The future home of the Arizona Coyotes is in jeopardy after voters rejected a deal to build a new arena in Tempe, Arizona.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said the team was very welcome in his state.
“This is a great hockey state and a great hockey town,” Lamont told reporters Friday. “That is evidenced by the passion we have had for the Whalers over the years and they are still one of our best-selling jerseys.
“I think we can guarantee them a very strong market here and a government that is ready to partner with them.”
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Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont will serve as an honorary observer at Round 3 of the Travelers’ Championship on June 25, 2022 at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Lamont told reporters he has already been in talks with the NHL and plans to meet with league commissioner Gary Bettman.
Connecticut was home to an NHL team from 1979 to 1997, before the Hartford Whalers moved to the Carolina and became the Hurricanes. The state’s only professional sports team is the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun.
The Arizona Coyotes logo in the middle of the ice before a game against the St. Louis Blues at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona on October 18, 2021. (Kevin Abel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Coyote Star’s father claims his Twitter account was hacked due to negative messages about the team
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes recently tweeted that he was disappointed the team moved to Kansas City.
“KC Coyote sounds good! @NHL, what do you guys think? @tmobilecenter,” Mahomes wrote.
After playing the last 20 seasons at what is now Desert Diamond Arena, the Coyotes have played this season at the 5,000-seat Mallet Arena on the Arizona State University campus in Tempe. The team will remain at the ASU Arena for the 2023-24 season.
Mallet Arena before the NHL game between the Arizona Coyotes and the Winnipeg Jets on October 28, 2022 in Tempe, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Markets like AtlantaHouston, Salt Lake City, and Quebec City are all listed as potential coyote landing sites.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.