Several cities are conducting a charm operation with the National Hockey League (NHL) to accommodate an expansion team in the future, but Marty Walsh believes the Bettman Circuit should first seriously look into the Coyotes of Arizona matter.
The director of the NHL Players’ Association says it’s unfair that some of the players he represents are forced to play in the tiny Mullett Arena. The desert franchise’s move to Arizona State University’s amphitheater has created quite a stir in recent months.
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Walsh is willing to accept that the Coyotes will be forced into this temporary solution, only that he would like to see some movement. In the meantime, it’s too early to talk about Quebec, Salt Lake City, Houston or Atlanta.
“I think there are a lot of rumors about two more expansion teams. I would even say three [mais] There [priorité] is really Arizona. They play in a college arena, 5,100 fans attend these games and they don’t sell all the tickets. I think that’s the first thing we need to resolve, is finding a long-term solution for Arizona,” he said during a PrimeTime Sports Management conference on Monday, according to Sportsnet.
“These players are National Hockey League players. They deserve to play on a National Hockey League ice rink, emphasized Walsh. Hopefully we can do that. It’s part of the business model. You can’t have 31 teams playing in full arenas and one in a college arena where you are the second tenant.”
Affected
The 2023-2024 season will be the second the Coyotes begin at Mullett Arena. After the failure in Tempe, where a referendum prevented construction of a new building, homeowners appear unable to find new homes. The Coyotes reportedly announced their intention to purchase land in Mesa in August.
“I am [préoccupé]. I expected them to know what they wanted to do next as the process progressed. We met them, I was there at the end of the season. They promised they would work. At the moment these are just guesses. There is nothing concrete. It’s November 13th and the season is moving quickly. I would like to see more action,” admitted the director of the AJLNH.