(Tempe, Arizona) It’s a quiet Thursday morning on the campus of Arizona State University. Sun striking at an angle, total absence of humans… That’s it: we’re in a painting by Edward Hopper. Impression confirmed when you see a first soul, alone and in silence, behind the counter at the ticket office of the Mullett Arena.
Posted at 9:46 p.m.
“Can you direct me to the media entrance?” “, we ask him. He hesitates.
“I think it’s over there, to the left.”
Along the way, no media entrance, but you arrive in front of glass doors and finally, there is human activity, in what looks like the entrance hall. The security guard comes to open.
PHOTO GUILLAUME LEFRANÇOIS, THE PRESS
The Mullet Arena seen from the outside.
“Hello, I am a journalist, I come to cover the training. »
“I don’t care who you are. Come on, come in!, he says, laughing.
Here we are in the lobby of the new home of the Arizona Coyotes, about thirty minutes before training today. Home which will be inaugurated Friday evening, during the visit of the Jets.
Here, two players completing their warm-up. There, the general manager, Bill Armstrong, in the middle of a conversation with an employee. Let’s say that we are far from the typical NHL arena, with well-defined private spaces for players and managers.
It’s quiet outside, but bustling inside. Two television crews cover the practice, in addition to local journalists as well as representatives from Sportsnet, ESPN, The Athletic, TVA Sports and NHL. com. It would be a little Tuesday in Montreal, but it’s a big Thursday around here.
The particular situation of the Coyotes this fall leaves no one indifferent. Expelled from Glendale, they will spend the next three seasons at Mullett Arena, home of the Arizona State Sun Devils, and hope to have their plan for a new permanent arena settled in three years.
PHOTO GUILLAUME LEFRANÇOIS, THE PRESS
Press briefing by head coach André Tourigny
In the meantime, they are playing in this 5,000-seat arena, which is a third of the capacity of what was until then the smallest amphitheater in the NHL, the Canada Life Center in Winnipeg (15,321 spectators). As a guide, the Coyotes’ temporary home has fewer seats than five QMJHL rinks.
“It will be intimate, but you will have an unparalleled experience. Behind me will be the section reserved for students, so there will be energy every night,” said Xavier Gutierrez, president and CEO of the Coyotes.
Gutierrez holds his press briefing as the team trains behind him. He begins it with humor. “I confirm that the toilet works. It’s part of quality control! “, he jokes while appearing in front of the cameras.
A good joke to break the tension, which is obvious. The Coyotes are ridiculed on social media and they know what’s being said. For example, a colleague wrote that the team would not be allowed to paint its logo on the rink. Finally, it is there, in one of the two halves of the central circle, with the Sun Devils logo on the other side. “If you take photos, make sure you frame the logo! “drops Gutierrez at the end of his press briefing.
A video showing the visitors’ locker room circulated widely on Wednesday. “Amazing how much Gary Bettman is willing to do to not admit his mistake,” player agent Allan Walsh tweeted. Two other agents contacted by The Presswithout wanting to be quoted, also expressed their disbelief.
What makes people talk? The capacity of the arena, of course. The NHL is a big-money industry, one that has suffered heavy losses during the pandemic. The salary cap increases very little while the league “rebuilds itself”, as they say at the casino, and a 5,000-seat arena won’t help. Problem of the rich, you will say with reason.
The famous installations also arouse derisory comments, but in this case, it is important to reserve our judgment. These temporary locker rooms will only be used for the duration of this four-game home series.
PHOTO GUILLAUME LEFRANÇOIS, THE PRESS
The temporary visitors’ cloakroom.
The team will then go back on the road for-hold on tight-14 games! From city to adventure, from November 5 to December 7, the time to finish the construction of an annex where the Coyotes and visitors’ locker rooms will be fitted out. No way to agree with the Sun Devils to use their locker room? “NCAA rules prevent us from using the same locker room as a college team,” Gutierrez replies.
But we must admit that 24 hours before the arrival of the Winnipeg Jets, the visitor facilities are rather wobbly. A situation that the organization would have preferred to avoid by postponing their first home game to December, but “the NHL told us that we had to play home games before the schedule was ready,” explained Gutierrez.
If the Coyotes players are unhappy, they hide it well.
“I know it’s a lot of talk outside, but our 23 players are eager to play,” said forward Christian Fischer. The atmosphere will be good, the quality of the ice is great, as good as the six arenas where we have played this season. »
PHOTO GUILLAUME LEFRANÇOIS, THE PRESS
The annex under construction for the locker rooms of the two teams.
It must be said that the Coyotes did not exactly leave paradise. Their former home, Desert Diamond Arena (formerly Glendale’s Gila River Arena), was shunned by fans. Some will say because it was badly located, too far from major centers. Others will recall that this team has reached the second round of the playoffs only once since arriving in Arizona in 1996.
“Anyone with half a brain would rather play in a packed 5,000-seat arena than in a 20,000-seat arena with only 11,000 spectators,” Fischer continued. Here, there will be atmosphere after a goal, a battle. It’s been hard to have that for the past few years. »
“That’s pretty cool. It’s different. We’re used to big arenas, but it’s nice and it doesn’t feel too small,” said defenseman Josh Brown.
Nevertheless, there is indeed an elephant in the room. The Coyotes are in full reconstruction and are deploying a very young formation. They certainly beat Toronto and Columbus, but their defeats resemble tennis scores, rarely a good thing in hockey: 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 and 6-2. Their formation is very young and their schedule will only add to their challenge.
In short, everything to add to the unenviable reputation of an organization that many wish to see elsewhere. Quebec believed in it for a while. Houston has often been seen as a viable alternative.
“We understand that the calendar is difficult, but it will not show when you see this team compete, assures Gutierrez. We are here to try to win. We are committed to this community. We have a landlord who invested $30 million here while he presents a $2 billion project for a permanent solution. It shows commitment, resources and the desire to win. »
All this also takes place in the year when a certain Connor Bedard is presumably awaiting the team that will win the lottery of the first choice in the draft at the end of the season.
“It’s hard to do a reconstruction, because the players are fighting and they will not all be here in three years, recognized Bill Armstrong, the GM. We try not to get carried away with Bedard’s story. Our coaches have been good at ignoring the noise.
“We’ll need a little luck in the lottery, though. Someone will have to rig the abacus, he jokes. I’m a little superstitious, we won’t wear the same clothes as the other times. We haven’t been too lucky in the lottery so far! »