SALT LAKE CITY — On Friday, the NHL and the new owners of the Utah NHL team discussed the exciting opportunities the team brings to Beehive State University.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman joined the team's new owners, Ryan Smith and Ashley Smith of Smith Entertainment Group, in front of a packed venue at the Delta Center.
Ryan Smith said their deal with the NHL came together quickly, but he wasn't entirely sure if they had a team until Tuesday night. He said the NHL Board of Governors approved the Arizona Coyotes' transfer on Thursday, and everyone signed the paperwork at 2 a.m. Friday.
Bettman said the process and Utah's response made it clear that Utah has what it takes to be a successful home for an NHL franchise.
“We focused on the fact that these are the owners we want. This is the type of community we want to be a part of,” Bettman said. “Yes, I heard that Utah is number one in every aspect: economy, jobs, quality of life, happiness of people.”
Ashley Smith echoed this sentiment and said she wants to use the sports teams they own to bring people together.
“We have more ways to come together in a very divided world. We can come together around basketball, we can come together around hockey,” she said.
Ashley Smith also talked about what this means to her family and the possibility of bringing a Stanley Cup to Utah.
So much work, so little time
Ryan Smith talked about economics and the work that needs to be accomplished to drop the puck in the fall of the 23-24 season.
He said there are plans to build another arena outside downtown, but city and state leaders agree the team needs to stay downtown. Most of the leaders were also in attendance, including Gov. Spencer Cox, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson.
“To be honest, the plan was just to build a new arena. President Adams, Speaker Schultz, the administration, the mayor, we all came together to think about what we need to do to continue to be downtown. '' said Ryan Smith. “Downtown needs that. In fact, I think we all decided there was a moment to rethink what the downtown Salt Lake experience was like.”
Utah leader Ryan Smith talks with NHL commissioner about bringing team to Utah
He said where the Utah Jazz go, hockey goes too. But he said the deal and the sales tax increase aren't just for arenas.
“We're going to need everyone. Realtors, we've got 70 people moving here. We need your help. This is truly an asset to the community. And it's an asset to the community. “It's for the sake of it,” Ryan Smith said.
Salt Lake City and Smith Entertainment Group are working to create a project area downtown, but the details of that zone are unclear.