With an increased focus on larger, more impactful events and uses of the city-owned arena, the city of Glendale has chosen to not renew the operating agreement for the Arizona Coyotes beyond the coming 2021-22 season.
The City has informed the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Arizona Coyotes that the upcoming season will be the team’s last in Gila River Arena. The parties have been operating under a year-to-year agreement for several years. The agreement provides that either party can decide not to renew the agreement for an additional year by providing written notice each year on or before Dec. 31.
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“We are thankful to the NHL and the Arizona Coyotes for being part of the Glendale community for the past 18 years,” said Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps. “The decision to not renew the operating agreement with the Coyotes was not made overnight or in a vacuum. We carefully weighed input from key stakeholders, our expert economist, our arena management firm and our City Council.”
Phelps said the future of the Sports & Entertainment District has never looked brighter. More than a billion dollars of investment has occurred in the District during the past three years. The magnitude of this private investment is unprecedented in Glendale’s history.
“Over the next year, the City will be announcing many new projects that will generate incredible excitement for residents, visitors and stakeholders,” said Phelps. “As amazing as the Sports and Entertainment District is today, the next several years will be even more transformative as this momentum continues.”
