Arizona Coyotes Will Relocate to Las Vegas; Toronto and Seattle Expansion Franchises

arizona coyotes relocate las vegas

The sale of the Arizona Coyotes is being finalized to billionaire William Foley who will move the team to Las Vegas. The NY Post reports:

The NHL is arranging the sale of the Arizona Coyotes to billionaire William Foley who will move the team to Las Vegas giving it its first major professional franchise.
Las Vegas has reached 10,000 season ticket deposits, enough to justify a franchise.
Foley will move the Coyotes for the 2016-17 season.

MGM Resorts and arena operator AEG are building a 20,000 seat hockey arena in Las Vegas, which is slated to open in spring 2016. Last month, the City Council in Glendale, Arizona, voted to terminate its lease agreement that expires in 2028. This agreement has the city paying the team $15 million a year for a share of revenue.

In addition, the NY Post reports:

The NHL is also eyeing expansion franchises in the Toronto and Seattle areas for the 2017-18 season.