Salt Lake City-based owners request initiation of NHL expansion process

Salt Lake City-based Smith Entertainment Group filed a request for initiation of a formal expansion process by the NHL, according to a press release Wednesday. SEG owns the NBA’s Utah Jazz, MLS’ Real Salt Lake, and the NWSL’s Utah Royals.

This is the next step in the process that’s been ongoing since Ryan Smith, the head of SEG, expressed interest in receiving an NHL squad over a year ago. Salt Lake City has frequently been included in discussions as a potential relocation option if the Coyotes’ lack of a full-time arena in the Phoenix area goes unresolved.

In a statement, the NHL said they “have been impressed by [the Smiths’] commitment to their community” and called Utah “a promising market.” The league did not outline concrete next steps in a potential expansion bid but did confirm they would continue discussions with SEG.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has not yet discussed a Salt Lake City expansion with the league’s Board of Governors, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun says. Owner approval is the next large benchmark in the awarding of an expansion franchise.

If the Coyotes don’t have a formal arena plan filed with the league by the end of the month, expect relocation discussions to spread rapidly. Assumedly, Salt Lake City would still be in discussions as a relocation option, not expansion, given its proximity to the Coyotes’ current home and an NHL-ready arena in the Delta Center, home of the Jazz. 

The city also has concrete plans to construct a new, hockey-specific venue within the next ten years in anticipation of the 2034 Winter Olympics.