I grew up in Phoenix. I usually go to a Coyotes game a year. I have probably been to more Coyotes games here than anyone else on this board. As a result, I have several things to say.
First, hockey in Phoenix? Was it doomed to fail from the start?
I honestly don't think so. When the team moved from Winnipeg, there was a genuine buzz - but that was 12 years ago. They played in the Suns arena, the upper level seats in the north end zone were obstructed, but for whatever reason, people cared - they made the playoffs 5 times. Never made it past the first round.
Then, a couple things happened.
The downtown arena wasn't really a good situation for the Coyotes - they needed a new arena. Instead of building a centrally located one, or even one at the old demolished mall which was near affluent, more dense Scottsdale and the East Valley, they moved to Glendale. And the fans, which already were spending their money on the expansion Diamondbacks, the Suns who had a great run there, were either hardcore hockey fans at this point - they do exist here - or sort of forgot about them.
They started giving tickets away, and while Phoenix is large enough and the West Valley can sort of support a team, attendance still sucked. Either we got free tickets, or bought really cheap tickets and then went down to the expensive seats - which didn't have anyone sitting in them.
The 'transplanted fan' notion isn't necessarily true either. For instance, I am a Flames fan for no good reason - but I follow them. I am NOT a Coyotes fan, though I obviously want them to do well. There are a lot of Phoenicians in the same situation - I know Red Wings fans, Penguins fans, Stars fans, Ducks fans, but I don't know any Coyotes fans. For a number of reasons, the team failed to make the connection with the transplanted fans in the same way the Diamondbacks have. For instance, the initial success, visibility, and relative affordability of the Diamondbacks has made them an important part of the sporting fabric. But Phoenix has a vast baseball tradition - the Coyotes needed to really grow the sport of hockey among the youth and they have failed in that regard.
So did hockey fail in the desert? In a regard, yes. But there ARE people in Arizona who like hockey, and there ARE enough people here to support a hockey franchise. But the Coyotes will likely be resigned to the land of the Whalers, the Scouts and - sadly - the Jets. Perhaps for better, perhaps for worse - but I really think it could have been done differently - and better. Now, it's just too late - nobody will be able to make money with the Coyotes in their current situation.
