Arizona Coyotes fans say goodbye in final Phoenix home game | NHL on ESPN

See the potential final home game of the Arizona Coyotes in Phoenix, AZ as the team is on the verge to move to Salt Lake City under new owner, Ryan Smith.
(Courtesy: "Coyotes/NHL Network")
📰 More: www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/3...
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#NHL

[@master3HORSE]

The cheerleader crying got to me, especially since she's losing her job as well as her team

[@user-cg2fu6cf9f]

oof

[@boootybounce420]

lol

[@FischerFan]

While I'm no fan of the either the Coyotes nor of hockey ice girls, my greatest amount of sympathy in this relocation is reserved for employees of the Coyotes, like her.

[@RC_928]

She could get a job anywhere

[@Soundtracks92]

@@RC_928exactly. It’s not like she’s suddenly gonna become homeless just cuz she can’t wave a flag around anymore lol anyone can wave a piece of cloth for free

[@danielwest9955]

The crying flag waver might be one of the saddest sports moments I've ever seen. Want to give her a hug or something. 😞

[@Hoovie9596]

I’m sure you do

[@StormShadow936]

I agree and are with you.

[@danielwest9955]

@@theschof96 Nah. Don't get dirty. It would just be a comforting hug. She needs it.

[@j-ppepnii9425]

Doan must be sad to for his son

[@josiahblodget8343]

As a Flyers fan, I truly feel for you guys. The owner was very dumb and your team never had great ownership. I never had a problem with non-traditional hockey markets. The hatred towards non-traditional hockey markets is just asinine to me. It's like saying the Toronto Raptors are bad for basketball or saying that Blue Jays are bad for baseball. It's sad to see fans lose a team. It must be a horrible feeling. No fan should wish for a city to have their team taken away.

[@FischerFan]

There's one notable difference. Toronto does get a summer, whereas Arizona never gets a true winter. Arizona could never host a Winter Olympics, either.

[@kennyoneil1728]

​@@FischerFan How is that relevant to this?

[@FischerFan]

@@kennyoneil1728 It proves that Arizona is not in hockey country.

[@TransitShorts]

also the issue comes in the disparity between fans/enthusiasm/and ticket sales between big (traditional hockey markets such as TOR, NYR, MTL, CHI, BOS you’re paying an arm and a leg for a ticket but the atmosphere inside is something to marvel at it, I pay $50 to sit glass at Panthers game and that feels like cheating to me, (given the poor hockey atmosphere). NYR/TOR god luck getting in the building playoffs under $300

[@kennyoneil1728]

​@@FischerFan That's almost like saying that the Blue Jays don't belong in major league baseball.

[@marvinschannel4788]

Thank you Arizona Coyotes!!! Following yall to Utah!!! 🥺😭

[@howardcraigiv518]

As a Avs Fan i feel for all the Hockey Fans in the desert. Hockey will always be apart of history in Arizona no matter what. Hopefully when the NHL returns its under new ownership. Please keep Youth Hockey Going in the Desert

[@spacemansports4129]

Sadder than the Montreal Expos final game in 04.

[@FischerFan]

No way.

[@karlc2869]

And also the final game of the OG Browns in '95.

[@alexatl89]

As a former Atlanta Thrashers fan, I know how much it can hurt to lose a team you loved. I hope that Phoenix gets an opportunity have an expansion team sometime in the near future.

[@sirekumasutra7022]

True Blue forever

[@claystratton688]

Even though I really didn’t get more into hockey until the Nashville Predators run to the Stanley Cup final in 2017 I’ve always learned about the history of hockey in non traditional markets such as Atlanta and Phoenix and it sucks that both cities don’t have a hockey team anymore and because of that I feel the pain and frustration and suffering of the fans that loved those teams in those cities

[@1RedsFan]

I hope Atlanta gets another chance too

[@CGMedia2023]

I'll always remember the headlines in the Atlanta papers when the move was announced: "It's 105 degrees and nobody cares.) Atlanta never cared for hockey and never will.

[@karlc2869]

​@@CGMedia2023Tell that to some Thrasher fans in ATL tho.

[@sanbell]

AZ Coyotes: In a battle of cheap/bad ownership, inept league officials, and poor city leadership, it’s the fans that are the ones that suffer

[@ryanroeser9736]

As a hawks fan I have always had admiration for the yotes! I'm moving someday to Maricopa city. Sad and frustrated that this could happen to a great place and it's fans.

[@MadMikeSportsYT]

Devils fan here. Watched the final game on my computer and had to put myself in the fans' shoes. I can't even begin to fathom how I would feel if my Devils left New Jersey. The fans, the players and coaches, the hockey ops staff...certainly not the arena staff or the Ice Trackers, no one deserved this fate.

[@tobiojo6469]

I wouldn’t know how I would feel if the Washington Capitals left DC.

[@MichelleBlueiez]

It was so hard when they left Winnipeg and it’s hard seeing them leave Arizona

[@adamgt4037]

It sucks when any Fanbase loses their Team, as a Yotes Fan I'm so Happy Winnipeg got their Team back, I would also like to see Quebec City get a Team back

[@FischerFan]

The two fan bases can certainly relate, as can fans of the Atlanta Thrashers and soon, the Oakland A's.

[@natethefighter]

​@@FischerFan Oakland lost *everything*

[@johnnysalazar5399]

​@natethefighter I blame the governor and mayor

[@FischerFan]

@@natethefighter Once the A's are gone, Oakland will have the dubious distinction of having lost sports franchises in all four major leagues: NHL (Seals) NBA (Warriors) NFL (Raiders) MLB (A's)

[@kingmo8789]

I hope the Arizona Coyotes can come back

[@Kwolf1]

I hope they don’t

[@kingmo8789]

@@Kwolf1 because you're discriminate?

[@NHLCrazy2007]

@@Kwolf1 Shut the hell up.

[@imjustsomecanadianguyandis184]

@@kingmo8789 Because the market doesn't work, it hasn't for years. Sad they're losing a team, but it's just reality.

[@kingmo8789]

@imjustsomecanadianguyandis184 That's a double standard that you're discrediting this market when they other non traditional hockey markets that are still around. Bad ownership = failure

[@ryuunishikawa]

Thank you, Arizona Coyotes for the great memories. I will continue to be a fan and follow you to Salt Lake City, UT.

[@caleb.e7880]

ARIZONA COYOTES FOREVER!

[@tobiojo6469]

When the Baltimore colts left in 1984, people were sad and shocked by the news, seeing this video brings back so many memories to many people like my dad who remember when the Baltimore colts left Baltimore in the middle of the night in March 1984.

[@karlc2869]

And the original Browns leaving for Baltimore in '96 to become the Ravens. At least Cleveland got the Browns back, although they are still a shell of what they once were. Plus, the Seattle SuperSonics moving to Oklahoma City and becoming the Thunder.

[@danield4559]

Thank you, Arizona! It’s been a great ride!

[@azuldiablo18]

Canes fan. What a heartbreaking video. Yotes fans don’t deserve this shitty ownership and even shittier city management. What a middle finger to the life long fans, the thousands of now-unemployed support staff and the state economy as a whole.

[@joesakic91]

IceArizona's decision to leave downtown Phoenix for their own digs in surburban Glendale was the beginning of the end of the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes.

[@mattr.8470]

All of the people talking shit have never had to deal with their team relocating It's arguably an even shittier experience as a fan than losing a game 7

[@FischerFan]

I'm sure you will find that many posters live in cities which have lost a pro sports franchise at some point. There are many fans in Winnipeg, Quebec City, Minnesota, Atlanta, etc. who've been through all hockey fans in Arizona are going through. How 'bout sports fans in St. Louis? They've lost their NFL team not once, but twice! Then we have Oakland, soon to lose their MLB team which, I believe, will give them the dubious distinction of losing teams in all four major North American sports Leagues - Seals, Warriors, Raiders, A's.

[@dccontreras]

From an LA Kings fan. I’m so sorry Yotes fans. I’m genuinely sad for the city

[@1RedsFan]

One of my favorite jerseys I have is a personalized Coyotes jersey. I’ll miss this team.

[@adamgt4037]

That DJ picked the Stupidest Songs to play, how about a song with Goodbye in it, I know it must be Hard to find 😕

[@CarolinaBlood704]

You don't wanna hear T-Pain and his overplayed, overrated song?

[@karlc2869]

IKR. I mean, they should have played the Chariots of Fire theme song by Vangelis as the background music during the postgame of the final Coyotes game (at least for now of course).

[@sirekumasutra7022]

I went to the Hawks home finale Sunday and wore my old Coyotes jersey in solidarity.

[@Rook-mm7fr]

Winnipeg: First ti- Atlanta: Winnipeg, don't even.

[@scottrichardson3800]

I feel for all the Arizona coyotes fans out there. I feel for your loss. I would have these same emotions if the ducks ever relocated.

[@magnabaddelta-thriller5603]

We love you Coyotes

[@user-pz9gc2cq2t]

This reminds me of season 1 finale of Shorsey

[@OliverPascual13]

When the Chargers left San Diego, I was distraught. Losing a sports team can really take a toll on the fans and I'm so sorry that the AZ Coyotes fanbase has to deal with this now.

[@karlc2869]

Don't forget the Sonics leaving for Oklahoma City and the Expos moving to D.C. as well.

[@kyleletsfaceityoudontgive2629]

You are loved in SLC too yotes! Welcome to Utah! The legacy that started the move won't be forgotten lol! Thx for the pro team Alex!

[@AntonioMartinez-hi6bh]

Reminds me of the Whalers...

[@RadiantDubs2.O]

rip

[@goldenboy6931]

They'll be back better than ever😮!!! With a bang. Once they get a new arena .

[@icecold9prod]

This made me sad

[@Erik-yz9yk]

Ive been watching hockey since late 90s so coyotes always been present for me shane doan, keith tkachuk, jeremy roenick, ilya bryzgalov, sean burke, ekman larsson, yandle, hanzal. Thats 2012 run the the EC Finals. Sick Jerseys. Trademark Howl. They always been there for me and i truly feel for the fans that is an absolute bitch.

[@daxonbullard7999]

but sadly AZ will totally miss the coyotes. COYOTES FOREVER!!!

[@Constitutionalist76]

As a Sabres fan, who's riding a now 13 year playoff drought, I'd still be completly crushed if we lost our team. Hockey is my favorite sport and what I consider to be the best sport on the planet, so I'm just sad for these fans, who view their team as more than just a team, they're part of the community. This is a huge L for the NHL and the ones who bear the brunt of it, are the faces you see here. Seeing little kids with, "We're gonna miss you" signs, tugs at the heartstrings. This just sucks all around.

[@rileyholden-zc9ip]

Yeah unlike Buffalo Arizona actually deserves a team

[@Constitutionalist76]

@@rileyholden-zc9ip Coming from a ready made team that was handed a cup, you probably shouldn't talk 🤡

[@benficademacaufan]

@@rileyholden-zc9ipwe definitely deserve a team, our gm just sucks

[@rileyholden-zc9ip]

@@benficademacaufan yeah based on how you guys have treated Jack eichel and Robin Lenner you guys don't deserve a team based on how you treat your players good luck with Alex tuck when he's ass underperforms you guys don't even deserve a hockey team based on how you treated players like crap also your fanbase sucks too

[@rileyholden-zc9ip]

@@Constitutionalist76 says the clown who's fanbase treated Jack eichel like shit and drove Robin Lenner into alcoholism as far as I'm concerned you guys don't even deserve a team

[@pdinardo9472]

Goodluck in Utah!!

[@zyx777zyx]

It's sad for Arizona but you fans didn't show up to these games for 20 years, but now you're upset they're leaving.... us Utahns will pack the arena every night. We love hockey.

[@karlc2869]

IKR. Phoenix is more of a basketball, baseball and football town with the Suns, DBacks and Cardinals aka Big Red. Plus, there's the college basketball and college football Wildcats as well.

[@catface20]

This is so sad for us with out the Coyotes and thanks to those who didn’t care for them for them to have a new Arena . And Coyotes for ever in our hearts 💕. Sad 😢

[@michaelf.bender3718]

They'll be back in about five years.

[@soxbearshwks8988]

@@michaelf.bender3718 yeah right...

[@michaelf.bender3718]

@@soxbearshwks8988 supposedly Alex Mereulo was given a window by the NHL to get an arena deal done, and then the coyotes could come back as an expansion team.

[@charlesmeadows6285]

When the new arena deal fell through, they had no choice but to, in all probability, move to Salt Lake City, Utah where a new nickname will be revealed in time for the 2024-2025 season.

[@michaelf.bender3718]

@@charlesmeadows6285 💯👍

[@douglasschultz9808]

I never have to worry about my Flyers leaving town. The city would never allow it. There talks of the NHL trying again in Atlanta so maybe there is hope. Hockey did return to Winnipeg.

[@VarunSharma-ci9xz]

Im truly shocked that its the end of the arizona coyotes. I dont know how i would feel about them being some team from utah. Thank you coyotes for your time in the nhl, this is goodbye from a caps fan.

[@FishiYs-_-]

I’m a flyers fan and Ngl I’m tearing up

[@rubegoldberg1225]

Can’t believe we are gonna see 2 relocations this year 😢 1st the coyotes and then 2nd the A’s

[@princeofdarknessxyz1]

coyotes will be back...going to take a couple of years to build a new arena....source (Chris Creamer)...hopefully i can order a coyotes puck or jersey ...and go kings go

[@FischerFan]

@6:47 - Should the Winter Olympics be hosted in a desert?

[@xaahd]

Ryan Smith didnt want the coyotes. He wanted a new expansion team but since AZ can't have good ownership on any level they were forced to move and even though thats the case they will still do much better in SLC. Am owner that didnt really want them will take better care if them than the one they had.

[@davidhall6493]

If I was fan of coyotes I will say screw Utah , New owners & NHL

[@CGMedia2023]

NONE of those people were fans 2 weeks earlier.

[@seangordon1060]

Went from Phoenix Coyotes to Arizona coyotes. Bounced from one arena to another. Never settled on a logo. Couldn’t keep seats filled. Seemed to have been plagued with multiple problems

[@soxbearshwks8988]

all you ppl. crying losing this team, on the news ppl. saying "salt lake sucks" what you should be saying is "merlo sucks" "bettman sucks"...and all you ppl crying, how come at a lot of the games i watched on TV there were blocks of empty seats . where were you???? i went to see my Hawks, it was full and 3/4 of the fans were Hawks fans.. where were you cry babies????? same thing when the Canadian teams are in town..where were you??? Rangers Red Wings Flyers. etc. 3/4 of their fans filled the arena. where were you???? so stop crying, you are part of the problem....

[@jpmace321]

coming to Salt lake city i can finally see the Capitals when they play here it good to have the Nhl in Salt Lake City

[@davidbradshaw3107]

A disgrace

[@dustinkingsbury5554]

I’m so happy dude! Let’s go!! Utah hockey is coming!

[@Monaayy29]

As a former St Louis Rams fan. I’ve been there.

[@johnhough8754]

I’m from St. Louis and was a Rams fan as well. I feel the pain still.

[@karlc2869]

Don't forget that the Football Cardinals aka The Big Red also played in the Gateway City before moving to The Valley of the Sun.

[@karlc2869]

​@@johnhough8754 At least you have the Battlehawks now.

[@RC_928]

Now you know how Rams fans in LA felt back in 94. Welcome Home Rams!

[@karlc2869]

@@RC_928 Agreed. STL may have given the Rams their first Super Bowl title but the Rams do belong in L.A. I'm glad the Rams won a Super Bowl title in Hollywood to vindicate themselves. Period.

[@BlueshirtFan4Ever]

I wonder if they'll keep the Coyotes name and become the Utah Coyotes? #JustSaying 🤔

[@master3HORSE]

No, the Coyotes current owner will retain ownership of the name in case he brings the team back

[@BlueshirtFan4Ever]

@@master3HORSE Good point ✌🏻 However, I doubt the NHL will ever return to the desert. 🏜️🐺🌙

[@daxonbullard7999]

DELTA CENTER COULD BE LOUD WHEN THEY DEBUT THEIR NEW CITY NEXT SEASON!!!

[@canuck81]

It's ironic really. They cheered when Winnipeg lost their team to go to Phoenix. Now they cry

[@sjdrifter72]

Except it looked like Winnipeg would never have an NHL team again and had to wait 15 long years to get one back. Phoenix will only have to wait 5 years for that land to be purchased and a new arena and entertainment district to get built. SO WHY THE HELL ARE THEY CRYING FOR? I'd rather see the Whalers and Nordiques return before the Coyotes.

[@canuck81]

@@sjdrifter72 I'm not crying lol. I'm happy about this. I don't think most of those southern teams should be there.

[@FischerFan]

@@sjdrifter72 Yeah! And when the NHL is fool enough to put another team there - and without imposing a 13,000-season ticket condition - when Phoenix becomes Atlanta all over again, it will still be the owner's fault.

[@FischerFan]

@@canuck81 Exactly. The NHL has had a team in L.A. for decades. It never needed to put one in Disneyland. Meanwhile, I hear where the Angels are in need of a new stadium!

[@nicholasbaldenegro5176]

@@canuck81Utah is right above AZ 🤡

[@tylerdurden4006]

Too hilarious, none of you cared one bit when they had a team but now everyone cries on the last day bcoz you finally realized they HAD a team?

[@MadMikeSportsYT]

Bad ownership in Arizona is why they're moving. Stable ownership and a new arena will make hockey work in the desert.

[@tylerdurden4006]

@@MadMikeSportsYT none of that has anything to do with my comment.

[@MadMikeSportsYT]

@@tylerdurden4006 Can't stand the fact that I just called you out on your troll? Crawl back to your fight club...oh wait, first rule of your fight club is that you can't talk about it...isn't it?

[@tylerdurden4006]

@MadMikeSportsYT no fans ever showed up, they didn't even have a home arena. Stfu

[@MadMikeSportsYT]

@@tylerdurden4006 It's because of their bad ownership, consistently bad ownership. Face it. You've been called out, you've been debunked. You're done, troll. Go back to your fight club and stay there.

[@Conada1002]

Thank God this nightmare is over!!!

[@Soundtracks92]

Welcome to Utah!!

[@Kwolf1]

FINALLY THE SH*T SHOW IS OVER.

[@kingmo8789]

Then you shouldn't be a fan

[@NHLCrazy2007]

@@kingmo8789 Clearly a Canadian ***hole.

[@sjdrifter72]

@@kingmo8789 I live in Phoenix, and I love NHL hockey. But like most people out here I am a transplant that will only miss my team visiting and beating the crap outta the Yotes. I glad they're gone but I know it's only temporary due to Bettman's insistance of having a team in Arizona AT ALL COSTS. They'll soon be back and be more rotten than ever. Yippee 😐

[@nachoandsancho5218]

​@@sjdrifter72That's part of the issue, so many transplants that move here but don't adopt AZ teams. I did, because it's good for the community and the state. Lucky to live here and want to see it do well. Needless to say was happy for the Coyotes beating the Wings 4-1 and 4-0

[@KHII]

@@sjdrifter72well then get the f out if your local team makes you so miserable. Guessing your real life prospects sucked so you moved out to AZ like half the population out there.

[@Emma_2Banks]

Well, they didn’t want them enough so they’re moving. Hopefully Utah supports them more

[@_mynewcareer]

Nothing to do with "wanting them enough" bad ownership and no arena is why they're moving

[@sanbell]

If you mean Utah and SLC leadership sure. Good luck though.

[@user-sg6ji2kk3u]

Not the first hockey franchise to be sold due to low attendance and/ or ongoing financial issues. Won’t be the last either . Mullet Arena doesn’t meet NHL Regulation requirements . This franchise has been bleeding money for at least 5 seasons and has relocated 3 times in Arizona since arriving in 1996. Scottsdale didn’t want them there. They didn’t settle bills and debts in Glendale so they couldn’t play there anymore and Tempe for the last 2 seasons wasn’t the answer . Plus they weren’t making the Playoffs every season . Change was inevitable . Now it’s happening . Off to Salt Lake City for a Fresh Start . Sold .

[@mattlorentz1988]

Well Coyotes fans now you understand the pain that the Jets fans went through when they lost their team to you You guys laughed at Winnipeg now that the shoe is on the other foot its no laughing matter is it??

[@johnferreira7419]

Hockey is not that important, you have the Suns and the Cardinals and the Diamondbacks, no big deal, those uniforms were ugly. Lighten up you have beautiful weather and other hobbies if you wanna hockey team join the Ahl, they NHL is corrupt.

[@kingmo8789]

I'm sorry, but isn't Canadians supposed to be friendly, not toxic?

[@FischerFan]

@@kingmo8789 Canadians are getting tired of getting the short end of the NHL's stick for most of the last 30+ years.

[@FischerFan]

The only reason cities like Phoenix, Atlanta and Las Vegas have, or had, NHL teams is because the League wanted to be in those markets a LOT MORE than vice versa. The flight of the Thrashers to Winnipeg barely caused a ripple in Atlanta. It was proven by the paltry 200 people who showed up for the rally in 2011. Where I won't quite agree with you is on the Coyotes' uniforms. I think the Kachina design is a very good representation of the Arizona culture, history and landscape.

[@kingmo8789]

@@FischerFan then find better owners

[@FischerFan]

@@kingmo8789 It's not about owners. It's about the blatant priority and preferential treatment Bettman and the owners have been giving the U.S. television execs. After more than thirty years of Bettman at the helm, it should be obvious by now that hockey will never challenge football or basketball for U.S. sports fan popularity; nor will it ever be regarded as important as the other sports. Look at the recent women's March Madness final! The young phenom, Caitlyn Clark, drew an audience of 13.2 million, while last year's Stanley Cup final drew only 2.6 million.

[@user-pw3ji3rn3s]

The citizens voted no. Democracy in action.

[@johnsiteman4885]

A poorly attended referendum vote only open to Tempe residents isn’t “the citizens voting no”. Most of Arizona never had a say in that. In addition, misinformation and flat out lying from opponents of the arena plan in Tempe dramatically influenced the vote. Think of it like this- they could have had an arena and entertainment complex in an amazing area and now they have none of that, the team forced out of the state for at least 4-5 years and a city dump which they’ll have to pay higher taxes to fix. The Coyotes got a bad result from Tempe that they’ll fix through the North Phoenix plan.

[@user-pw3ji3rn3s]

@@johnsiteman4885 Blaming the system? Sorry. It don't fly. Everyone knew what was at stake. The people of Tempe said no.

[@johnsiteman4885]

@@user-pw3ji3rn3s Your argument was “the citizens said no” when the wide majority of the whole Phoenix valley (and for that matter- the citizens of Tempe who didn’t vote) didn’t ever get a say. Don’t say “the citizens said no when they didn’t even get 20% turnout.

[@user-pw3ji3rn3s]

@@johnsiteman4885 Those were the rules. Everyone knew the rules. Sorry but you can't make up your own rules.

[@johnsiteman4885]

@@user-pw3ji3rn3s I don’t make the rules and neither did the residents of Arizona. If you want a true picture of the whole region- you don’t just take the smallest portion just because of geographic proximity to the proposed arena. Residents there sadly were misled and now, instead of an arena bringing people to Tempe, they have a landfill that they’ll pay more in taxes to clean up. Seems like a bad deal for Tempe to not say yes to the Coyotes.

[@kadekrauss3513]

We might not have matthews without this team

[@FischerFan]

Then the Leafs would've drafted someone else. It's not like the Leafs have become a team built for the playoffs since his arrival.

[@The_Hutchyboy]

Dozens of hockey fans are bummed out.

[@NHLCrazy2007]

Another moron.

[@fuckyzeit]

The ex-Jets are moving again.

[@badass420weedsmoker5]

As a Utah fan this gives me goosebumps not that people are crying tho I’m super stoked to have this team!