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Janis Mosers Arizona has been playing in a mini arena since this season. This has no negative impact on the performance of the Swiss.
The Coyotes have never been known to large audiences. Since the 1996/97 season, when the NHL franchise found a new home in the state of Arizona, fan numbers have remained modest. Even in the recent past, the Gila River Arena in Glendale, with a capacity of a good 17,000, has rarely been full. An average of 11,600 fans came to the home games last season, and the capacity utilization was 68 percent.
But since this season things have been very different. The team has relocated to Mullett Arena on the Arizona State University campus. Although this is brand new, it only holds 5000 spectators.
Legend:
Not exactly impressive
This is what the Mullett Arena looks like from the outside.
Keystone/AP/Ross D Franklin
Small house but full house
“It’s a bit like in Biel or maybe in the new arena in Ambri,” says Janis Moser SRF. The Swiss, who played his first NHL game for the Coyotes in December 2021, feels reminded of his early days as a professional in Switzerland. After all, the small stadium is always sold out.
The temporary solution was necessary after the city of Glendale let the lease with the Coyotes expire due to non-payment. Until the 2025/26 season, Arizona will play in the “provisional”. Then the new arena in Tempe should be ready.
For Moser, the incision is not too big. On the contrary: “The stadium is cool, it feels a lot fuller. The mood is better than in the half-empty stadium last year,” said the defender. Nevertheless, by NHL standards, 5,000 spectators are modest. Usually there are at least three times as many.
You learn to take responsibility. This is extremely important for a young player.
Irrespective of this, Moser has matured from a rookie to a mainstay in just over a year. He regularly receives the most ice time of all Coyotes players from coach André Tourigny. And that at the age of only 22 years. He gladly takes the chance to prove himself. “You learn to take responsibility. That’s extremely important for a young player.”
In 51 games, Moser has scored 5 goals and 13 assists, recently his values have faltered a bit. Although things aren’t going well for the team and reaching the playoffs will remain a dream, he has taken another step. He didn’t think that the breakthrough would happen so quickly. “But now I’ve gotten used to playing in the best league in the world. It’s closer to reality.”