City: Glendale, AZ

Category: Spectator Sports

Telephone: (623) 772-3200

Address: 9400 W. Maryland Ave.

Description: The Coyotes were formed in 1996 when the Winnipeg Jets left Canada for the desert. Arizona sports fans were thrilled when hockey legend Wayne Gretzky—the NHL’s all-time greatest player—joined developer Steve Ellman in the purchase of the team. When the new ownership team took over the hockey club in February 2001, Gretzky assumed the role of managing partner and wasted no time making changes to the Valley’s ice-hockey team. “The Great One” also coached for a spell, despite never playing for the Coyotes.With so many Midwesterners in the Valley, the Coyotes have a loyal following. The team rallied to consecutive playoff appearances in 2010 and 2011—helping fans briefly forget about the team’s financial challenges—only to lose in both seasons to the mighty Detroit Red Wings. The Coyotes filed for bankruptcy in 2009, which led to a series of high-profile squabbles with the NHL and the City of Glendale. By 2011 the NHL took ownership of the ‘Yotes as the city negotiated with the league and potential buyers to keep the team in the West Valley. So the future of NHL hockey in Arizona was very much up in the air at press time. Rumors flied like errant slap-shots about the team’s possible return to a Canadian city or even Las Vegas or Europe. Single-game tickets sell for $15 to $25; season-ticket prices start at $396, which includes all 41 regular-season games, 3 preseason contests, and first dibs on playoff tickets for the “White Out.” Local media advertise special offers on single tickets from time to time that sometimes include a drink and a hot dog.