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Calvin Chappell
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Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Smith is making good on his promises to build the professional sports market in Utah
The NHL is coming to Utah. After weeks of rumors and reports, the NHL Board of Governors has unanimously approved the establishment of a new hockey franchise in Utah. While it is technically being called a new franchise, it will essentially be like a sale and relocation of the Arizona Coyotes personnel and players under a new name.
The memo from the NHL’s public relations states, “The National Hockey League’s Board of Governors today approved the establishment of a franchise beginning with the 2024-25 season in Utah, that will be owned and controlled by Smith Entertainment Group, which is led by Ryan and Ashley Smith. In addition, the Board approved a plan that renders the Arizona Coyotes franchise inactive, with a right to reactivate if owner Alex Meruelo has fully constructed a new, state-of-the-art facility appropriate for an NHL team within five years.
Effective at closing, the approved transactions will result in the Coyotes’ franchise transferring the totality of its existing hockey assets – including its full Reserve List, roster of Players and draft picks and its Hockey Operations Department – to the Utah franchise.”
The sale has been reportedly valued at $1.2 billion. Ryan and Ashley Smith said of the acquisition, “We are committed to building a Stanley Cup-contending team and are thrilled to welcome incredible players, coaches, staff, and their families to Utah. Today is a great day for Utah, for hockey, and for building a legacy that will have a lasting impact for generations to come.”
The Arizona Coyotes name and branding will remain in Arizona with the inactive franchise, which will require a new name and brand for the Utah NHL team. Ryan Smith has been openly requesting input from Utahns on the team name. NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported today that the team will be named Utah rather than Salt Lake City and that the team’s name may remain undecided until after their first season in Utah.
The Smiths and Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) are now the majority owners of the Utah Jazz, Real Salt Lake, the Utah Royals, and the new NHL franchise. With this purchase, SEG has applied to work with Salt Lake City to build a sports district that will house multiple franchises and arenas. Blake Apgar of the Salt Lake Tribune states that “Smith has indicated that he wants to build an NHL-specific arena” in the sporting district. Until a new arena is built, the team will play in the Delta Center.
The Arizona Coyotes have struggled, only making the playoffs once in the past twelve years. That said, they boast a roster full of young talent and a host of draft picks. The “Yote’s” won 36 games this year, the most in their last five seasons. They closed their season, winning five of theipreviousst seven games, and said goodbye to their fans in Arizona.
The 2024-25 NHL Season will begin in October 2024. Fans can place deposits for season tickets now at nhlinutah.com. SEG, the Smiths, the Delta Center, and the NHL will host a press conference tomorrow, April 19, to provide more details on the new franchise.
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