Coyotes relocating to Salt Lake City

[2014olympicgold]

Accurate but 90% of the states 3 million residents live in the cities and municipalities sorrounding it, most of which are within 50 miles. Not saying this is guaranteed to succeed but it's not nearly as dire as that number would have one believe.

It's the lowest population by 500,000 people out of all the NHL teams, including American teams. There's a reason why they would be "Utah" and not "Salt Lake" because the actual city can't support a team without outside city help.

The whole Salt Lake-Provo-Ogden area is 2,701,129 (according to Wiki), which would be bottom half of the league if you look at the "large area" population (it's like 60% of Phoenix).

And no one is really looking at how it's probably the least desirable fan base when it comes to the largest sponsors of sports, gambling and alcohol.

Don't get me wrong though, Salt Lake will be a better spot than the current Arizona system. But, I can't say it makes more sense than Houston, Kansas City, Quebec, Atlanta, even Portland.

[random-d]

It's the lowest population by 500,000 people out of all the NHL teams, including American teams.

I said "not as dire", you don't need to convince me it's not great.

[2014olympicgold]

I said "not as dire", you don't need to convince me it's not great.

Lol, ya I just don't get the push for Salt Lake so hard right now. It's weird. I think the world is just more focused on Arizona failing than where they'd be going.

[hockeyrobot]

I like how no one is pointing out that Salt Lake City has no population (205,000) and very low corporate business there for season tickets/ads.

If Arizona moves to Salt Lake, it likely will fail too. Especially when you move a team from Arizona where the players only thing that's going good for them was the environment and off-ice stuff. And you take them from golf and sun 24/7 during the season to a ski resort town. How many won't want to move and will want a trade out? There's already been smoke around Keller.

Burlington ON has a higher population than Salt Lake. Freaking Lincoln Nebraska has a higher population. Augusta Georgia almost has a bigger population.

The lowest population for an NHL city is Winnipeg with 774,000.

The Burlington Coyotes!?!? Im all for it.

[random-d]

Utah also hosted 26 million tourists last year, the state has the highest natural population growth rate, and the Jazz rank 14th in league attendance in a season where they're not a playoff team. Once again, just playing devil's advocate here, I have no idea what this all might mean for an NHL franchise.

[Belexus75]

The Burlington Coyotes!?!? Im all for it.

there is enough coyotes in Burlington without hockey team!

[2014olympicgold]

Utah also hosted 26 million tourists last year, the state has the highest natural population growth rate, and the Jazz rank 14th in league attendance in a season where they're not a playoff team. Once again, just playing devil's advocate here, I have no idea what this all might mean for an NHL franchise.

Very true with the Utah Jazz. They have a crazy fanbase that I forgot about. College sports and the Jazz own viewership in that area.

there is enough coyotes in Burlington without hockey team!

Would be the first ones my neighbour willingly doesn't feed.

[SeaDawg]

In a vacuum, Utah doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me either for an NHL team. It seems to me that there are plenty of other larger, more marketable cities that would welcome an NHL franchise. I do wonder, however, if many of those other cities have been pegged for future expansion. Makes sense from an owner's perspective to move the struggling franchise for peanuts (relatively speaking) to a lower market city and then cash in big-time on expansion to the more desirable locals.

[Pengwin7]

re: Population.
I don't think the population of Salt Lake City (proper, 200k) is as critical as Greater Salt Lake Metro (~$1.25m).
That puts it there at the bottom of the NHL with Raleigh & Buffalo & Winnipeg.

Hockey didn't work in Atlanta... twice... because both times it was tried in the city center.
Atlanta (Greater Atlanta) - by "population" - would seem a "lock" to support a team.
But the "hockey demographic", especially those with high income for hockey-tickets, live on the North edge of the city... moreso each year with worsening traffic and work-from-home conditions.
The northerners, who may have grown up with hockey, are on the north side of Atlanta. And it's like... not close... it's a heavy, heavy hockey-passionate demographic is directly at 12oclock of the city.
The rumours are swirling that they will get a 3rd shot... and this time, it's very serious that the location will be centered around the hockey-community, instead of the city-population-center.

I'd have to imagine that the NHL and owners have their own analytics/actuaries that do the crunch of whether it could work for SLC/Utah.


I remember some people saying that hockey in Vegas wouldn't work.
I'm pretty sure I thought it would.
Hockey is a niche sport - and pure "population" reference - simply isn't very applicable talking point.

[Axeman33]

In a vacuum, Utah doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me either for an NHL team. It seems to me that there are plenty of other larger, more marketable cities that would welcome an NHL franchise. I do wonder, however, if many of those other cities have been pegged for future expansion. Makes sense from an owner's perspective to move the struggling franchise for peanuts (relatively speaking) to a lower market city and then cash in big-time on expansion to the more desirable locals.

They have a very wealthy/successful sports owner who's willing to pay for it. It'll probably work but we'll see.

[rataylor22]

It's the lowest population by 500,000 people out of all the NHL teams, including American teams. There's a reason why they would be "Utah" and not "Salt Lake" because the actual city can't support a team without outside city help.

The whole Salt Lake-Provo-Ogden area is 2,701,129 (according to Wiki), which would be bottom half of the league if you look at the "large area" population (it's like 60% of Phoenix).

And no one is really looking at how it's probably the least desirable fan base when it comes to the largest sponsors of sports, gambling and alcohol.

Don't get me wrong though, Salt Lake will be a better spot than the current Arizona system. But, I can't say it makes more sense than Houston, Kansas City, Quebec, Atlanta, even Portland.

Lol, ya I just don't get the push for Salt Lake so hard right now. It's weird. I think the world is just more focused on Arizona failing than where they'd be going.

In a vacuum, Utah doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me either for an NHL team. It seems to me that there are plenty of other larger, more marketable cities that would welcome an NHL franchise. I do wonder, however, if many of those other cities have been pegged for future expansion. Makes sense from an owner's perspective to move the struggling franchise for peanuts (relatively speaking) to a lower market city and then cash in big-time on expansion to the more desirable locals.

You guys seem to be forgetting a couple things.

1) The Coyotes need to move ~now~. All these other locations you're talking about either don't have interest (Houston) or don't have the infrastructure to move right now (Atlanta, Kansas City, Portland).

2) People need to forget the Quebec City thing. It's not happening and they cannot support a team. Supporting an NHL franchise is not about "fan interest". Quebec City doesn't have the corporate base to support an NHL franchise, and most importantly, the NHL clearly has no interest in going there. Does Salt Lake have the corporate base to support two professional sports franchises? I don't know, but they've already proven they have the base to support one, so there is more proof of concept, plus an already approved new building coming in the next couple years.

You also have a relatively wealthy, majority white population base. IE the type of people that tend to like hockey. I think SLC will do just fine. They aren't going to be a top revenue driving franchise like Vegas, but they're not going to be Winnipeg either.

[2014olympicgold]

The NHL knew the Arizona situation for years, saying it needs to move "now" only has legs because of the lack of action. Like the arena issues the last 10yrs is enough to put out a backup plan if the NHL was pro-active and not re-active.

So I'm not going to give any legs to the "the move needs to happen and SLC is the only feasible place ready right now".

[Pengwin7]

It's possible... maybe... that part of the NHL wanting to go with SLC/Utah is because of way-back fan-base alienation.
QC to Colorado was just tough... for Quebec folk.
Winnipeg to Arizona. Ouch.
Hartford to Carolina... tough... quite far.
Minnesota to Dallas... tough, brutal for them.
I mean... that was just outright painful for those fan bases... I think.

Phoenix-ish to SLC is actually... far... but feels... close.
They are state-neighbours! LOL.
(This is similar case to the California baseball/football teams shifting to Vegas in the past few years. It doesn't alienate the fanbase as bad as moving cross-coast or something)

So... I'd guess... this came into play - in combo with an owner that wanted them and felt secure for future arena.

I know people don't like Bettman.
But I truly think he does make decisions in the best interest of the league as a whole.

[pmorrow]

There is some chatter their AHL affiliate could play out of Mullett Arena too.

[Pengwin7]

^I think that would be a great idea. Happy to hear it!
Hope it sticks!