NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says the Arizona Coyotes won’t remain in Glendale and need a new arena in order to succeed.
In a letter to the Arizona Legislature, Bettman outlined his support for bill SB 1149, which would help provide funding for a new Coyotes arena in the East Valley.
“The simple truth? The Arizona Coyotes must have a new arena location to succeed. The Coyotes cannot and will not remain in Glendale,” Bettman bolded in his letter.
READ: Full Bettman letter to Arizona Legislature
Bill SB 1149 is currently stalled and Bettman’s letter to legislators asked them to support the motion. Bettman says that the Coyotes’ current location in Glendale — Gila River Arena — isn’t able to economically support an NHL franchise. The Coyotes have played in the rink since 2003.
Bettman says that the bill creates a path to success for everyone involved.
“The economic impact will be more than $600 million — meaning that a new arena in the East Valley or downtown Phoenix would nearly double the current impact that the team already brings to Arizona,” Bettman said.
Bettman adds that the bill is a “practical solution to keeping the Coyotes in this market.”
According to local news station KPNX, politicians from both parties are against giving the Coyotes tax breaks.
Gila River Arena has a capacity of 17,125 although the Coyotes are averaging 13,069 per game this season.
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