Financing plan for Tucson hockey team moves forward

The Rio Nuevo Board agreed today to spend $3.2 million to prepare the Tucson Convention Center for a professional hockey team.

The NHL’s Arizona Coyotes announced last week that its plan to purchase the Springfield (Massachusetts) Falcons of the American Hockey League and relocate the team to Tucson, where they will serve as the parent club's top minor-league affiliate.

Tuesday’s financial commitment is dependent on the City Council approving the plan and the AHL agreeing to the sale of the hockey team.

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There are also conditions the board said will help Tucson recoup costs if the team leaves early.

The funding would cover the first phase of improvements, mostly locker rooms and other amenities needed to have the team playing here by October.