Utah Hockey Club's move to state now official; play begins this fall
Although it has been known since early April that a National Hockey League (NHL) team is coming to Utah, the official agreement between Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) and the NHL wasn’t signed until June 14. As part of the agreement, the team will be known as Utah Hockey Club for the 2024-25 season which begins in October. A permanent name is being chosen through a voting process that is ongoing.
Coinciding with the finalization of the agreement with the NHL, Utah Hockey Club introduced its 2024-25 uniforms, color palette and logos. Team merchandise featuring the new uniform scheme will be available to the public at the team store at Delta Center beginning during the team’s 2024 NHL draft party on June 28.
“Today is a monumental day for the state of Utah as we officially close on the establishment of a new NHL franchise,” said Ryan Smith, governor of Utah Hockey Club and chairman of SEG. “The NHL has been incredible to work with throughout this process, providing us with invaluable guidance and support. We have a ton of work to do — training camp starts in less than 100 days — and could not be more excited about what’s to come.”
The establishment of an NHL franchise in Utah was made possible by the demise of the Arizona Coyotes franchise in Phoenix. The NHL assumed ownership of the club and then sold it in April to Smith and his Smith Entertainment Group for a reported $1.2 billion.