ASU names new multi-purpose arena, Coyotes home Mullett Arena

Arizona State University announced in a dedication ceremony Tuesday that its new multi-purpose facility that will temporarily host the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes will be called Mullett Arena.

The rink/practice area that will also host the Sun Devils hockey team will be called the Mountain America Community Iceplex.

The name for the arena comes after the Mullett family, supporters of the school’s hockey program and Sun Devil Athletics. ASU credits the Mullett family as a large part of helping the hockey team reach Division I status in 2014.

All of the Coyotes’ home games from 2022-23 through 2024-25 will take place in Tempe, with an additional option for 2025-26. Arizona currently awaits the approval and construction of a proposed permanent stadium along the south side of Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe.

The first Coyotes home game in the ASU multipurpose arena is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 28, against the Winnipeg Jets.

Arizona will play the entire preseason away or at neutral sites, though it has one game in Tucson. Then the Coyotes begin the regular season on a six-game road trip before debuting at the 5,000-seat arena.

The agreement for the temporary use of ASU’s arena was approved by the Arizona Board of Regents in February.

The Coyotes will also be moving their corporate offices to the East Valley.

“The National Hockey League thanks Arizona State University for its support of the Coyotes during this transition period and for what will be just its latest major commitment to growing our game in the Valley,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a February news release about the agreement with ASU.

The Coyotes played the last 19 seasons at Gila River Arena in Glendale. However, the city of Glendale and arena manager ASM Global told the Coyotes last year that the team must leave the venue when the fiscal year ends on June 30.

Gila River Arena was renamed Desert Diamond Arena on Tuesday, Glendale announced.

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