Thomas Galvin, the newly elected chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, plans to form a committee of influential figures to bring the NHL back to Arizona.
Galvin said he has been in contact with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who is looking for the best location for a new arena.
“It reminds me of Wayne Gretzky’s quote, ‘100% of the shots you don’t take, you miss,'” Galvin was quoted as saying. Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. “So, I’m assembling an advisory board of visionary leaders who are dedicated to bringing NHL hockey back to the Valley. I’ve met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman several times, and he We look forward to working with the owners to identify the perfect location for their world-class building. ”
The NHL approved the Arizona Coyotes’ move to Utah in April after 27 years in the Valley. Former owner Alex Meruelo had five years to restart the franchise if he could build an arena, but he waived his rights to the team and its brand in July.
Bettman had expressed a desire to return to Arizona after the Coyotes’ sale, and while nothing is imminent, the league reported that it is hopeful that the right situation can be found for a restart. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun.
The first version of the Winnipeg Jets became the Coyotes after the 1995-96 season. The franchise reached the playoffs nine times in the desert, but faced intense scrutiny in its final year under Meruelo’s ownership. Arizona played its final two campaigns at Mallett Arena, a 5,000-seat venue built for the Arizona State team.
