Salt Lake City-based Smith Entertainment Group filed a request for initiation of a formal expansion process by the NHL, according to a press release Wednesday. SEG owns the NBA’s Utah Jazz, MLS’ Real Salt Lake, and the NWSL’s Utah Royals.
This is the next step in the process that’s been ongoing since Ryan Smith, the head of SEG, expressed interest in receiving an NHL squad over a year ago. Salt Lake City has frequently been included in discussions as a potential relocation option if the Coyotes’ lack of a full-time arena in the Phoenix area goes unresolved.
In a statement, the NHL said they “have been impressed by [the Smiths’] commitment to their community” and called Utah “a promising market.” The league did not outline concrete next steps in a potential expansion bid but did confirm they would continue discussions with SEG.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has not yet discussed a Salt Lake City expansion with the league’s Board of Governors, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun says. Owner approval is the next large benchmark in the awarding of an expansion franchise.
If the Coyotes don’t have a formal arena plan filed with the league by the end of the month, expect relocation discussions to spread rapidly. Assumedly, Salt Lake City would still be in discussions as a relocation option, not expansion, given its proximity to the Coyotes’ current home and an NHL-ready arena in the Delta Center, home of the Jazz. The city also has concrete plans to construct a new, hockey-specific venue within the next ten years in anticipation of the 2034 Winter Olympics.
32 teams is perfect. Relocate the yotes instead
No. F Utah.
While I don’t want more teams (the league is watered down enough already) at least Salt Lake City is an acceptable location for hockey to be played.
Phoenix is the 12th biggest media market in the US with almost 5 million people in the area.
Salt Lake City is #32 media market with about 1.2 million people in the area.
I won’t bother looking up corporate base, that’s a slam dunk.
There is no scenario where the NHL makes that trade.
If only they played in downtown Phoenix instead of Glendale and now a college barn
Can’t stay in Mullet much longer before NHLPA launches a complaint… I agree 32 is perfect & SLC market is less than ideal, not when Houston, KC are available as possible relocation options in the west
If only enough Arizona fans gave a damn about the team.
Who cares (other than Bettman, of course) how big the media market is or how many people live there *if the fans aren’t interested in coming to the games.* No one wants to broadcast a half-empty arena.
There is if the larger city can’t find a new rink for their team to play in.
The arena is Salt Lake City might be NHL ready, but it’s a basketball arena and would be the worst venue in the league until a new rink is built.
Would it be worse than where the Coyotes are currently playing?
Not for revenue, but yes for viewing. Think Islanders at Barclays Center. Or, Coyotes at America West Arena.
I actually really like the TV angles at the Yotes college arena.
I got a great view of that own goal the other night. I liked that less, but…
You shouldn’t make assumptions like that. Many teams share basketball and hockey operations in the same venue. Without being long-winded about the science of water. Every part of the earth has it’s pros and cons when it comes to H2O. Be it making pizza, beer, or ice. Now for the actual seating arrangement, I’d digress and say that a venue is only as good as it’s fans. I’d also argue that anything would be better than a small college rink.
Please name the team “The Mormons”. lol
Utah Latter-Day Saints
Salt Lake City Fighting Saints
The Utah Stormin’ Mormons
Those are all good. I just imagine the announcer at a game “This Mormon power-play brought to you by Trek Bicycles.. lol Seriously, not sure what’s even acceptable beyond animals.
Salt Lake City Polygamists – every ticket gets you a hot dog and another wife!
Explain to me how the Jazz even work in that market, over the likes of KC, Buffalo, Seattle and Cincy?
Because there are plenty of sports fans in SLC?
Ah sure; better answer is that there’s no major sporting competition and they seem to have an eager owner, but I’d note the cities I mentioned and a number more have as many if not more sports fans, larger TV market & corporate head offices than SLC. But I suppose if Columbus worked out…
Owner with a lot of money. Larry Miller who has since passed away. I think his son or widow now own the team. 60 automotive dealerships throughout the western United States,[1] and a variety of other ventures, including Prestige Financial Services, Jordan Commons (a restaurant and entertainment complex), Megaplex Theatres, KJZZ-TV, Miller Motorsports Park, the advertising agency Saxton Horne, and the Delta Center. The Fanzz chain of sports apparel stores was also owned by LHM Group until its sale to Ames Watson Capital in 2018.[2]
This is a very planned News release to get the attention away from the World Juniors scandal, Ridiculous move by Bettman. FYI. The league has no plans of expansion for a very long time!
Really? You can’t pay attention to more than one story at a time so this is an NHL led conspiracy? Where do you come up with this stuff? Oh and thanks for your insider info on expansion. Always take your stuff with a barrel of salt.
Thank you so much! I can’t take credit because I’m not an insider, Just an avid reader of all things NHL. The entire expansion story and the timing was all Gary Bettman.
Utah Yotes. What a name
at least it makes sense.
I have been a Yotes fan since they moved here from Winnipeg and I was living in Oro Valley, Tucson. But it has been a living nightmare regarding changes in venues, fiascos in ownership, our GMs penalized and losing first-round draft choices, and now a 4,000 seat arena. And we can’t even get the city to let us build an arena on a garbage dump. Attendance-wise, the Jazz are as good as any percentage-wise, and SLC is going to host the 2034 Winter Olympics. And sorry folks, but Phoenix will never, ever be a hockey town; soccer is their fourth-choice for sports.