With the move to Salt Lake City imminent, Wednesday will be the last time the Arizona Coyotes play in Mullett Arena and the state of Arizona. For the past 28 years, the franchise has called the Grand Canyon State home. It has built a fanbase that has been resilient and supportive despite numerous ownership issues and relocation threats in the past.
However, April 17 will be the day that many Coyotes fans will remember as the final day of the promising team after avoiding so many issues on and off the ice in the past 28 seasons. Despite it being a sad day, it will be a day of celebration as well. A celebration of the past 28 years that has helped the sport thrive in the desert. Here’s what fans are planning.
Inside Mullett Arena
There will be plenty going on inside the self-proclaimed “party barn.” Fans announced they would be doing a whiteout where everyone would be dressed all in white. The whiteout has been a tradition in the organization dating back to when the franchise was still in Winnipeg. The movement is usually done in the playoffs and was seen heavily at Gila River Arena when the Coyotes made it to the Western Conference Final in 2012. For one last time, fans will don mainly white to honor the team and to bring some sort of playoff energy to Mullett Arena. The Coyotes will also be giving away white shirts to those in attendance.
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The 4,600 fans who watch their team play the Edmonton Oilers will also be starting a statement before the puck even drops. During the United States National Anthem, the fans will yell “still there” during the lyrics “gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there.” It’s a statement that the Coyotes fans will be waiting for their next shot at an NHL franchise.
There’s no doubt that the team will be motivated to win their final game in front of Arizona. A player like Josh Doan, who has grown up around the fanbase, knows how special this team is to plenty of people.
“There’s a lot of disappointed people out there and people who are upset,” Doan said. It’s going to hurt and sting for a while. That’s something as a player you want to feel apologetic for everything, but as someone who’s grown up in The Valley and grown up with it, you kinda feel the pain as well. I think tonight you just focus on the game, this one last game, and who knows what’s going to happen down the road. For now, the Coyotes are still Arizona’s team for one…
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