Is Tucson a Hockey Town? | Roadrunners President Bob Hoffman on Hockey’s Future in Tucson

In this episode of The Upside, host Edmund Marquez sits down with Bob Hoffman, President of the Tucson Roadrunners, for a behind-the-scenes look at professional hockey in Tucson and the future of the sport in Southern Arizona. Edmund and Bob talk about the Roadrunners’ connection to the NHL, the impact of the Arizona Coyotes’ move to Utah, Tucson’s growing reputation as a hockey market, and how the upcoming Mosaic Quarter development could change the future of ice sports in the region. They also discuss the business of minor league sports, the importance of local fan support, the Roadrunners’ 10-year anniversary, and what’s ahead for the team over the next few seasons. Timestamps 00:00 – Tucson’s place in professional hockey 01:02 – Introduction to Bob Hoffman and the Tucson Roadrunners 01:37 – Roadrunners, Sugar Skulls, and pro sports at the TCC 01:59 – From Arizona Coyotes to Utah Mammoth 03:10 – How the NHL affiliation works after the move to Utah 05:21 – Comparing Indoor Football and AHL hockey 06:01 – Player development and the path to the NHL 07:43 – NIL, transfer portal, and changes in athlete development 09:04 – Junior hockey, college hockey, and NHL draft rights 10:53 – Understanding the hockey league structure 11:53 – Franchise values and the business of sports 13:41 – TV deals, streaming, and growing sports audiences 14:39 – The Roadrunners’ 10th season in Tucson 15:22 – Contract status and possible future relocation discussions 17:31 – Why Tucson has proven itself as a hockey town 18:35 – Could the NHL return to Arizona? 20:38 – Youth hockey demand and Mosaic Quarter 21:35 – How Mosaic Quarter could help the Roadrunners 24:13 – The upside: what’s next for the Roadrunners 25:27 – Community impact and keeping hockey in Tucson 26:20 – Supporting local sports in Southern Arizona The Upside is sponsored by The Heath Team at NOVA Home Loans, the Tucson Sugar Skulls, and Lumify Creative Agency. #TheUpside #TucsonRoadrunners #TucsonSports #TucsonHockey #AHLHockey #TucsonBusiness #SouthernArizona #DowntownTucson #MosaicQuarter #TucsonSugarSkulls #EdmundMarquez #BobHoffman