition to re-establish a hockey team in Arizona becomes a focal point of interest. His emphasis on community engagement and enhancement of sports infrastructure indicates a clear strategy. "I think our arena is first-class right now. I love our arena. But at some point, we're going to have to get a new arena," he noted, indicating potential plans for future development that could meet the demands of a top-tier hockey team.
The departure of the Coyotes leaves a visible void in Arizona's sporting culture, one that Ishbia seems determined to fill. As the dust settles from the latest changes, the possibility of a new franchise could revitalize hockey in the region. Ishbia’s confidence in the community's four-sport identity hints at a long-term vision where all major sports take root and thrive in Phoenix.
Whether it’s through the establishment of a new team or facilitating the return of an existing one, the sports community and fans could see exciting developments. The combination of Ishbia's dedicated leadership, the Footprint Center’s robust infrastructure, and a passionate fanbase lays the groundwork for a potential renaissance.
In the months and years ahead, all eyes will be on Ishbia as he works to restore hockey to its rightful place in Arizona's sporting fabric. Should this endeavor prove successful, it would not only reinforce Phoenix's status as a multi-sport city but also cement Mat Ishbia's legacy as a transformative figure in the world of sports ownership.