In what seems to be a promising development, the Arizona Coyotes have released renderings of a potential arena in northeast Phoenix via their team app. The pictures were briefly displayed on the team's website before being taken down, but remained viewable on the app. This move sheds some light on the team's ongoing efforts to secure a permanent home.

The Coyotes have been granted permission to bid on a 95-acre tract of land located on the northwest corner of Loop 101 and Scottsdale Road near Desert Ridge Marketplace. This approval came from the unanimous decision of the Arizona State Land Department Board of Appeals, which appraised the land at a value of $68.5 million, setting the stage for a future auction.

While a specific date for the auction has not been announced yet, it is required to be advertised publicly for at least 10 weeks before it takes place. The team's ownership, led by Alex Meruelo, has remained focused on acquiring this particular site after exploring various potential arena locations throughout the Valley.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, speaking at the NHL GM meetings, expressed his confidence in Meruelo's ability to win the upcoming auction and reiterated the league's support for keeping the Coyotes in Arizona. However, Bettman did not provide further details about the auction timeline, stating that it was "getting late" without specifying a deadline for Arizona to finalize its arena plans.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly raised concerns that holding the land auction in June might not allow sufficient time for the NHL to make relocation arrangements ahead of the next season. However, it remains unclear if the league will need to make a decision regarding the team's future before that date.

Bettman's previous comments in February expressed his belief in Meruelo's determination to secure the necessary resources to ensure the Coyotes' sustained presence in Arizona. The commissioner stated, "I don't make it a practice of contradicting owners unless I have hard facts to the contrary, and I'm reasonably confident that he's going to do what he says."

As the saga for a new arena location continues, the Coyotes and their fans eagerly await further developments and hope for a favorable outcome that will secure their future in the state.