Ryan Smith has hockey roots. He has been playing roller hockey since he was young and can also skate a little. He played his league hockey from his 1969 to 1994 when he was in the minors his team was in Salt Lake he was in the golden he was watching the Eagles and he was in the Wayne Gretzky era he was from 1988 until he was in 1996 He wore his Kings apparel in Los Angeles.
But that's not why he and his wife, Ashley, are bringing the NHL to Utah.
Smith said he's become more intrigued by the NHL in recent years, which makes him say, I would definitely bet on hockey (prosperity). We all know about playoff hockey and live hockey, but there's no other sporting event quite like it. ”
Smith owns the NBA's Utah Jazz, Smith Entertainment Group owns Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake, and David Blitzer owns stakes in several sports franchises, including the New Jersey Devils. Serves as managing partner.
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“He said, 'My favorite place in the world is behind the glass in New Jersey. No matter what sporting event it is, that's my happy place,'” Smith said. “And I thought, 'Wow.' And we talked about it.”
Smith said he has been talking to the NHL about an expansion team for probably two years. Then an opportunity arose that was neither an expansion nor a relocation, but something unique.
The Arizona Coyotes spent two seasons at Mallett Arena. Mallett Arena is a 4,600-seat facility intended as a temporary home base until a permanent home is constructed. The situation remains uncertain, and new arenas are still years away at best.
So the NHL Board of Governors voted Thursday to establish a team in Utah. Smith purchased the contracts of Arizona executives, coaches and players. The team will play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, the home of the Jazz from 1991 to 1992.
The Arizona franchise has been suspended. Arizona State owner Alex Meruelo could reopen the stadium if he builds a proper arena within five years.
“I think we look at that and think, 'Hey, we can help, too,'” Smith said. “I think there's a better way, easier to scale. I think there's a better way. The infrastructure is being built. The roster is there. The assets are there. So, look, what's going to happen in five years? We can all talk about what's the better option, but Utah is ready to build a team. Let's go.”
Mr. Smith touched on important topics in the interview:
market
Utah has a rich hockey history. The Golden Eagles played in the Western Hockey League from 1969 to 1974, the Central Hockey League from 1974 to 1984, and the International Hockey League from 1984 to 1994. Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics, which featured NHL players. The original Utah Grizzlies played in the IHL from 1995 to 2001 and in the American Hockey League from 2001 to 2005. The current Utah Grizzlies played in the ECHL from 2005 to 2006.
When the original Grizzlies won the Turner Cup in 1996, 17,381 fans gathered at Delta Center for the fourth and final game against the Orlando Solar Bears. This was a minor league record at the time. Salt Lake City has hosted seven NHL preseason games since 1998, including five at Delta Center. The Jazz continued their strong draw this season despite finishing 12th in the Western Conference.
“The only thing I know about Utah State is that people show up,” Smith said. “His NCAA basketball tournament was just here, and the whole arena was packed. It's just different. It's just different here. [the Jazz have] 291 consecutive games were sold out at Delta Center. I think every concert that comes to town is sold out. That's what we're doing. will appear. I have a lot of faith in the people of Utah. ”
Smith said Utah plans to build a community rink, similar to what the Las Vegas Golden Knights, who joined the NHL in 2017-18, and the Seattle Kraken, who joined the league in 2021-22, did. Ta.
“100 percent,” Smith said. “Actually, that's probably part of the most exciting part of this for me, because I know it works and I know people want it. .
“Everyone I know from a team standpoint has played team hockey or youth hockey. … They're not just playing a sport, they're learning all the life lessons, and that's what I That's why everyone I meet is like, “I've been playing hockey since I was little.” They advertise about it. No offense, but you don't see this in many other sports. ”
arena
Delta Center was built for basketball and has 18,306 seats for NBA games. In the short term, it will need to be renovated for NHL games.
“It's probably the toughest bowl in the NBA,” Smith said. “I'm jealous of the NBA for basketball. Right now, we have 12,000 seats that are perfect (for hockey), with good visibility, and we're looking forward to seeing who they bring in and what they do with the other 6,000 seats. It's a compromise from a viewing perspective.
“But you know, I was just looking at a plan to get there.” [about 17,500] In hockey, you don't have to actually take the bowl out without messing up the slope, either from your seat or with new technology available in the basketball-to-hockey conversion method. This is very exciting. ”
Smith said he has talked with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NBA commissioner Adam Silver about doing something different.
“We really want to use our arena and really spend time creating the best dual-sport arena that exists out there, because we want to bring people as much as possible to watch both games. Because you want to keep it close or as vertical as possible,” Smith said. He said. “…How do we keep it that way while still making it really cool and innovative for hockey? It's a lot of fun and challenging, but we're going to do it.”
brand
Smith said next season's jerseys will have “Utah” on the front. The team will take time to decide on a name, logo and colors.
“It's going to be 100 percent 'Utah,' and then obviously 'Utah Something,'” he said. “Given this schedule, I don't think we'll have time to force it in the next three months, and we don't need to rush everything that's happening.”
Smith said the NHL team has signed with Doubleday & Cartwright, an independent creative studio that has worked on brand identities with professional sports teams and companies such as Apple and Nike.
“They’ve done so many identities like this,” he said. “They're the best on the planet. They're there to carry out that process. We're not going to rush them. Like, 'We've got to have this ready by fall, especially 'Utah Something.' If that's the case, it's really important not to say that.”
“So we start with the 'Utah' on the jersey and then we think about the logo and everything else and what we are. But it's a one-way door. You should try it once. I think this schedule will make the league feel good and it will make you feel good just going through the process and then when it’s time to call it quits.”
How long does it take?
“Look, I don't think this is a 24-month process,” he said. “It's a placeholder, but it's like not a placeholder, because it's going to be 'Utah' either way, right?” You can see the first part of the name. We have no end. ”
team
Smith was not allowed to speak with executives, coaches or players until the deal was finalized.
“I wish I could call everyone and work every minute,” he said. “Unfortunately, that's not thought of. … In a way, it's like sitting on the fence and watching, and I also think there's a season to be played.”
Smith said his priority now is to get everyone in Utah and “get them a great experience.” Nothing like this has happened since the Jazz moved from New Orleans in 1979.
“We have a great roster and a lot of young talent. We have to welcome those people to Smith Entertainment Group and show them what it means and what it's like.” said. “I think it's a good opportunity for us. [We need to] Introducing them to Utah and bringing the community together to embrace them, that's what we want to do.
“So I think they're in a little bit of a difficult situation, but I think we have a chance as a community to show that this is a moment. It's the last time a team of this size has been here since 1979. This is a “Where were you when this happened?” moment. “
