The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in a suburb just outside of Phoenix. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). Their home games are played at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

Founded in 1972 as the original Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association, the team moved to Phoenix in 1996 and became Coyotes. Their original home venue was America West Arena (now called US Airways Center), but due to its inadequacy for hockey games, a new venue, Jobing.com Arena, was built in Glendale.

The Phoenix Coyotes have been owned by the National Hockey League itself since 2009, when Jerry Moyes, who purchased the team in 2005 and had incurred massive financial losses, declared bankruptcy in 2008 and ultimately sold the team to them. Moyes had previously attempted to privately sell the team to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie, who wanted to relocate the team to Hamilton, Ontario. However, the NHL protested that the attempted sale was a violation of league policy; a court agreed. As a result, Jerry Moyes was stripped of his remaining authority.

Despite the Phoenix Coyotes franchise’s uncertain future, on September 30, 2011, it was reported that ticket sales were up and season ticket renewals were at an all-time high.  Currently, the NHL and the city of Glendale are talking to two potential ownership groups.

2011 Season Schedule

Roller Derby Basic Training Camp

Arizona Roller Derby takes on Tucson

Arizona Roller Derby (AZRD) is bringing in their 9^th season with a blast.  Join AZRD’s Bad News Beaters as they take on the Furious Truck Stop Waitresses (FTW) of Tucson Roller Derby this Saturday night, October 8^th.

This interleague bout is sure to turn some heads, as both of these WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association) leagues battle it out in the second game of the season.

Want more derby?  Good, because this double-header event will also feature AZRD’s own Brawlarinas, who will be taking on the Beaters, also of Arizona Roller Derby.  With technique and strategy, not to mention some good old fashion hip checks, AZRD will have Castle Sports Club packed with derby fans and skaters rooting for their favorite teams.

As one of the top 20 WFTDA leagues in the country, AZRD always hits the track full force.  WFTDA bouts feature a very athletic atmosphere and as the only WTFDA league in Phoenix, AZRD is sure to rock the derby socks off everyone in the house.

Doors open at 6pm with the first bout starting at 6:30pm.  Adult Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door and children’s rates are discounted to $5.

For more information or to get tickets, visit: http://arizonaderbygirls.com.

Castle Sports Club

11420 North 19th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85029

Phoenix Christian Wrestling Team

Not all kids are bulky enough for football or tall enough for basketball but Wrestlers can come in all shapes & sizes from 106lbs to 285lbs.

After all, with wrestling’s 14 weight classes it doesn’t matter whether you’re tall, skinny, short, heavy, or somewhere in between, every student can wrestle. And like anything valuable in life wrestling too takes hard work, so hard in fact that only those with commitment make it past their first year.

But after that first year of battling through the skill & strength barrier things suddenly change. You learn a few more moves, a couple counter moves, pump some iron, run

a few laps and before you realize it you’re winning more matches.

We want to provide an affordable opportunity for all kids in the Phoenix area to do just that, hone your skills & win more matches.

This summer spend your money wisely and join us in our unique approach

to CROSS TRAINING – Wrestling & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

We’re here all Summer Long. Centrally Located. Easy Freeway Access.

We’re offering specialized Clinics & Competitions: http://bit.ly/mwjJm8

Check us out today!

Regards,

*******

Joe Frost

Wrestling Coach

Wrestling Club Program Director

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This is a non-paid article on behalf of the Phoenix Christian Wrestling Program.

Arizona Auto Show November 1

Arizona International Auto Show 2010
By: Trevor Freeman

November is that special time of year when the weather starts to get cold, families come together for Thanksgiving, and the cars roll into town. By cars, I mean the Arizona International Auto show at the Phoenix Convention Center. This event comes to town each year on Thanksgiving weekend. This year’s show could be the best one yet!

Here’s how it works: for four days, the Phoenix Convention Center fills up with brand-new vehicles from the world’s major automakers. They are on display in a no-pressure environment where prospective buyers can get a feel for them. You can sit down, play with the knobs, adjust the seat, and kick the tires without being hassled by salesmen.

With over 400 cars spread out among 310,000 square feet of space, the 2010 Arizona International Auto Show is a fun way to check out all the latest models while walking off the extra pounds from Thanksgiving.

Besides mass-production vehicles, the Auto Show is also a great place to check out concept vehicles. These one-off models may or may not make it to production, so in some cases this may be your only chance to see them. This year the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 and Chevrolet Camaro LS7 concept vehicles will be on display.

My favorite part of the auto show takes place at the curb in front of the Phoenix Convention Center, where select carmakers have ride-and-drive events set up. This gives you a chance to ride along in or drive a brand new car around downtown Phoenix. Last year, I drove the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS automatic coupe with the 400-horsepower V8. It was such a blast that I was smiling all day long!

Arizona Auto Show November Number 2

Other manufacturers including Ford and Jeep also have ride-and-drive pavilions featuring their latest models. The Jeep exhibit takes passengers over a rough off-road course in a Trail-Rated Jeep vehicle, which is driven by a professional 4×4 driver. At the Ford pavilion, drivers can take the wheel of a brand new 2011 Ford Fiesta, Mustang, Taurus, Edge, F150 pickup, or a Super Duty Diesel truck.

If you’re looking for a great way to spend your Thanksgiving weekend, I highly recommend visiting the Arizona International Auto Show.

Date: November 25-28, 2010
Hours: 9am to 7pm Thursday and Sunday, 9am to 9pm Friday and Saturday
Admission: $9 adults, $5 military, students, seniors, and children 7-12. Children 6 and under are free.

For more information, visit: http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/phoenix/generalinfo.jsp

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Trevor Freeman is a resident of the Phoenix valley and a contributing author to Phoenix.org. He also maintains his own local blog at NorthPhoenixBlog.Blogspot.com.

If you would like to contribute an article to Phoenix.org then please contact our editor at Troy@Phoenix.org.

By: Trevor Freeman

Like any major city, Phoenix has its share of excellent shopping, dining, and entertainment attractions. But what if you want to do something a little more unique, something a little more…Arizona? In that case, here are ten activities which you can only do in Phoenix.

10. Ride “Desert Storm”

Castles-N-Coasters is the home of Desert Storm, Arizona’s biggest roller coaster and the only one in the state with two inverted loops. Besides the coaster, Castles-N-Coasters also offers other rides, miniature golf, and a two-story arcade.

Hotel San Carlos Phoenix

9. Take a Ghost Tour

The Hotel San Carlos in downtown Phoenix is rumored to be haunted by the spirit of a woman who leapt to her death from the hotel’s roof in the 1930s. The hotel caters to ghost hunters with guided tours running October through December.

8. Climb Camelback Mountain

This Phoenix landmark does sort of look like a camel’s hump, if you squint a little. It is one of the most popular trails in town and provides hikers with an excellent view of Phoenix and the quirky Camelback Castle.

7. Catch a Diamondbacks Game

Nothing is more enjoyable than watching a baseball game on a real grass field – unless of course it were air-conditioned! That’s exactly the case at Chase Field, where the retractable roof opens and closes in just over four minutes.

6. Eat at Pizzeria Bianco

This locally owned pizzeria in downtown Phoenix was voted the Best Pizza in America by New York food critic Ed Levine in 2005. Chef Chris Bianco’s gourmet wood-fired pizzas are a big draw, so grab a drink at the bar while you wait for a table. Wait times can be as long as 2 hours, even on a weeknight!

5. Ride the Light Rail

Valley Light Metro Rail

Phoenix’s light rail system offers 20 miles of track connecting the city with Mesa and Tempe. Take a ride on the smooth and quiet electric train and experience one of Phoenix’s newest icons.

4. Play Golf in December

There’s no question about it, Phoenix is a hotspot for golfers. With over 250 days of sunshine per year and over 150 courses in the greater Phoenix area, you can get in another round at any time of the year.

3. Dine with a Twist

The Compass Restaurant in downtown Phoenix will have your head spinning before you even get to your table! As Arizona’s only revolving restaurant, it makes one full revolution in about an hour. Lunch and dinner are served year round.

2. Visit Hunt’s Tomb

Located in Papago Park near the Phoenix Zoo, Hunt’s Tomb is the final resting place of Arizona’s first Governor. Mr. Hunt served seven terms as Governor of Arizona and is one of the few non-Egyptians to be commemorated with a pyramid.

1. Visit Ro Ho En Japanese Garden

This Japanese garden is one of Phoenix’s best kept secrets. Located above the Interstate 10 “Deck Park” tunnel, the garden features traditional Japanese plants and landscaping that provide a truly relaxing experience.

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Trevor Freeman is a resident of the Phoenix valley and a contributing author to Phoenix.org. He also maintains his own local blog at NorthPhoenixBlog.Blogspot.com.

If you would like to contribute an article to Phoenix.org then please contact our editor at Troy@Phoenix.org.

This article is provided by one of Phoenix.org’s guest writers. We are still in the process of finding a local writer to compose our weekly sports column. If you know of an individual that would like the exposure that will come from a weekly column on the Valley of the Sun’s most trusted resource site then have them contact Phoenix.org.

Just What Kind of Sports does Arizona Have?

Arizona Cardinals

As hot as temperatures can get, Phoenix is even hotter when it comes to sports. As a host to numerous sporting events and home to a thriving sports culture, Phoenix has what every sports enthusiast needs. It offers an array of sports bars, sporting events, and a deep well of sports history. Including basketball, football, NASCAR racing, Phoenix has everything a sports enthusiast could want.

Not every city can claim that it is home to numerous sports franchises, let alone that it represents all four major professional sports leagues in the United States. Two of the Phoenix teams carry the city’s name and play within the city limits.

The first of these professional teams is the Phoenix Suns of NBA fame, who started their career at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum over forty years ago. In 1992 the team changed playing locations to the US Airways Center, which used to be known as the American West Arena.

The teams of Phoenix have not just crossed sports boundaries. By being great teams, they have also participated in historical social movements. As one of the original eight teams pioneering basketball for women, Phoenix Mercury helped launch the Women’s National Basketball Association over ten years ago.

Phoenix also is home to several amazing locations for sports events. Phoenix Mercury and the Phoenix Suns hold court at the United States Airways Center, which has served as the home for the 1995 and 2009 NBA All-Star Games. Similarly, the arena football team the Arizona Rattlers play at the US Airways Center.  Other teams continue to move to the Phoenix area, such as the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League, who moved to the Jobing Arena  over a decade ago.  In addition, the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum is home to the Phoenix Flame, the team of International Basketball League fame.

Also, the collection of teams known as the Cactus League determined that the favorable climate of was a good reason to conduct spring training in Tuscon and the nearby Phoenix metro area. How could they not? Though temperatures often escalate close to 100 degrees, Phoenix has the most reliable precipitation of any state. Rainfall is sparse, allowing teams to practice outside with little worry over weather-based interference.

This weather becomes particularly beneficial for sporting events other than football and basketball. Phoenix also hosts the Phoenix International Raceway, a major venue for NASCAR racing events.