On Thursday, the Arizona Coyotes refuted a report by a Valley-based publication that the team is looking to relocate outside Arizona following last week's news that an arena agreement between the Coyotes and ASU had fallen through.
The Glendale Star reported Wednesday that Coyotes ownership has toured arenas in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, both of which have actively pursued an NHL franchise in recent years. But on Thursday, Coyotes co-owner, CEO and president Anthony LeBlanc said that report is untrue.
"Recent reports by the Glendale Star that the Coyotes ownership group has explored arena options outside the Arizona market are completely false. The Star referenced an anonymous arena source and an anonymous Coyotes source, and these are a fabrication," LeBlanc said in a statement.
"The Coyotes are focused on creating one of the most taxpayer friendly facilities in the country here in the Valley. This new arena will pay for itself, create jobs and generate millions of dollars of revenue for the state, county and municipality where it's built. We are fully committed to Arizona."
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 9, 2017
In November, the Coyotes announced they had reached an agreement with ASU to create a joint arena complex in Tempe that would house both the Coyotes and ASU's NCAA Division I hockey team. But last week, ASU announced it did not intend to move forward with the Coyotes on those plans.
After the news broke, LeBlanc said the Coyotes are committed to remaining in the Valley and will continue to pursue new arena locations outside Gila River Arena in Glendale, where the team currently plays.
