Bill Armstrong stood in the Utah Hockey Club locker room at a temporary practice facility as players came and went from a space that didn't exist not that long
Utah's new hockey franchise made its debut Monday night at the Delta Center with its first pre-season game, marking a significant milestone for a team that didn't exist just six months ago. Fans were buzzing with excitement as they watched the historic first game on Monday, September 23, 2024.
New owners Ryan and Ashley Smith could've scraped something together to get by while a permanent practice facility is being constructed. But even with a tight timeline, they opted to go all-in, even on a building the club probably won't use for even a year. Personnel from the NBA's Utah Jazz, also owned by the Smiths, assisted in those efforts. Jazz business relationships in the Salt Lake City area also eased the transition.
"We don't have the space at the Oval that we're going to have at a permanent facility," said Jazz President Jim Olson, who also heads facility projects for Smith Entertainment Group. "So we had to tighten up the spaces. It was important to us that it just wasn't a makeshift facility, but the players could really feel good there and feel like it gave them what they needed to be able to achieve what their goals are, and that's to be a great hockey team.
"To get the sightlines where we need, it'll be a significant renovation of the entire bowl — upper bowl, lower bowl, everything," Olson said. "Because it's taking all of our efforts to get ready for this season, we've only looked at that at a very high level. But after we know everything's working well this year, we'll start more of our focus on the future."
"Now in saying that, I do think it made them tougher. I do think when the fans in Utah come out to cheer for us, we will appreciate them more."
Practice Facility Delta Center NHL Standards Renovation Ryan And Ashley Smith Temporary Facility Player Experience
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