MANALAPAN, Fla. -- The future of the Arizona Coyotes in the Phoenix market is secure, and the goal is to continue to work toward securing a new arena in the city of Tempe, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Friday.
"There's no issue with the Arizona Coyotes," Commissioner Bettman said at the NHL Board of Governors meeting at the Eau Palm Beach.
Commissioner Bettman was commenting on recent reports stating the Coyotes owed $1.3 million in unpaid taxes and bills to the city of Glendale, where they play at Gila River Arena. He said all Coyotes outstanding debts have been paid and they were a result of a "miscommunication."
The city of Glendale has told the Coyotes it will not extend their lease agreement to play at the arena beyond this season, possibly leaving them without a home venue for next season.
"It's clear that the city of Glendale has either an agenda or an edge in the way they're dealing with the Coyotes," Commissioner Bettman said. "I know that [Coyotes owner] Alex Meruelo is committed to Arizona and is working on a plan for a new arena, which is probably what is agitating the city of Glendale.
"The new arena would be in a place where I think everybody would find it much more accessible and would improve the short-term and long-term fortunes of the club. It'll take a couple years to build, and the fact that the city of Glendale wouldn't want the club to remain in their building on an interim basis speaks volumes about the way they're approaching this. But we can deal with all that.
"Alex is committed. Alex has the resources, and the Coyotes aren't going anywhere. Well, they're going somewhere else other than Glendale, but they're not leaving the greater Phoenix area."
The Coyotes have submitted a request for a proposal to Tempe to build an arena and entertainment district on 46 acres. The plan, if approved, is for the proposed arena to be ready for the 2025-26 season.
The Coyotes are simultaneously working on options for a short-term home in an existing venue in the Phoenix market.
"My advice has been, let's focus on the plan for the building that's going to come, and there are plenty of options to deal on an interim basis," Commissioner Bettman said. "I don't want to get into them now and start having comparative speculative stories. We'll deal with it. I am not concerned. There are options that will work."
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