Maricopa County Supervisor Tom Galvin has taken the helm of a renewed push to bring an NHL franchise back to Phoenix, a move that would restore top‑level professional hockey to a market that lost its Coyotes in 2024.
The effort received a high‑profile boost when former Coyote captain Shane Doan joined an advisory committee chaired by his wife, Andrea Doan, signaling both personal and community investment in the project.
NHL’s Conditions for a Phoenix Return
The league has made clear that a return hinges on stable ownership and a purpose‑built arena, ruling out the Glendale arena that previously housed the franchise.
Expansion fees have surged to roughly $2 billion, prompting the NHL to prioritize other markets such as Houston and Austin while still keeping Phoenix on its radar.
A Revived Hockey Landscape in Arizona
The presence of United States Hockey League teams across Arizona has bolstered the state’s hockey ecosystem, offering scouting pipelines that benefit Arizona State University’s program and its scholarship athletes.
Community leaders hope that the renewed interest will translate into concrete ownership groups ready to meet the NHL’s stringent requirements, potentially unlocking a new era for the sport in the Valley.