NHL ice hockey franchise the Arizona Coyotes has engaged sports and entertainment company Oak View Group to help drive commercial revenues from its impending move to the new arena being developed by Arizona State University (ASU).
In February, the Coyotes agreed a multi-year deal with ASU to play at its new arena beginning next season, as the team continues efforts to secure a permanent home. The agreement will see the Coyotes play all their home games at the venue from 2022-23 through the 2024-25 NHL season, with an additional option for the 2025-26 season.
The new one-year deal will see the Coyotes and OVG Global Partnerships jointly market and sell sponsorships at ASU’s multi-purpose arena for Coyotes games. OVG manages the ASU Arena, which is due to open in the autumn and serve as the home for the Coyotes, as well as ASU ice hockey, wrestling, and gymnastics.
Arizona Coyotes president and CEO, Xavier Gutierrez, said: “By combining our sales efforts, we will be able to leverage the power of our combined resources to provide great value for our corporate partners.
“We can’t wait to play our home games at Arizona State University’s new multi-purpose arena next season. This will be a state-of-the-art venue located in the heart of Tempe with incredible sight lines. Our fans can look forward to a tremendous game night experience.”
The Coyotes’ deal to utilise ASU’s new arena as its temporary home was officially concluded last week, with fears being allayed that the team may have to spend a portion of the opening exchanges of the 2022-23 season on the road before it can move in.
The ASU agreement will see the Coyotes having to adjust from playing at Gila River Arena, the club’s former home in Glendale which has a capacity for ice hockey of around 17,000, to its temporary venue, which will seat 4,700 fans for NHL games.
“The Coyotes represent a unique opportunity for OVG Global Partnerships given our track record of success in the Phoenix market and how differentiated this hockey product will be in this amazing new venue and the intimacy it will afford to fans,” said Daniel Griffis, Oak View Group president of global partnerships. “We look forward to building world-class partnerships together.”
In September, the Coyotes revealed plans for a $1.7bn development in the city of Tempe, with the wide-ranging project to be anchored by an arena that would seat around 16,000 fans. The complex would also include a 1,500-seat theatre space, offices, an apartment building, a hotel and shops.
Tempe City Council last month asked the Coyotes to put forward clarification on a number of undisclosed issues after viewing impact studies, projections and detailed information related to the project.
Image: Arizona State University
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