In a surprising turn of events that has sent ripples throughout the sports world, Ryan Smith, the dynamic entrepreneur and co-owner of the Utah Jazz, has acquired the NHL's Arizona Coyotes, rebranding them as the Utah Hockey Club and relocating the team to Salt Lake City. This ambitious move underscores Smith's deepening involvement in Utah's sports scene, enhancing the region's burgeoning status as a hub of professional athletics.
On the opening night of their debut season in Salt Lake City, the Utah Hockey Club drew extensive attention, not just for the action on the ice, but for the star-studded audience in attendance. Among the celebrities were Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union. Wade, a retired Basketball Hall of Fame guard, is already well known to Utah sports fans as a limited partner in both the Utah Jazz and the newly rebranded Utah Hockey Club. His involvement with the hockey team reflects his growing investment in Utah's sports landscape. "I took a plane to watch hockey! Never thought I'd do that in my life," Wade quipped, embodying the infectious excitement surrounding this new chapter for the team.
Ryan Smith's venture into professional hockey is part of a broader strategy that extends beyond the rink. Smith, who famously co-owns the Utah Jazz with Wade—a $1.66 billion acquisition made in 2020—has rapidly expanded his footprint in the sports world. With stakes in MLS' Real Salt Lake and NWSL's Utah Royals, Smith’s influence extends across multiple sports disciplines within Utah. His energetic approach is reshaping not only the local sporting environment but also contributing to the community at large.
A key aspect of Smith's vision includes a plan to rejuvenate Salt Lake City's downtown area. This initiative is consistent with his efforts to enhance the city's appeal and infrastructure, aiming to create a vibrant atmosphere that complements the city's rich sporting culture. His substantial contributions were paramount in hosting the 2034 Winter Olympics through a successful bid delegation in Paris, further cementing Utah's international reputation for hosting premier sporting events.
Smith's connection to Utah extends beyond his financial and developmental pursuits. As a guest lecturer at Brigham Young University, he shares his entrepreneurial insights and life lessons with aspiring students. Highlighting his perseverance, Smith once remarked, "No one's really given me anything in life. If you wanted something, you have to go get it. It just doesn't happen any other way." This accessibility and commitment to the local community have endeared him to fans and locals alike.
A recent buzz around the sports investment landscape involves A.J. Dybantsa, a basketball prodigy who committed to Brigham Young University. The details of his NIL (name, image, likeness) deal, rumored to be between $4 million to $7 million, have captured attention, despite Smith not being financially involved in this particular agreement. Dybantsa's decision underscores the increasing relevance of Utah's collegiate programs on a national scale.
Gentry Anderson, a local sports enthusiast, eloquently highlighted the excitement enveloping the state's sports franchises under Smith's stewardship: "It's been surreal to be able to have three sports teams [four professional clubs] here now in Utah owned by someone who will come hang out with the fans." This connection with fans is one of Smith's hallmarks—an open, passionate involvement that mirrors his commitment to sports as both a business and cultural enterprise.
Ryan Smith's trajectory from co-founding tech giant Qualtrics, which he sold to SAP for $8 billion, to becoming a key figure in the sports domain, paints a picture of an entrepreneur whose influence is both broad and impactful. With the Utah Hockey Club now a part of his growing portfolio and a firm commitment to cultivating an engaging sports ecosystem in Utah, Smith's vision continues to make things happen not just by chance but by choice. In a recent tête-à-tête with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, he stated, "Use me as a laboratory for the future of NBA broadcasts," a testament to his forward-thinking ethos.
As Smith continues to innovate and elevate Utah's position on the sporting map, his journey from tech mogul to a sporting icon continues to inspire a generation of fans and entrepreneurs alike, all while reshaping the landscape of professional sports in the Beehive State.