Mullett Arena

Last updated

Mullett Arena
"The Mullett"
"The Party Barn" [1]
Mullett Arena logo.png
Mullett Arena South Entrance.jpg
Mullett Arena in 2022
Mullett Arena
Shereth Maricopa Test Generated.svg
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Mullett Arena
Location in Maricopa County
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Mullett Arena
Location in Arizona
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Mullett Arena
Location in USA
Former namesASU Multi-Purpose Arena (planning/construction)
Address411 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 Valley Metro logo simplified.svg Veterans Way/College Ave
Logo Tempe Streetcar.svg 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 groundJanuary 2021 [2]
BuiltOctober 1, 2022
OpenedOctober 12, 2022
Construction costUS$134 million [3]
ArchitectSCI 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]
Valley Suns (NBAGL) 2024–present
Arizona Bandits (AF1) 2025–present

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

Contents

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 as well as the NBA G League's Valley Suns and Arena Football One's Arizona Bandits. 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 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 Mullett Arena From the East End.jpg
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 what was to be their next three to four NHL seasons. On February 10, 2022, the Coyotes signed what was to be 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 for by the team. [3] During the Coyotes' short tenure in the building, it officially had the lowest permanent seating capacity in the NHL in the modern-day era.

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 considered 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. Following that game's conclusion, the Coyotes were revealed to have agreed to suspend operations for a five-year period of time (thus ending their lease prematurely), with many of their assets moving to Utah to become a new, technically expansion Utah Hockey Club, but in June, the Coyotes franchise would more or less cease operations following the cancellation of a land auction that team owner Alex Meruelo was planning on winning during that month for the team.

On May 22, 2024, it was announced that the Valley Suns, the NBA G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns, will play their home games at the Mullett Arena starting in the 2024–25 NBA G League season. [13] The Valley Suns would make their home debut on November 11, 2024, against the Stockton Kings after splitting their first two road games against the Santa Cruz Warriors, winning their home debut 108–100. Two-way contract player Jalen Bridges led the team in scoring in their home debut with 24 points that night. [14] Another two-way contract player in TyTy Washington Jr. had 20 of his friends and family cheering him on during that game due to him being a local player. [15]

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. [16]

For the first four Coyotes home games, temporary locker room accommodations were set up within the confines of the Mountain America Community Iceplex for the visiting teams. [17] 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 long 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). The building housed all of the on-site NHL training and locker room facilities during the Coyotes' temporary stay at the Mullett Arena.

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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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "ASU, SDA Announces Commencement of Multi-Purpose Arena". Sun Devil Athletics. December 16, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  3. 1 2 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. ↑ "Valley Suns Officially Introduced As Suns G League Affiliate Team". NBA G League. May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  14. ↑ https://gleague.nba.com/game/sto-vs-val-2052400024
  15. ↑ https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2024/11/11/24294242/two-ways-tyty-washington-jr-jalen-bridges-lead-valley-suns-to-victory-in-inaugural-home-opener
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. ↑ Rosen, Dan (October 27, 2022). "Coyotes excited for Mullett opener, expect advantage at intimate new home". NHL.com. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
Events and tenants
Preceded by Home of the
Arizona State Sun Devils men's hockey
2022 – present		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Home of the
Arizona State Sun Devils women's hockey
2022 – present		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Home of the
Arizona State Sun Devils women's gymnastics
2022 – present		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Home of the
Arizona State Sun Devils men's wrestling
2022 – present		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Home of the
Arizona Coyotes
2022 – 2024		Succeeded by
Last arena
Preceded by
Franchise established
 Home of the
Valley Suns
2024 – present		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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