The announcement was made prior to the team's game against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday at Mullett Arena, where the iconic Coyotes logo adorned the boards for the last time in the Phoenix area.

The sale of the NHL franchise came as part of a complicated transaction, with Alex Meruelo, the current owner, selling the Coyotes to Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz. As a result, the team will temporarily play its home games at the Delta Center until a new downtown hockey arena is constructed in Salt Lake City.

The decision to relocate the Coyotes came amidst the failure of Meruelo's ambitious plan to build a $3 billion arena and retail complex in North Phoenix. Despite plans for an auction to acquire a 95-acre parcel of Arizona state trust land, the cost of the project proved to be too prohibitive, resulting in the potential relocation of the franchise. The auction, approved by the Arizona State Land Department Board of Appeals, left the team with no other option but to consider the move.

If the Coyotes had won the auction and proceeded with the project, they would have had to endure another three seasons playing in the 4,600-seat Mullett Arena at Arizona State University in Tempe. However, the team has incurred significant financial losses during the past two seasons at the Mullett, though exact figures were not disclosed. The Coyotes were forced to leave their previous arena in Glendale in 2022 due to a lease dispute.

The Arizona Coyotes' history has been tumultuous, with the franchise experiencing bankruptcy and financial struggles since its relocation from Winnipeg in 1996. They initially played at what is now known as Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix for seven seasons before moving to Glendale and later Tempe.

The players were reportedly dissatisfied with the subpar conditions at the Mullett, which featured makeshift locker rooms and required them to practice at an off-campus facility in Scottsdale called the Ice Den. The team had hoped to remain in Tempe and had engaged with the City of Tempe for a similar development project. However, the proposal faced opposition from voters in a series of referenda, leading to its rejection in May.

With the sale complete and relocation plans underway, the NHL's 27-season run in the Valley of the Sun has come to an end. The Arizona Coyotes will bid farewell to their loyal Phoenix-area fans and prepare for a new chapter in Salt Lake City starting in the 2024-25 season.