Bettman meeting with Ryan Smith, owner of Utah Jazz and Real Salt Lake (upd: Smith asks NHL to open expansion process)

[GKJ]

What would the baseball stadium be used for at the Olympics? Opening and closing ceremonies?

 

[KevFu]

What would the baseball stadium be used for at the Olympics? Opening and closing ceremonies?

They haven't decided that fine of details yet, but the two main uses being discussed in the Utah press is: medal plaza and Big Air (an event that didn't exist last time they hosted).

 

[BKIslandersFan]

What would the baseball stadium be used for at the Olympics? Opening and closing ceremonies?

Probably. And possibly this.

 

[edog37]

Go to Quebec city to fire the greatest rivalry in Sports History again...Go because hockey is a passionate Sport and no place on Earth supports hockey like Canadians...Go to Quebec to revive Junior hockey and the city! Go because its a Winter wonderland with a beautiful facility and adds some more Culture to the NHL,while giving more players an opportunity to play Professionally! Go because I envision a 40 team NHL with 16 teams in each of the 2 Conferences making the play-off showdown!!!Go because the NHL is International with a lot of great players from around the globe! Go because Canada will always support their teams through Hell and High Waters!!!

Except they don’t. See Winnipeg.

 

[Jussi]

Probably. And possibly this.

View attachment 824744

Is that for the Big Air event?

 

[KevFu]

Is that for the Big Air event?

Yup.

 

[ponder719]

 

[GKJ]

I guess Merulo is ghosting Bettman

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Ha...our efforts aren't about an arena...but look at this pic of a new downtown with a giant arena right in the center.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Arenas and stadiums are profitable, but neighborhoods can be a mint.

Look at the Cubs. Wrigley Field is the draw, but Wrigleyville prints more money than a smaller tax haven European country.

Smith wanting to make a Jazzville in Salt Lake makes a lot of sense.

 

[PCSPounder]

The Gateway area is just west of the current arena. Downtown got a boost… from the actual neighborhoods. People still buy this revitalization junk?

It’s not that a new arena isn’t needed (I’ve seen hockey in Delta/Insert Sucker’s Name Here Center). Just done with THAT thin slice of BS.

 

[Llama19]

One step closer...

NHL arena skates through Utah Senate, heads to governor

www.fox13now.com/news/politics/nhl-arena-bill-clears-utah-house

 

[Headshot77]

Utah passed $900mil in funding for an MLB stadium one day and then dropped another $900mil on an NHL arena the next. Genuinely baller shit.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Utah passed $900mil in funding for an MLB stadium one day and then dropped another $900mil on an NHL arena the next. Genuinely baller shit.

I think they think only one of NHL or MLB will come to Utah.

Ha...our efforts aren't about an arena...but look at this pic of a new downtown with a giant arena right in the center.

I hope the actual arena doesn't look like that. Looks like a croissant.

 

[KevFu]

I think they think only one of NHL or MLB will come to Utah.

Nah. they're after both. They "need" facilities for their Olympic bid, so they can spend billions on just 14 days in 30 years, or they can give the people 30+ years of home games in two additional major league sports (instead of one).

It's like a family buying a pool instead of going on a vacation to a beach city.

 

[LadyStanley]

Smith polling for potential team name

 

[CokenoPepsi]

Smith polling for potential team name

But...why

 

[JMCx4]

Ha...our efforts aren't about an arena...but look at this pic of a new downtown with a giant arena right in the center.

Every shopping mall needs (or should I say needed) an anchor store to draw the crowds & their money. Same with this strategy.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

guess who's next for relocation and/or arena closure..... Maverik Center and Utah Grizzlies

 

[TheLegend]

The old Jim Balsillie trick….

Remember how well it worked out for him??

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Every shopping mall needs (or should I say needed) an anchor store to draw the crowds & their money. Same with this strategy.

Agreed, but it literally says "Our efforts are not about an arena" yet the renderings place a giant arena right in the middle.

 

[BMN]

I hope the actual arena doesn't look like that. Looks like a croissant.

Do you know of a better way to butter up the people you need to fund the project?

 

[Mike Jones]

Smith polling for potential team name

They should stick with the Flames.

 

[aqib]

The old Jim Balsillie trick….

Remember how well it worked out for him??

Balsillie also started taking ticket deposits. That ticked off the league. When Vegas did it, it was ok.

The differences are that Jim hadn't had productive meetings with Bettman. Vegas did. Smith has.

 

[TheLegend]

Balsillie also started taking ticket deposits. That ticked off the league. When Vegas did it, it was ok.

The differences are that Jim hadn't had productive meetings with Bettman. Vegas did. Smith has.

Balsillie had conversations with the league during the time he was perusing the Penguins.

From an optics POV it still comes across as jumping the gun and a clown show.. Could have easily waited until the auction passed and go off that.