Hartford — Whalers fans, please don’t say never.
N of the weekNotice Regarding Uncertain Future Residence in Coyote, Arizona This has again caused NHL fans to speculate about a potential landing spot for a franchise that has struggled for years to find a permanent arena. Some on social media speculated that Hartford, which had been without a team since the Whalers left for Raleigh in 1997, could be a potential landing spot.
Mayor Luke Bronin made headlines in 2021 by replying to a tweet about the Coyotes being terminated at the Gila River Arena with a waving emoji. Former Governor Danell Malloy also made headlines by inviting New York Islanders to constitutional states during his tenure.
On Tuesday, voters in Tempe, Arizona, rejected three referendums to create a $2.1 billion red light district in the city and a 16,000-seat arena as part of the Coyotes. The Coyotes will play the 2023-24 season at Arizona State University’s Mallet Arena, which can accommodate approximately 5,000 fans for hockey games. This represented the latest development in a story that has been going on for years, as the Coyote family’s long-term future is once again uncertain.
“I think NHL teams will grow in Hartford and Connecticut,” Bronin told CT Insider on Thursday. “We are excited to have an NHL team back in Hartford. It is a town and a region that rally around the team.You will see the Yard Goats play 70 nights a year, and the University “You can see it when the convention basketball is going on, we see it, and we are ready to work with anyone who wants to participate in it.”
Bronin spoke with Gov. Ned Lamont on Thursday and posted an edited version of the Coyotes Twitter page on Twitter that night, featuring “The Coyotes” and removing Tempe, Arizona, as the team’s location, replacing Hartford. supported.
Coyotes president and CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez said in a statement that the Coyotes were “extremely disappointed” that the referendum was rejected by voters.
“What happens next for the franchise will be evaluated by owners and the National Hockey League in the coming weeks,” the statement said.
It’s not clear if the team is considering leaving Arizona, but hockey fans are already speculating about a possible landing. Everything from Salt Lake City to Quebec City to Atlanta is on the list of hypotheses. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tweeted Wednesday, “KC Coyotes have a great sound!”
Bronin said on Thursday that the XL Center would need to be refurbished to be in a position to attract NHL teams. The arena currently hosts UConn basketball and the Hartford Wolves of the New York Rangers’ AHL team, his puck.
“I think it’s going to be a great market for an NHL team, and I think this state, this region, will rally around a team here,” he said. “Hockey is popular in New England, but it’s also popular in Connecticut. I think I am.”
