In an era of saving money and trimming costs, the Arizona Coyotes appear to be making a move of their American Hockey League affiliate, Springfield Falcons, to the desert southwest.
Even warmer climes than the Phoenix metroplex, the Falcons may be moving to Tucson Arizona. 
Several news outlets have made known the potential move.
A mere 114 miles separate Phoenix and Tucson and it may not be many more years before the two cities’ borders merge.
The last time Tucson was in the running for a hockey team was the Western Professional Hockey League’s aborted attempt to operate the Tucson Gila Monsters in the 90’s.
Arizona media outlets reported that the Tucson Convention Center is the target for the move.
Arizona Sports reported that the Coyotes met with the Convention Center administrators to discuss the center as a home for the Falcons but no official comment was made on the potential move or residence of the Falcons in Tucson.
“What I can tell you is we have looked at what it would take to renovate the facility,” Convention Center general manager Michael Ortega said. “There were some discussions on what it would take to potentially recruit or respond to a request from a potential pro sports team.”
The Convention Center currently hosts the University of Arizona American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 1 hockey team. The facility reportedly holds 6,700.
The move would help trim scouting costs and travel for call-ups to the NHL. In addition, a team in the southwest would build-out the thinly populated western division of the AHL; the AHL played an unbalanced schedule to accommodate travel between the costs.
The Coyotes do not currently own their AHL affiliate in Springfield. The Falcons are owned by Charlie Pompea who made the purchase of the club in 2010. The problem is the club has averaged less than 4,000 fans a game since the 2002-03 season.
A move to the desert southwest with some many transplants and winter snow birds may reinvigorate the gate in Tucson.
There have been rumors of an ECHL affiliate moving to Springfield next season but no firm news has been reported on the replacement of the Falcons.
You must be logged in to post a comment.