CHICAGO -- The American Hockey League board of governors has granted conditional approval to the Arizona Coyotes to buy the Springfield Falcons and relocate the franchise to Tucson, Arizona.
The board unanimously approved the sale and move at a meeting on Tuesday.
The Coyotes still must work out a deal with Tucson and get City Council approval before the franchise can be relocated from Springfield, Massachusetts.
If all conditions of the transaction are met, the Coyotes' AHL affiliate will play at the Tucson Convention Center Arena for the 2016-17 season.
The AHL board also is considering an application to transfer ownership of the Portland Pirates and relocate that franchise from Maine to Massachusetts.