Arizona Coyotes Announce Arena Partnership With Arizona State University

The Arizona Coyotes have entered into negotiations with Arizona State University to build a pair of arenas in the East Valley.

So long, Glendale, the Arizona Coyotes are officially breaking up with you.

If “the letter” from Anthony LeBlanc was a goodbye note left on the refrigerator, these proposed plans with Arizona State University are the divorce papers being delivered.

Now the Yotes may have finally found the site of their forever home in Tempe.

The proposed site site of the new arena is the Northwest corner of E. Rio Salado Parkway and South McClintock Drive.

Here are the details of the proposed new digs:

The plan includes the construction of a 16,000-plus seat NHL arena for the Coyotes with an attached additional 4,000 seat multi-sport arena. The second arena will be utilized by Sun Devils Athletics, Coyotes practices, youth hockey practices and games and community events. These two new additional sheets of ice will continue to help grow the sport at the grass-roots level. In the future, a new hotel and other related amenities will be finalized as part of the second phase of the project.

The partnership also has a built-in agreement of “June 30, 2017 to create the overall budget, design and operational plan for the development.”

It cannot be overstated how big this news is for the Arizona Coyotes and their fans.

This team and it’s fan base have been through the ringer due to a variety of issues, from bad decision making to reneged agreements.

Having a solid answer to the question of, “Where are the Coyotes moving to?” is an important step to solidifying the fan base. It’s also important to the pursuit of free agents and trade partners.

The new location is miles better for the team to attract casual fans and should, in theory, be easier to reach for the East Valley die-hards as well.

A typical commute from the East Valley to Glendale often causes a 45 minute drive to turn into an hour and fifteen minutes or more due to rush hour traffic.

That problem will be helped considerably by the new location. It’s proximity to ASU and the access by the light rail will also make getting fans out to the game easier.

Coyotes Majority Owner, Chairman and Governor Andrew Barroway said that, “The Coyotes are committed to Arizona, and we are extremely excited about our bright future.”

Provided the Yotes and ASU can reach an agreement by June 30th, there’ll be no more rumors.

No more threats of Quebec or Seattle or wherever else.

Hockey in the desert is a real thing. A great thing.

Youth hockey programs are thriving. There are two professional teams and one Division I hockey program.

They are all building for the future.

Next: Anthony Duclair's Struggles Cause For Concern

This partnership confirms what fans have speculated since last winter.

Now let’s get the deal done and get shovels in the ground.