Mullett Arena

"Multi-Purpose Arena" redirects here. For the general topic, see Multi-purpose stadium.

Mullett Arena

"The Mullett" "The Party Barn" [1]
Mullett Arena in 2022
Mullett Arena Location in Maricopa County Show map of Maricopa County, Arizona Mullett Arena Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Mullett Arena Location in USA Show map of the United States
Former names	ASU Multi-Purpose Arena (planning/construction)
Address	411 S Packard Drive
Location	Tempe, Arizona
Coordinates	33°25′36″N111°55′43″W / 33.42667°N 111.92861°W / 33.42667; -111.92861
Public transit	Veterans Way/College Ave Marina Heights/Rio Salado Pkwy
Owner	Arizona State University
Operator	Oak View Group [2]
Capacity	NCAA hockey: 5,000 [2] NHL hockey: 4,600
Construction
Broke ground	January 2021 [2]
Built	October 1, 2022
Opened	October 12, 2022
Construction cost	US$134 million [3]
Architect	SCI Architects [2]
Builder	Mortenson Construction [2]
Tenants
Arizona State Sun Devils men's ice hockey (NCAA) 2022–present Arizona State Sun Devils women's ice hockey (ACHA) 2022–present Arizona State Sun Devils women's gymnastics (NCAA) 2022–present Arizona State Sun Devils men's wrestling (NCAA) 2022–present Arizona State Sun Devils women's volleyball (NCAA) 2023–present Arizona Coyotes (NHL) 2022–2024 [3]

Mullett Arena (originally ASU Multi-Purpose Arena) is an indoor multipurpose arena at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

The 5,000-seat arena is the home of the men's ice hockey, women's ice hockey, women's gymnastics, women's volleyball, and men's wrestling teams. It served as a temporary venue for the National Hockey League's Arizona Coyotes from 2022 to 2024, with seating capacity for NHL games capped at 4,600. ^[4] The facility is owned by Arizona State University and managed by the Oak View Group.

History

In November 2020, the Arizona Board of Regents' finance committee approved plans for a new 5,000-seat on-campus multipurpose arena, which replaced the privately-operated Oceanside Ice Arena, which had been leased by the university long-term, as the Sun Devils men's hockey facility starting in 2022. ^{[5] [6] [7]} Originally known as the Multi-Purpose Arena, it is also used for women's hockey, women's gymnastics, men's wrestling, women's volleyball, and community hockey events. ^[2]

Mullett Arena from the east end before an Arizona Coyotes game

With their lease agreement at Gila River Arena expiring after the 2021–22 NHL season, ^[8] the Arizona Coyotes were in talks by January 2022 with Arizona State University to temporarily use the ASU facility for the next three to four NHL seasons. On February 10, 2022, the Coyotes signed a three-year agreement to play their home games at ASU's facility, beginning with the 2022–23 NHL season. ^[9] The additional cost of completing the arena to accommodate the Coyotes was approximately $19.7 million, which was paid by the team. ^[3] During the Coyotes' tenure in the building, it officially has the lowest permanent seating capacity in the NHL.

On August 23, 2022, Arizona State University unveiled the new facility name as Mullett Arena. It is in honor of Donald and Barbara Mullett, two of the university's benefactors. ^[10]

On October 14, 2022, the Sun Devils men's hockey team played their first ever game at the arena against the Colgate Raiders. Josh Doan (son of former Coyote Shane Doan) scored the first ever goal in Mullett Arena history. The Sun Devils won the game, 2–0.

Two weeks later (October 28, 2022), the Coyotes' first ever game in front of a sellout crowd of 4,600 at Mullett Arena resulted in a 3–2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Christian Fischer scored the first and second NHL goals at the arena. ^[11]

On April 17, 2024, the Coyotes played their final game at the arena against the Edmonton Oilers, where fans in attendance wore white for a final Whiteout, a playoff tradition for the franchise. ^[12] The Coyotes won the game 5–2, with the final goal at the arena being scored by Sean Durzi.

Mountain America Community Iceplex at ASU

Arizona State University announced on March 3, 2022, a multiyear naming rights partnership with Mountain America Credit Union for the ice rink on the west side of Mullett Arena. Officially named as the Mountain America Community Iceplex at ASU, it has a concession stand for hot and cold refreshments and a full hockey pro shop. ^[13]

For the first four Coyotes home games, temporary locker room accommodations were set up within the confines of Mountain America Community Iceplex for the visiting teams. ^[14] The Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars used this location during that opening Coyotes homestand.

After that, the Coyotes began a franchise record 14-game road trip while ongoing construction of the annex was officially completed in time for their next scheduled home game (December 9, 2022, against the Boston Bruins). This building houses all on-site NHL training and locker room facilities during the Coyotes' temporary stay at Mullett Arena.

References

1. Smith, Joe (December 8, 2023). "'This is a hockey town': The Coyotes' surge, optimism in the desert and a looming NHL deadline". The Athletic . Retrieved April 4, 2024.
2. "ASU, SDA Announces Commencement of Multi-Purpose Arena". Sun Devil Athletics. December 16, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
3. "New ASU multipurpose arena to host Arizona Coyotes for next several seasons". ASU News. ASU. February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
4. Resnik, Brahm (February 10, 2022). "Coyotes to use Arizona State's new hockey arena for 3 years". 12news.com. KPNX . Retrieved February 15, 2022. Arizona State University got the go-ahead Thursday to build a $20 million addition that would allow the Arizona Coyotes to use a new campus arena as the NHL team's home for the next three years and possibly longer.
5. Cameron, Greg (April 1, 2019). "Q&A With ... Arizona State AD Ray Anderson". College Hockey News. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
6. Anderson, Tasha (May 31, 2019). "RFP Issued for New ASU Multi-Purpose Sports Arena". azbex.com. BEX azbex. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
7. "ASU's plans for new $115 million hockey arena approved by committee". Arizona Sports. November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
8. "Report: Coyotes working on deal to play at 5,000-seat arena at ASU". Sportsnet . January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
9. "Coyotes to Play at ASU's Multi-Purpose Arena Next Season". Arizona Coyotes (press release). February 10, 2022.
10. "ASU recognizes Mullett family with naming of new multipurpose arena". ASU News. ASU. August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
11. "Winnipeg Jets - Arizona Coyotes - October 28th, 2022". NHL.com. October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
12. Ortiz, Jenna (April 17, 2024). "Coyotes give fans a win in final Arizona game, fans show plenty of love". Arizona Republic . Retrieved April 18, 2024.
13. "ASU's New On-Campus Community Iceplex to be Named Mountain America Community Iceplex at ASU". Sun Devil Athletics. March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
14. Rosen, Dan (October 27, 2022). "Coyotes excited for Mullett opener, expect advantage at intimate new home". NHL.com. Retrieved October 29, 2022.

External links

• Mullett Arena

Events and tenants
Preceded by Oceanside Ice Arena	Home of the Arizona State Sun Devils men's hockey 2022 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Oceanside Ice Arena	Home of the Arizona State Sun Devils women's hockey 2022 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Desert Financial Arena	Home of the Arizona State Sun Devils women's gymnastics 2022 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Desert Financial Arena	Home of the Arizona State Sun Devils men's wrestling 2022 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Gila River Arena	Home of the Arizona Coyotes 2022 – 2024	Succeeded by Inactive