No one wants to lose their home team, and hockey fans in Arizona have every right to be disappointed with the way things played out. At the same time, the first couple of hours of ticket sales for the newest NHL team in Utah paints a picture of why the Coyotes are relocating.
According to various reports, it took just two hours for the Utah Hockey team to sell more season tickets than Mullett Arena, the Coyotes home in Tempe, could even hold.
Mullett Arena, which served as home ice for the Coyotes since 2022, has a maximum of 5000 seats per game. Those weren't always sold out, either. Meanwhile, season-ticket holder of the NBA's Utah Jazz are getting the first dibs on tickets for the hockey team.
It's unfortunate when any NHL team has to relocate, but it appears the buzz is there for the new team based in Utah. While the new team will play in Salt Lake City, the owners have said the official name, once chosen, will be Utah. It's being reported that the nickname might not be chosen before the 2024-25 season begins, meaning the team will start without one.