On January 19, 1996, the NHL’s Board of Governors approved the sale of the Winnipeg Jets and the club's relocation to Arizona. The Coyotes made their debut in 1996-97, the first of 27 NHL seasons in the Valley.
On April 18, 2024, the NHL’s Board of Governors approved a plan that renders the Arizona Coyotes franchise inactive, with a right to reactivate if owner Alex Meruelo has fully constructed a new, state-of-the-art facility appropriate for an NHL team within five years.
In addition, the Board of Governors approved the establishment of a franchise beginning with the 2024-25 season in Utah. The Coyotes transferred the totality of their existing hockey assets – including their full Reserve List, roster of Players, draft picks and its Hockey Operations Department – to the Utah franchise.
