Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has been consistent with his message about the future growth of the league.
Just in the last few months, he has said "expansion isn't on the forefront of what we're thinking about … but I'm not ruling it out," and that "we haven't decided to do anything (on expansion) but we listen, and maybe at some point we'll do something and maybe we won't."
He's tiptoed around the subject without completely shutting it down.
"At some point, somebody may create a proposal that we find so intriguing that we decide to explore it and maybe pursue it," he said in December.
Ryan Smith believes he has such a proposal. On Wednesday, the Utah Jazz owner made an official play for the NHL.
The Smith Entertainment Group announced it has formally requested the NHL to start an expansion process for a potential Utah franchise.
"SEG envisions a near future where the NHL will thrive in Utah, and we are 100% focused on making this happen as soon as possible," Smith said. "We are passionate about sports and entertainment in the state and are committed to providing premium sports and entertainment experiences for the people of Utah and visitors from around the world. We are ready to welcome the NHL and are confident that the time and attention being spent by all parties will bring one of the most exciting and dynamic leagues in the world to our community on a permanent basis."
This isn't a shot-in-the-dark proposal by SEG. Ryan and Ashley Smith and their group have met with Bettman since early 2022 about the potential to bring the league to the Wasatch Front. Wednesday's announcement is a sign of how serious those talks have become. But, ultimately, the decision isn't Bettman's; it falls to the NHL's Board of Governors.
"The NHL appreciates the interest expressed by Smith Entertainment Group to bring NHL hockey to Utah," the NHL said in a statement. "During conversations over the course of the past two years, 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 as a preeminent sports and entertainment destination. Utah is a promising market, and we look forward to continuing our discussions."
So what are the next steps? The recent expansion process of the Seattle Kraken may provide somewhat of an outline.
In December 2017, the NHL's Board of Governors agreed to consider Seattle's bid. Two months later, the group of owners submitted an official application. The next month, a season-ticket drive began to gauge interest in the potential of a new franchise. In December 2018, a year after the board voted to consider the application, it approved it, making Seattle the newest franchise.
SEG and Utah hockey fans can likely expect a similar type of process. Utah isn't the only place interested in adding an NHL team, though. Bettman has spoke often of Quebec City, Houston and Atlanta as other cities vying for the league. But Utah's governor thinks the state has a strong case to welcome the next NHL's franchise.
"Utah has a long history with hockey, the strongest economy in the nation, a passionate sports fanbase, and the youngest and most active population. These factors make Utah ripe for the expansion of our sports and entertainment community. We couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to welcome the NHL," Governor Spencer Cox said.
SEG's proposal includes a new arena for the potential NHL team at a site yet to be determined. SEG has had past conversations with The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority over a possible new arena on the old Utah State Prison site in Draper. Salt Lake City has also made it clear it would like to be home to any new arena.
Smith, however, made it clear that his group is ready to welcome the NHL as early as the 2024-25 season. The Delta Center could be used as a temporary home for the franchise while the new arena is constructed.
The Jazz's longtime home, however, would not work permanently as an NHL arena. The hockey configuration has poor sightlines, poor lighting, and the capacity for NHL preseason games held at the arena have been under 10,000.
"While the Delta Center is ready to serve as an interim solution for an NHL team, Utah will need a new arena designed for professional and Olympic hockey," Smith said.
Salt Lake City has been named as the preferred host of the 2034 Winter Olympics by the International Olympic Committee. The new arena would serve as a host venue for those games.
"With the Olympics all but certain to return to Utah, a new, state-of-the-art, hockey-specific arena would be a huge contribution to our ability to host a world-class Games, including the Women's and Men's gold medal hockey games," said Fraser Bullock, chair of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games. "And bringing professional hockey to Utah will further help cement Utah's place as a premier destination for winter sports."
