Live: SEG and the NHL to Celebrate New NHL Franchise Coming to Utah
In celebration of today’s announcement from the National Hockey League (NHL) about its partnership with Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) that will bring a new NHL team to Utah beginning with the 2024-25 NHL season, SEG owners Ryan and Ashley Smith invite media to attend a press conference with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman at Delta Center tomorrow, Friday, April 19, at 5 p.m. MT. A live stream of the event will be available across NHL properties, including NHL.com / NHL App, NHL Network, and the NHL YouTube channel.
The National Hockey League’s Board of Governors today approved the establishment of a franchise in Utah beginning with the 2024-25 season. The franchise 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.
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49 Comments
Utah broncos or utah grizzlies
Coyotes fans must feel like the forgotten kid who' is watching his parent's happy engagement announcement with the new person who will now forever be known as the evil step mom/dad.
UTAH BLIZZARD
NHL needs to expand to Quebec City, Saskatoon, Halifax and Whitehorse.
What is that leech mendenhall doing there?
As a Coyotes fan, I don’t hold any ill will for Utah. We are upset that we are losing a young and promising Coyotes team. With some good free agent signings you have a playoff team on your hands. You have the draft picks to build a great team on. All of that was years in the making that Meruelo just handed you. We may or may not be getting an expansion team back, but it will be a shell of what Utah is getting today. Bettman has given Utah a golden goose, the Coyotes will be forever in the doghouse with bad owners.
Utah range, It's in reference to the mountains and the western nature of the city, In the mascot could be like a bull or a cattle.
I heard this is just a temporary move is that true?
Utah giant’s
We are so excited, so many outreach opportunities with hockey and floorball to happen here!
Larry H. Miller is somewhere smiling tonight.
So affiliation with the echl Utah grizzlies now?
The Golden Spikes
The Pioneers
The Gulls
The Hive
The Battalion
Utah Wranglers
Thanks for all the American university teams
Out door game on the salt lake!!!
I am sad the NHL left Phoenix, but I’m happy it landed in SLC. I’m looking forward to visiting from Portlandia in the years to come. 🏒🥅
Utah Marshalls
Utah Scouts
Utah Blue Grass
Utah Rock Goblins
As a Coyotes fan this is the best thing that has happened to this franchise. Ever. Not even a question
I wish they were going with Salt Lake City instead of utah. Lowkey utah is two different states when you think southern vs northern also makes it seem like salt lake isnt big enough when half the state pop lives here. Its all good tho atleast they making moves
I came into this press conference excited for Utah. I left feeling sorry for the fans in Quebec City. It’s shameful that Salt Lake City has a team before the Nordiques have returned.
Thank you Larry Miller
Dang. Going to miss the Yotes. Hope we get another team with a better owner.
Utah Crusaders
Utah Saints, all day.
You can tell they are genuine…the positivity and honesty is infectious! I can’t wait to see the branding, name and logo. Utah NHL hockey is meant to be! 🙏
I can’t wait to cheer on players from our team when the Olympics come back!!
❤❤❤❤❤😃😄💞💞💞💞💞👍
Utah Mormons
10% off the lip gloss bud
Salt Lake Samauris
Yes, Utah Saints or Utah Strong
Utah Antlers
Utah Coyotes sounds about right, keep the name please!
Utah….seriously……yet another american team from bettman…wonder why….should have gone to Quebec or Hamilton.
Utah cowboys
The Utah Moose
Stingers or Swarm. Stadium can be called The Hive. Endless possibilities with marketing. Utah being the beehive state, honeybees being the state insect. The girls that come out on the ice to scrape around the goal nets can be called…wait for it…the Honeybees. Little black and yellow outfits. The list goes on…
Kinda feeling sad for Phoenix (even if I had a second straight Canadian NHL franchise leaving to them) but also think it feels positive to see Utah’s management people showing enthusiasm and gratitude.
Utah VENOM
Call them the SLC Punks.
Bettman is dead inside. He tried desperately to make the Phoenix (Arizona) NHL market work. They had a string of terrible owners, so hopefully is better in Utah.
Utah Raptors, Utah Wolves, Utah Mountaineers
Gary "The Sinner" Buttman!
salt lake city seems a very happy place? is it the mormonism?
still using 80% canadians for this one too?…since previous one wasnt such a success like Vegas.
Another American team…. made with Canadian Players….Its become the goto of bettmen.
Let me guess, 80% of roster is going to be Canadian… Story of majority of American teams.
#BettmenScript
So lets use all canadians to play for us and get us more. Entice them in the name of no carbon tax, 10x lower rent, cheaper everything and a govt that allows you to pick and choose your gender😂😂. And these youngins today follow.