Arizona Coyotes Have Site for New Arena

Speaking before the NHL draft on Friday, Coyotes President and CEO Anthony LeBlanc said the team has a deal in place, but attorneys are still working out the details.

“We’re not at liberty to disclose the site at this point, but we are moving forward and are actually in the process of trading legal documentation between us and the organizations that we’re working with,” he said. “We anticipate getting that done over the next several weeks.”

LeBlanc said the arena will likely be financed with public and private funds, but the team will cover more than 50 percent. The Coyotes have a one-year lease to play at Gila River Arena in Glendale next season and the team is working with AEG, which operates the arena, to add a two-year extension before moving.

The Coyotes have looked at numerous sites for a new arena, including downtown Phoenix, near Arizona State’s campus in Tempe and Scottsdale.

“We’re very, very happy with where we’re moving forward at this point,” LeBlanc said. “We’re now focused on where we envision our long-term future to be in the Valley and that’s a good thing.”