The Arizona Coyotes now have the city of Mesa on their radar. This comes after the disappointing Tempe vote, which saw the Coyotes lose on all three propositions. Although it’s devastating, there appears to still be a glimmer of hope. The Coyotes have shown interest in the Fiesta Mall in Mesa, which is also currently abandoned. With the team not having a home, could this be the solution that keeps the Coyotes in Arizona? Here is the latest on the Arizona Coyotes arena situation.
The Coyotes need to strike a deal as time is of the essence, and with the league growing impatient.
Desert Dogs Scratchin’ and Clawin’ to Find New Home
Fiesta Mall Focal Point For Coyotes in Mesa
There is a potential plan for a new Arizona Coyotes arena. With the Tempe experiment officially coming to an end, the Coyotes need a plan B, and fast. Insider Dennis Welch reported, “Latest: Mesa officials tell me the Arizona Coyotes reached out yesterday following their loss in Tempe. The team is eyeing the Fiesta Mall site – prime land in the East Valleys’ largest city. Caution: any potential arena deal there could require another public vote.”
The good news: Plan B is already in action, even if the public isn’t fully aware of what’s going on behind the scenes. The bad news: Another public vote. We saw what the Coyotes had to offer this last campaign, and it wasn’t the prettiest. Having another public vote would mean another rollercoaster of emotions, just like with the city of Tempe.
However, the Fiesta Mall is currently abandoned. Many thought having a landfill transformed into a landmark would be enough, but we saw what happened. If Mesa is the plan, and they want their arena of the future where the Fiesta Mall currently is, they need to come out strong and convincing. If this is indeed something that would go to another public vote, they need to learn from their mistakes and bounce back in a big way.
Until the team announces this is their plan B and will move forward with it, this is all speculation.
Where exactly is the Fiesta Mall?
So for this to make sense, here is where the potential location is for the Arizona Coyotes arena. The Fiesta Mall is located off West Southern Ave, in Mesa. To put that in even more perspective, Mesa is located on the east side of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It’s also the most populous city in the East Valley section, with a population of approximately 509,475. This site is just a 15-20 minute drive from both Sky Harbor and the Scottsdale Airport.
With it not being in the ideal position as the previous Tempe deal was, it is still manageable, considering their options. This is likely their best bet, they do have other cities like Scottsdale, Gilbert, and Chandler, but Mesa is going to be the closest to Pheonix. The building was opened in 1979 and has been closed ever since 2018, seeing it sit there.
As mentioned above, this is the perfect pull for perhaps a public vote. The campaign messed up once; you absolutely cannot afford to mess up again. This is a mall that has nothing going for it; no revenue or attractions have been coming for the last five years. You would think it’s an easy grab; with the Tempe vote, you never know.
How Much Time Do the Coyotes Have?
The short answer is pretty simple, not much. The coyotes don’t have time to waste with this one. With the Tempe vote, the timeline worked perfectly from transitioning from Mullett to the new arena; however, that won’t be happening. So with time not being the team’s friend, they need to start putting things together quickly.
The Tempe process started in September of 2021; we now only know the verdict, which was no. If the team decides to go to Mesa, and that’s their route, how long will it take? If we use the Tempe process for this, we won’t know until around January 2025. This would be the contract year of Mullett Arena, which goes through the 2025-26 season.
The problem with that timeline is the Coyotes don’t have the means to sit and wait around that long. The Coyotes need to find a solution and need to get something done. It also isn’t helping the team is in a lengthy rebuild. Yes, they need to gain assets to become an elite team, but it definitely doesn’t help.
The conclusion of the matter is the Coyotes need to get something figured out, whether that is in Mesa or another neighboring city. Until an official statement is made, the Arizona Coyote’s next arena could very well be in Mesa.
Main Photo: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
