Mat Ishbia Aims to Bring Hockey Back to Arizona
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia has set his sights on an ambitious goal: bringing professional hockey back to Arizona. With the recent announcement of the Arizona Coyotes' relocation to Salt Lake City following the 2023-24 campaign, Ishbia is eyeing an opportunity to rectify a void he feels strongly about.
The Coyotes' move heralds new beginnings for the team, which will be renamed the Utah Hockey Club for its inaugural season in 2025-26. The relocation marks the end of an era that saw the Coyotes playing their home games at the modest 5,000-seat Mullett Arena on Arizona State's campus in Tempe from 2022 to 2024. Alex Meruelo's decision to sell the Coyotes for $1.2 billion has left a vacuum in Arizona's sports landscape that Ishbia is keen to fill.
Ishbia, who also owns the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, expressed his commitment to the Arizona sporting community. "I'm definitely going to be part of the community, and if I can help bring hockey back, I'll look at that," Ishbia told Sportico. "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."
The Footprint Center, shared by the Suns and Mercury, has recently hosted notable events such as the WNBA All-Star Game. Additionally, a $100 million women's practice facility was constructed behind the venue. These investments highlight Ishbia's commitment to fostering a premier sports environment in Phoenix.
"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," Ishbia remarked. His enthusiasm for top-quality facilities underscores his broader vision for elevating Arizona's sports infrastructure, potentially including a state-of-the-art ice hockey arena.
For now, the focus remains on the future and the possibilities that Ishbia's passion and resources could bring to fruition. With the determination to make Phoenix a four-sport city once more, hopes are high that his involvement may indeed pave the way for hockey's return to the desert.