Coyotes Home Opener. Best Ice Ever?

Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Arizona Coyotes will open their new arena Friday Night. While The 5,000 seat limit and locker rooms are getting all the buzz from social media, players after yesterdays practice said “This is the best ice I have ever skated on”. What is Mullett Arena doing for the grand opening, and more as I break down the Coyotes home opener.

Coyotes Have Smallest Major League Arena

Mullett Arena has it’s problems according to the public, it is too small, only seating 5,000 fans. It has horrible locker room conditions, which is only temporary, 4 games to be exact. How do the players react to the arena?

Players have been interviewed about the arena before tonight’s game, and they have nothing but good things to say.

Arizona Coyotes say Mullett Arena has the best ice they have ever skated on after Thursday’s practice.

— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) October 28, 2022

This statement was backed up by players and the head coach André Tourigny after the first practice in the arena.

From “The Point” (6-7pm ESPN2 every Tuesday)…I asked NHL players about playing NHL games at the @ArizonaCoyotes @SunDevilHockey #cawlidgehawkey rink…. pic.twitter.com/ksIQSjeit6

— BucciParmPastaExtension8X11 (@Buccigross) October 27, 2022

Players are excited to play in a small more intimate environment. Stating “things can get rowdy in there” and “it will get loud, believe me”.

While the public looks at everything in a negative spin, including the media outside of Phoenix, Arizona. Let me explain this one more time, the Coyotes moving to Tempe is huge for the city, the franchise, and the fans.

"Guys love it, I think it's fun."

Coyotes forward Christian Fischer hit the ice at Mullett Arena for the first time today. pic.twitter.com/Saxy175v0m

— PHNX Coyotes (@PHNX_Coyotes) October 27, 2022

Mullett Arena Throwing a Party…

Before the game tonight, get to the arena earlier. They will have festivities and the energy will be electric. This is what you have all been waiting for.

Home Opener Plaza Party! 🎉

Come early tomorrow to enjoy our home opener kickoff in front of Mullett Arena at 4 PM.

Players will be walking the red carpet, and we’ll have games, music, face painters and more on the plaza! pic.twitter.com/yHR7VsrZEI

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) October 27, 2022

The energy inside the arena will be on an insane level, as the arena will save a few hundred tickets for college kids. I expect this arena to become legendary as this season moves forward.

The atmosphere can give the Yotes the best home ice advantage in all of the NHL. Look for this season in Tempe to be talked about for decades.

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Rowan Donaghey is a MLB insider, NHL insider, Betting insider and breaking news reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on twitter via @RowanDonaghey