Fans of the NHL's Arizona Coyotes are still hurting after the team they followed with dedication for nearly three decades was relocated to Salt Lake City for the 2024-2025 season. The newly named Utah Hockey Club made a successful debut at the opening of the season on October 8, beating the Chicago Blackhawks at the Delta Center in Utah. The sale of the team to tech billionaire Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz NBA team, was approved by the NHL in April.
Of course, it's not the first time sports fans have had to deal with the news that their favorite team is no longer to be based in their home city. In fact, since the 1940s, dozens of sports franchises across North America have made the decision to relocate, usually to be rebranded as a result. But what are some of the more high-profile and controversial moves that have taken place over the last several decades or so?
Click through and discover the cities that lost sports franchises.