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Coyotes strike arena naming deal with Gila River Casinos

Tampa Bay Lightning v Phoenix Coyotes

during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on November 16, 2013 in Glendale, Arizona.

Christian Petersen

Big changes in the desert -- the Phoenix Coyotes have already been re-branded as the Arizona Coyotes and soon, Jobing.com Arena will become... the Gila River Arena.

On Wednesday, Coyotes CEO Anthony LeBlanc announced a nine-year partnership agreement with Gila River Casinos -- the first “federally recognized Tribal naming rights deal with a sports venue that houses one of four major professional sports leagues in the country” -- ending the building’s agreement with Jobing.com, which had been in place since 2006.

“On behalf of the entire Arizona Coyotes organization and IceArizona, we are thrilled to partner with Gila River Casinos and the Gila River Indian Community,” LeBlanc said in a statement. “Like the Coyotes, the Gila River Indian Community prides themselves on their commitment to business excellence and to their community.”

The Gila River deal still needs to be approved by Glendale City Council, which is set to occur on Sept. 9. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.