Timeline: Looking back at the Arizona Coyotes' 19-year run in Glendale
The Arizona Coyotes play their final game at Glendale's Gila River Arena on Friday after opening there on Dec. 27, 2003.
At the time, the team that had moved to Phoenix from Winnipeg, Canada, was anxious for a home to call their own.
Glendale was looking to transform itself from a sleepy suburb.
Here’s a look back.
1996
The Coyotes move to Phoenix from Winnipeg, Canada, where they had played as the Winnipeg Jets. The team shares space with the Phoenix Suns in what was then America West Arena.
More:Glendale and the Arizona Coyotes needed each other. Both bet they no longer do after 19 years
2001
Team owner Richard Burke sells the team to Steve Ellman, Jerry Moyes and Wayne Gretzky.
Ellman wants to build an arena and entertainment complex in Scottsdale but can't reach agreement over costs.
Ellman looks west and inks a deal with Glendale. The city borrows $183 million to build a hockey and concert arena near Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue, in an area of farm fields.
2003
The team, still known as the Phoenix Coyotes, plays its first game in Glendale against the Nashville Predators.
2006
The Westgate Entertainment District opens two years behind schedule. Ellman builds the mixed-use project as part of the arena deal. Glendale leaders envision paying off the arena debt with sales tax revenue generated in and around Westgate.
Trucking baron Jerry Moyes, who lives in Glendale, becomes the Coyotes majority owner.
2009
Moyes files the Coyotes into bankruptcy and the NHL takes over running the team as the city and league fight against a proposal to sell to a Canadian billionaire who wants to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario.
End of an era:Gila River Arena memories and moments through the years, from some familiar faces
2011
The Glendale City Council votes to pay the NHL $25 million to manage the arena as it continues searching for a long-term Coyotes owner.
2012
The city agrees to pay another $25 million to the NHL to manage the arena.
2013
IceArizona buys the Coyotes from the NHL, and the city enters an arena management and lease agreement with the team.
2014
The team changes its name to the Arizona Coyotes as part of an agreement with Glendale.
Andrew Barroway becomes majority owner of the team.
What's next:Gila River Arena moving on from Arizona Coyotes, but not sports entirely
2015
The Glendale City Council votes 5-2 to end its 15-year agreement for the Coyotes to manage and play at Gila River Arena.
2016
The Coyotes operate on a year-to-year lease. Glendale or the team can decide not to renew the agreement by providing written notice each year on or before Dec. 31.
Glendale hires AEG Facilities, now known as ASM Global, to operate the arena. The Los Angeles-based company owns the Staples Center, where the Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Sharks play, as well as the nearby L.A. Live sports and entertainment district.
2017
The team meets with Mesa’s city manager and eyes land around the Chicago Cubs Mesa spring training ballpark for a potential new arena.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, in a March letter to the Arizona Legislature, says the Coyotes “must have a new arena location to succeed.”
“The Coyotes cannot and will not remain in Glendale,” he writes.
Andrew Barroway becomes the sole owner of the franchise. At the time of Bettman's letter, Barroway issues a statement saying Glendale no longer is an option because the team loses tens of millions of dollars playing in Gila River Arena.
2019
Billionaire Alex Meruelo buys a 95% stake in the team.
Tempe officials meet in closed-door sessions to discuss plans for the land where the Coyotes now are considering a new arena.
2020
The team is at least $500,000 behind in payments to the arena management company.
City Manager Kevin Phelps reaches out to the Coyotes and arena manager to express interest in trying to negotiate a longer-term lease with the team.
2021
Tempe issues a request for proposals to develop 46 acres of land just west of Tempe Town Lake with a professional sports stadium or arena, housing, retail development and a large plaza. The Coyotes confirm it plans to submit a proposal for the land.
Glendale announces it won’t renew the Coyotes lease after the 2021-2022 season.
The Arizona Coyotes propose a $1.7 billion development in Tempe with a hockey arena, hotels, apartments and shops that the team says would be financed by private investors, although it wants to use a portion of city sales tax revenues generated on the site to help pay for $200 million in additional costs.
Phoenix airport officials raise concerns about the proposed development, although team officials say it won't impact Sky Harbor International Airport.
2022
The Arizona Board of Regents signs off on a deal for the Coyotes to play home games at a new multipurpose arena at Arizona State University in Tempe through 2025.
The Tempe City Council meets in a closed-door session for its first review of the Coyotes proposal.