The parent company of the Utah Jazz also wants an NHL team in Salt Lake City.
Lauri Markkanen The owners of the NBA club Utah Jazz are eyeing an NHL team in Salt Lake City, reported the news, among other things TSN and NBA website.
The Utah Jazz’s parent company is Smith Entertainment Group, which owns several other Utah-based sports and entertainment companies, such as MLS team Real Salt Lake, NWSL team Utah Royals and the home arena of the Utah Jazz.
On Wednesday, Smith Entertainment Group had given the NHL its official request for the NHL to start the expansion process. The company also informed the NHL that it would be immediately ready to run an NHL team, as the Utah Jazz’s home arena could be used temporarily for NHL games.
– SEG envisions a near future where the NHL will flourish in Utah, and we are 100% focused on making it a reality as soon as possible, said the chairman of Smith Entertainment Group and the Utah Jazz Ryan Smith.
Smith Entertainment Group has been in talks with the commissioner of the NHL by Gary Bettman with from 2022.
– Utah has a long history in hockey, the country’s strongest economy, passionate sports fans and the youngest and most active population. These factors make Utah ripe for the expansion of our sports and entertainment community, said the governor Spencer Cox.
Salt Lake City hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002. It is also bidding for the 2030 Winter Games. Governor Spencer Cox emphasizes Salt Lake City’s “longstanding reputation as one of the world’s great winter sports capitals.”
The NHL announced that it appreciates Smith Entertainment Group’s interest in bringing NHL hockey to Utah.
– During the discussions, we have been impressed by Ryan and Ashley Smith’s commitment to their community and their passion and vision for Utah, not only as a hockey market, but also as a major sports and entertainment destination. Utah is a promising market and we look forward to continuing our discussions.
Utah’s first professional ice hockey team, the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, played in the WHL, CHL and IHL leagues from 1969 to 1994.
Professional hockey returned to Utah in 1995 when the Denver Grizzlies became the Utah Grizzlies. It plays in the ECHL, i.e. the East Coast Hockey League, and is a partner of the NHL club Colorado Avalanche.
The NHL last expanded for the 2021-22 season when the Seattle Kraken entered the league. There are currently 32 teams playing in the NHL.