Coyotes to play at Arizona State University arena until at least 2025

The Arizona Coyotes have a home in the desert for at least a few more years. The team announced Thursday that it will play home games at Arizona State University's new multi-purpose arena for at least the next three seasons.

"We are thrilled that we have arranged to play our home games in Arizona State University's new multi-purpose arena starting next season," Coyotes president Xavier A. Gutierrez said in a statement. "This will be an incredible, intimate and exciting fan experience in a state-of-the-art new arena in a fantastic location in the heart of Tempe."

The brand new 5,000-seat Arizona State facility is set to open in fall 2022. The Coyotes will add up to $19.7 million of funding for the project, according to ASU, to give the facility NHL-standard upgrades and add a 15,000-square-foot annex that will include dressing rooms.

The Coyotes will begin play at the ASU arena with the 2022-23 season and stay through at least the 2024-25 season with an option for the 2025-26 season. The period would provide enough time for the team's proposed $1.7 billion arena in Tempe, Ariz. to be built.

Not everyone is excited about the Coyotes' temporary move, though. Last week, The Athletic reported that several NHL executives found the plan "embarrassing" due to the size of the arena. The Coyotes are already 30th in attendance with an average of 11,605 fans per home game and will sell half as many tickets at the interim facility.