Utah Hockey Club Powers Up Salt Lake City's Sports Scene
Salt Lake City is transforming into a prominent sports destination, and the Utah Hockey Club is playing a key role in this shift. After relocating from Phoenix, the team kicked off its inaugural season in the NHL this fall, marking the beginning of a new era for the city’s growing sports culture. With tech billionaire Ryan Smith at the helm of the ownership group, Salt Lake City is now positioning itself as a major player in the world of professional sports.
The move comes at an exciting time for Salt Lake City, one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. The city is home to a vibrant economy, a booming job market, and a strong population that is increasingly engaged in winter sports. With Smith’s deep ties to the region—he founded Qualtrics, a leading tech company in the state—he has become a driving force behind the push to make Salt Lake a sports hub. Beyond hockey, Smith already owns the Utah Jazz NBA team, Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer, and the Utah Royals in the National Women's Soccer League. His involvement in these teams has helped revitalize the local sports scene and has sparked a wave of enthusiasm among fans.
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From the moment the Utah Hockey Club took to the ice in October 2024, the energy around the team was palpable. The team has experienced sell-out crowds, with all 11,131 unobstructed seats at Delta Center sold for every game, and a record-breaking surge in merchandise sales. Even beer sales at the arena have skyrocketed, with nearly $600,000 in beer revenue generated in the first few weeks of the season. The demand for the team’s merchandise has also been off the charts, with the Utah Hockey Club surpassing the NHL’s season-opening sales records set by the Florida Panthers, the 2023 Stanley Cup champions.
It’s clear that Salt Lake City is ready for professional hockey. The excitement surrounding the team has been a testament to the city’s passion for sports. Ryan Smith himself couldn’t help but express his amazement at the positive reception. "Everyone walks into the bowl of the arena and they say, ‘I cannot believe the NHL is here. We have an NHL team,’" he said, reflecting the excitement that has swept through the city.
The Utah Hockey Club’s move to Salt Lake City is not just a relocation, it’s a strategic investment in the city’s future. The ownership group recognized that the city’s growing population and its affinity for winter sports made it an ideal location for an NHL team. League Commissioner Gary Bettman, who had long believed Salt Lake City was ready for an expansion franchise, echoed this sentiment, praising the city’s potential and its strong demographic for hockey.
With strong community support and a growing fan base, the Utah Hockey Club is expected to thrive in its new home. The Delta Center, which was purchased by Smith in 2020, has been renovated with new hospitality areas, locker rooms, and future plans to expand seating capacity for hockey games. Smith also invested in a former Olympic training facility for the team’s summer practices and is in the process of developing a permanent training facility, which will open in 2025.
This expansion of sports in Utah isn’t just about hockey. It’s a reflection of the city’s growing stature in the professional sports landscape. With a thriving economy, passionate sports fans, and a billionaire owner committed to investing in the community, Salt Lake City is fast becoming a must-watch destination for professional sports. Whether it’s the Utah Jazz, Real Salt Lake, or the new Utah Hockey Club, the city is well on its way to becoming a premier sports hub in the United States.
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