Conspiracy Theory: SLC Coyotes?

[fletch]

NHL has scheduled preseason games in Salt Lake City for this year, 2022, 2023.

https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/la-kings-to-play-frozen-fury-preseason-game-in-salt-lake-city/c-325331344

"It has always been important for us to have a destination game in the preseason. We feel Salt Lake City, and the surrounding areas, are the ideal setting," said Kings President and Hockey Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille.

NHL is always looking to expand its footprint in new markets.

Conspiracy theory: NHL is looking to test viability of Salt Lake City as a market for expansion/relocation.  Houston is the obvious first choice.  But if Houston is unavailable for any reason, Salt Lake City?  And the most obvious struggling franchise in the West is the Coyotes.  Could the Coyotes end up in Salt Lake City?

[Long live the King]

Would need an arena.  Vivint's setup for hockey sucks.

[Long live the King]

 

[fletch]

Pretty common for NHL and NBA teams to share arenas.  I'm sure they could adjust

 

Edited October 3, 2021 by fletch

[SaveByRichter35]

Is that the arena the 02 Olympics were played?

[Long live the King]

1 hour ago, SaveByRichter35 said:

Is that the arena the 02 Olympics were played?

No, they built another arena for the Olympic hockey, but the capacity is only 10k.  It's where the ECHL Utah Grizzlies play.

[Long live the King]

1 hour ago, fletch said:

Pretty common for NHL and NBA teams to share arenas.  I'm sure they could adjust

 

They did $125 million renovation like 5 years ago.  Made it very basketball specific.  Doubt they undo all that.

[SaveByRichter35]

4 minutes ago, Long live the King said:

No, they built another arena for the Olympic hockey, but the capacity is only 10k.  It's where the ECHL Utah Grizzlies play.

Oh ok I see.  I mean, what is the capacity at this place now?  Doesn't look like too much more, maybe 15k?  If that?

[Long live the King]

2 minutes ago, SaveByRichter35 said:

Oh ok I see.  I mean, what is the capacity at this place now?  Doesn't look like too much more, maybe 15k?  If that?

It's 18k for the Jazz.  Not sure about hockey, as you can see they have to collapse a lot of seats to fit the ice.  They also mentioned during the broadcast that they can't sell all the seats because of sight lines. 

[fletch]

125 million sounds like a lot but is at the lower end for renovations.

http://www.fromthisseat.com/index.php/blog/17157-nba-arenas-construction-cost-rankings

1. Barclays Center - $1+ (B)

2. Amway Center - $480 (M)

3. American Airlines Center - $420 (M)

4. Staples Center - $375 (M)

5. Air Canada Centre - $265 (M)

6. Moda Center - $262 (M)

7. Capital One Arena - $260 (M)

8. FedEx Forum - $250 (M)

9.  Philips Arena - $213.5 (M)

10.  American Airlines Arena - $213 (M)

23.  Vivint Smart Home Arena - $93 (M)

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/climate-pledge-arena-cost-now-to-exceed-1-billion-developer-announces-long-awaited-founding-partnership-with-verizon/

Considering a new arena can be 1 billion+

[Long live the King]

The point isn't how much they spent. 

 

The point is they just renovated the arena and the Jazz are NBA title contenders.  They aren't tearing up the arena to maybe attract a hockey team.

 

Much more likely a new arena is built.