Aug 13, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; General view of Chase Field before the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
By José M. Romero | Arizona Republic
The National Hockey League has proven that games inside Major League Baseball stadiums can work. Its Stadium Series has staged games at Dodger Stadium, Yankee Stadium and Denver’s Coors Field in the past. Earlier, the Tampa Bay Lightning played three seasons at Tropicana Field, home of the Rays.
So while it might be odd to imagine the Arizona Coyotes playing games at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix, it isn’t impossible. In fact, the Arizona Republic has learned it’s being considered as an option for the Coyotes as a temporary home in the near future.
The MLB club is free to work out an arrangement with the Coyotes, with the intent to hold events at Chase Field, without input from the Maricopa County Stadium District. The Diamondbacks handle bookings and maintenance of the stadium under an agreement between the two parties.
The Diamondbacks’ 2022 schedule is set, and after that, an Elton John concert and a potential date for the annual college football bowl game at Chase Field. Other dates at the stadium might include Super Bowl LVII-related events and the return of the COVID-postponed World Baseball Classic in early 2023. All of those would be during NHL season, which would essentially rule out the ballpark as a hockey venue in 2022-23.
The Coyotes need a place, or places, to play from the start of the 2022-23 season and at least a couple of more after that, barring some change in the strained relationship between the team and the city of Glendale that would re-open negotiations on a short-term lease to stay at Gila River Arena beyond the end of next April.
As it stands, the Coyotes will play out the final four months of the regular season in Glendale, then move to another facility. They have said repeatedly that they want to stay in the greater Phoenix area, but the options are limited as to where they can play.
