Matt Ishbia Wants To Bring The NHL Back To Phoenix

Trey Daubert / NBA, NHL, WNBA / July 27, 2024

Matt Ishbia Wants To Bring The NHL Back To Phoenix

The Arizona Coyotes had terrible ownership and couldn’t get an arena situation solved. It’s why they lost their team to Utah. Alex Meruelo has given up trying to own a team so it sure looks like the only way the Coyotes will return to Arizona is if Suns owner Matt Ishbia steps up to the plate.

If and when the NHL expands again, Ishbia has already made it known that he very much wants in on owning a hockey team.

“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.”

“I think our arena is first-class right now. I love our arena,” Ishbia said about Footprint Center. “But at some point we’re going to have to get a new arena.”

The arena point is the biggest one he can make. If the NHL team can play in the same spot the NBA and WNBA team does then this can work. Keep in mind, last year the Coyotes played at Mullet Arena inside Arizona State’s campus. A building that seats 5,000 people. Far below standards for a pro sports team.