<P> The Coyotes were founded on December 27 , 1971 , as the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association ( WHA ) . After the WHA had ceased operations , they were one of four franchises absorbed into the National Hockey League and then granted membership on June 22 , 1979 . The Jets moved to Phoenix on July 1 , 1996 , and were renamed the Phoenix Coyotes . The NHL took ownership of the Phoenix Coyotes franchise in 2009 after owner Jerry Moyes turned it over to the league after declaring bankruptcy . Spending several years finding prospective owners who would not move the franchise out of Metro Phoenix , the NHL completed the sale of the Coyotes to IceArizona Acquisition Co. , LLC . on August 5 , 2013 . </P>
<P> The Coyotes were founded on December 27 , 1971 , as the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association ( WHA ) . After the WHA had ceased operations , they were one of four franchises absorbed into the National Hockey League and then granted membership on June 22 , 1979 . The Jets moved to Phoenix on July 1 , 1996 , and were renamed the Phoenix Coyotes . The NHL took ownership of the Phoenix Coyotes franchise in 2009 after owner Jerry Moyes turned it over to the league after declaring bankruptcy . Spending several years finding prospective owners who would not move the franchise out of Metro Phoenix , the NHL completed the sale of the Coyotes to IceArizona Acquisition Co. , LLC . on August 5 , 2013 . </P>
when did the arizona coyotes become a team
when did the arizona coyotes become a team
December 27 , 1971
December 27 , 1971