Last week was a crazy week for the National Hockey League. While teams were battling for playoff position, news came out that there were potentially two different schedules for the 2024-25 season. One schedule included the Arizona Coyotes and the second included the same franchise being relocated to Utah. On Friday, a report indicated the Coyotes’ players were being informed the franchise is being relocated to Salt Lake City next season. While I feel for Coyotes fans, the move seemed inevitable. But if you take a step back, you can see relocating this NHL franchise to Utah will only be a good thing for the league going forward. I’ll give you four reasons why.
A Massive Headache Alleviated
The first reason why a Utah NHL franchise is best for the league is because it alleviates the league’s biggest headache. Last May, I argued that it was time for Gary Bettman’s obsession with keeping an NHL franchise alive in Arizona to come to an end. The news of the Coyotes’ relocation was aspirin to an ongoing headache the NHL has been experiencing since 1996. The Coyotes have struggled to stay relevant; in 28 seasons, the ‘Yotes have made the playoffs only nine times. They won a division title and advanced to the Western Conference Final only once in their team history. When you don’t put a consistent winner on the ice, interest wanes. They currently play their games in a glorified ECHL arena* – Mullett Arena – on a college campus. This move is best for both the league and the franchise.
(* This is not a slight against the ECHL, mind you. It’s a great league.)
Smaller Markets Love the NHL
The second reason why a Utah NHL franchise is best for the league is because smaller markets love the NHL. The Coyotes will relocate to Salt Lake City, which is currently the 27th ranked media market. As we have seen in recent history, smaller markets such as Nashville (26th) and Columbus (33rd) are puck crazy. The Nashville Predators have consistently maintained success since their entry into the league in 1998. Even though the team is currently in a rebuild, the Columbus Blue Jackets have a huge fan following. Pundits scoffed when those two cities were announced as expansion franchises. Joke’s on them: the Preds and Blue Jackets currently average over 17,000 at their respective barns. Small markets work and Salt Lake City can, too, if they hit the ground running proper.
(For the record, the Delta Center – where the relocated franchise will play – is 33 years old. It currently holds 14,000 for hockey, so the franchise would have the smallest arena in the NHL again. However, a measure was approved on March 1 to explore the building of a new arena in downtown Salt Lake City.)
A joint statement on the passage of S.B. 272
— Mayor Erin Mendenhall (@slcmayor) March 1, 2024
“A thriving state needs a thriving downtown in its capital city. With today’s passage of the Capital City Reinvestment Zone bill, we are poised to invest deeply in Salt Lake City’s downtown experience.
There's a lot of work ahead of… pic.twitter.com/M8CN1WSs0i
Instant Regional Rivalry with Colorado
The third reason why a Utah NHL franchise is best for the league is because it creates an instant rivalry. The Colorado Avalanche have been a raving success in the Rocky Mountain State since their relocation from Quebec in 1995. Granted, it helped to win two Stanley Cups in the span of five seasons since their relocation. But the Avalanche’s early success was bolstered by the fact that Colorado natives love their professional sports teams. Denver and Salt Lake City are separated by only 518 miles. While the Coyotes and Avalanche already play in the same division (Central Division), there isn’t a rivalry. Now, with both franchises being in the same region, this creates an instant regional rivalry. The NBA has the Jazz and Nuggets. MLS has Real Salt Lake City and Colorado Rapids. And starting in October, the NHL will have the Soon-To-Be-Named and Avalanche.
Utahns Love Sports
The fourth and final reason why a Utah NHL franchise is best for the league is because Utahns love sports. No one could have predicted the success the Jazz would have when they relocated from New Orleans to Salt Lake City in 1979. It took five years for the Jazz to go to the NBA Playoffs, but they would go on to make the playoffs from then until 2004. Jerry Sloan built a consistent winner with the dynamic duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton. Consistent winning made the Jazz extremely popular. Real Salt Lake also won the MLS Cup in their fifth season and has won the Supporters Shield twice. The Coyotes were the fifth-youngest roster on opening night this past season. If their players can grow together, endear themselves to the community, and consistently be in the postseason, they will develop a huge following as well.
The NHL relocating the Coyotes franchise to Utah can only be a good thing for the league starting next season. And thankfully, Gary Bettman can let go of this experiment once and for all.
Wait, I just received some breaking news…
Coyotes sale expected within week, Arizona to get NHL expansion team: reporthttps://t.co/2cltYrzYGQ
— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) April 14, 2024
Dammit.
