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

[roccerfeller]

Canadian fans in markets without a team never are but....sorry? Money talks and we have them beat in multitudes in terms of sponsorships, TV deals, merchandise, etc. Can't deny that Toronto, Montreal, and Edmonton are powerhouses in those areas but there aren't any of them left up that way.

You are right about money talks, but you are missing the point is multiple ways - SLC is not a market that sways a TV deal. You don't need to morph it into a USA v Canada thing...

TSN....It's a Canadian (actually Toronto centric) broadcast, doing a sponsored segment called hot takes, where there's a hot take, by a podcast guy with no insider information, about a Canadian market, pandering to an English speaking Canadian audience. Oh and before I watched the video, knowing who is doing the hot take, colour me shocked they find a way to work in a mention regarding a second team about Toronto.

Reality is the NHL very likely strongly prefers Smith to PKP beyond anything else, never mind that going to QC would mess up the conference, division, ensuring schedules etc...who knows maybe they were approached behind the scenes and the NHL said "hey so the price is 1.3 billion" and they said "non"? Probably why there was no reported expression of interest of ownership from a QC group at the ASW

Smith has a proven track record as an owner, he is a reliable owner, he has done well with the Jazz, and going to Utah doesn't mess up the conference & divisional alignments or really change much for the NHL beyond schedule

SLC just makes "more sense" for the league and strong ownership is important for any franchise, anywhere. Smith on paper should be a reliable, stable owner. NHL like their stable ownership first and foremost, and on paper Smith is a more desirable owner than PKP for multiple reasons

 

[Osakahaus]

im sorry Arizona

im so so so so so sorry

 

[Brodie]

Somebody on the Coyotes forum was saying Friedman was talking a lot about Utah, anybody see it?

 

[GKJ]

Somebody on the Coyotes forum was saying Friedman was talking a lot about Utah, anybody see it?

 

[sneakytitz]

Sounds like it is as close to official without being announced. Hopefully this isn't goodbye but instead a see ya later.

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

SLC being in the Central Division makes more sense than Phoenix since unlike the latter city the former observes DST meaning the Central is currently a three-time zone division on a part-time basis something the NHL had eliminated in 2013.

The original Jets history should be given to the current Jets (meaning the Jets would have started in 1972 in the WHA, joined the NHL in 1979, suspended operations for three years in 1996, resumed as the Thrashers in 1999, and returned to Winnipeg in 2011), while the Coyotes should also officially suspend operations while their personnel form what would technically be an expansion franchise in SLC, similar to the relationship between the NFL's Browns and Ravens.

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

SLC is an up and coming market with good demographics for hockey. Other than Austin I think it's the obvious choice for a new American NHL team.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Well it sure is sounding official.

I still refuse to say "it is official" after 13+ years of watching the Coyotes, but wow.

As always, as a Jets 1.0 fan I hate to see any fanbase lose their team. I feel for Yotes fans.

Curious to see what happens next.

 

[Brodie]

Kind of wild that Utah could have a team in under a week and yet nobody has leaked any trademark applications for team names

 

[Osakahaus]

Kind of wild that Utah could have a team in under a week and yet nobody has leaked any trademark applications for team names

this is the biggest questionmark for me with the Utah move. what even are the names/uniforms/logos for this team?

 

[Llama19]

Arizona Coyotes ticket prices for finale vs. Oilers skyrocket amid NHL relocation rumors

To quote:

"Ticket prices for that game against the Edmonton Oilers, the team's regular season finale at ASU's Mullett Arena, are surging in cost amid the rumors and speculation that the team could be sold and relocated to Salt Lake City.

People want to be there for the franchise's possible last game in Arizona, and that is driving up the cost of tickets, even for the most inexpensive seats in the arena.

As of Friday evening, the least expensive tickets for the game were listed for $284 on resale sites, with most going for much more."

Source: www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2024/04/12/arizona-coyotes-ticket-prices-skyrocket-amid-utah-relocation-rumors/73309536007/

 

[sneakytitz]

this is the biggest questionmark for me with the Utah move. what even are the names/uniforms/logos for this team?

No one has to know until filed, why put the cart before the horse? Get the deal done and then worry about the particulars.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Jets didn’t have a name announced until their first draft, and jerseys weren’t revealed until after that. They’ve got time.

The more pressing matter is the season ticket drive and getting their corporate and broadcast partners lined up.

 

[Brodie]

One idea that I have literally seen nobody suggest is a train based name in honor of Utah being the spot where the transcontinental railroad was completed.

Sadly, Vegas probably ruined the opportunity for them to be called the Utah Golden Spikes

 

[jkrdevil]

Yes. Neither MLB nor the NHL have done that "history belongs to the city not the team" nonsense.

What really is there for Winnipeg to “claim” that they already haven’t. They already wear Jets 1.0 throwbacks. There isn’t anything stopping them from honoring retires numbers from Jets 1.0 or honoring that history there.

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

What really is there for Winnipeg to “claim” that they already haven’t. They already wear Jets 1.0 throwbacks. There isn’t anything stopping them from honoring retires numbers from Jets 1.0 or honoring that history there.

It's blasphemous that the current Jets are not the official owners of the original Jets history. It can be fixed (and should be) though, and it can be done for the Coyotes too.

 

[Neil Patrick Harris]

After over a decade of hearing about the Coyotes woes, it feels so eerie just how quickly this has progressed.

All this time, all this effort and then just... bam, that's it.

 

[TheLegend]

Arizona Coyotes ticket prices for finale vs. Oilers skyrocket amid NHL relocation rumors

To quote:

"Ticket prices for that game against the Edmonton Oilers, the team's regular season finale at ASU's Mullett Arena, are surging in cost amid the rumors and speculation that the team could be sold and relocated to Salt Lake City.

People want to be there for the franchise's possible last game in Arizona, and that is driving up the cost of tickets, even for the most inexpensive seats in the arena.

As of Friday evening, the least expensive tickets for the game were listed for $284 on resale sites, with most going for much more."

Source: www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2024/04/12/arizona-coyotes-ticket-prices-skyrocket-amid-utah-relocation-rumors/73309536007/

Example… (pulled from another source)

 

[wpgallday1960]

Example… (pulled from another source)

View attachment 850829

Doubt the coyotes marketing dept. will be calling me about this deal.

 

[Llama19]

Example… (pulled from another source)

View attachment 850829

I just hope all of those East Valley folks show up...

 

[TheLegend]

I just hope all of those East Valley folks show up...

Or they’re trying to get their money back.

 

[Puckrobber]

this is the biggest questionmark for me with the Utah move. what even are the names/uniforms/logos for this team?

Just saw the late Utah news. Sports guy said the owner put up a poll last week, asking folks for name suggestions. Haven't seen the results yet. Also said there have been a few folks asking how to get season tickets.

 

[Marshmallow Man]

Can we please have a good name? NHL can’t afford another “Kraken” or “Wild”.

What godawful names.

 

[rojac]

Can we please have a good name? NHL can’t afford another “Kraken” or “Wild”.

What godawful names.

Personally, i have no real issues with either one f those names.

But I fear you are going to be disappointed. When Ryan Smith, the new owner, was interviewed by Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek for the 32 Thoughts podcast last spring, he expressed admiration for Seattle's branding.

 

[Tawnos]

One idea that I have literally seen nobody suggest is a train based name in honor of Utah being the spot where the transcontinental railroad was completed.

Sadly, Vegas probably ruined the opportunity for them to be called the Utah Golden Spikes

Not train related, but Golden Eagles is off the table too. That was the name of the first pro team there. It’s too bad, because I like it more than Golden Knights.