Coyotes may be forced to leave Glendale after 2021-22 season

According to Kate Strang of The Athletic, the Arizona Coyotes may be forced to find a new home after the 2021-22 season.

"The City of Glendale has informed the Arizona Coyotes that it will opt out of its joint lease agreement for Gila River Arena, meaning the Coyotes will need to vacate the arena by June 30 of next year, making the 2021-22 season the club's final one at the facility." Strang said.

She went on to add, "The termination notice follows several months of stalled negotiations between the city and the team on the terms of a lease extension and potential renovations to the arena, as well as multiple notices about outstanding and delinquent balances owed by the Coyotes as part of their lease agreement, public records reveal."

The Coyotes reportedly owe the City of Glendale $1,462,792 as City manager Kevin Phelps said in a letter to Gila River Arena's general manager Dale Adams.

"Last year, due to the pandemic, we agreed to forgo a significant amount of the money owed to the arena. In doing so, the Coyotes agreed they would keep current with all future financial obligations under their lease agreement," Phelps stated in the letter. "That has not occurred."

The City of Glendale confirmed the news on Twitter on Thursday afternoon by saying, "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."

If the Coyotes leave Arizona entirely, one option could be Houston, Texas. Houston has been without professional hockey since 2013 when the Aeros left town and they currently have an 18,000+ capacity arena called the Toyota Center. The Coyotes will more than likely try to remain in Arizona after the 2021-22 season, but Houston could be a possibility.

RELATED: COYOTES ADDRESS FUTURE IN ARIZONA AFTER GETTING THE BOOT FROM THEIR HOME ARENA

Source: The Athletic

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