In an ad This is considered incredibly timely, the NHL has revealed that Smith Entertainment Group (SEG), owner of the NBA’s Utah Jazz, has officially requested that the NHL begin an expansion process. The goal is to bring professional hockey to Salt Lake City. The request, made by Ryan Smith, president of the SEG and governor of the Utah Jazz, comes with an ambitious timetable, since the group claims to have the “immediate capacity” to welcome an NHL franchise to Salt Lake City as soon as next. season.
SEG’s press release suggests that the Delta Center, current home of the Utah Jazz, could serve as an interim arena until a new rink is built for the 2034 Olympics. SEG is in discussions with the commissioner of the NHL, Gary Bettman, since 2002, according to the press release.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed ongoing discussions and expressed appreciation of SEG’s interest in bringing NHL hockey to Utah. The league recognizes Utah’s potential as a promising market and wants to further explore possibilities.
This expansion announcement comes at a questionable time
Despite the optimistic tone of the announcement, some fans and analysts raised their eyebrows at the time of the news. Journalists like Frank Seravlli and Jesse Marshall pointed out the coincidence with the news of the NHL’s expansion into Utah that just surfaced. moments after reports reported five players from Canada’s 2018 World Junior Hockey team are facing sexual assault charges. Critics question whether the timing is an attempt to distract from sensitive legal issues involving Canadian players.
As the NHL considers expansion into Utah, the unfolding situation calls attention not only to the league’s potential growth plans, but also to how serious this news actually is given the timing of its release. It can’t be a coincidence that the NHL wants the media to focus on anything other than the potential sexual allegation scandal at the World Juniors that could involve a number of its players.
Following: Five players from Canada’s 2018 World Junior team must travel
