Salt Lake NHL and MLB News Thread

[locolife]

The billboards are up for the A's they must be coming now.

https://www.si.com/mlb/athletics/relocation/utah-puts-up-billboards-to-lure-oakland-as

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by locolife

The billboards are up for the A's they must be coming now.

https://www.si.com/mlb/athletics/relocation/utah-puts-up-billboards-to-lure-oakland-as

This quote:

"Deseret is a little over two hours south of Daybreak, where the A's would be playing minor league games if they did choose to move the franchise there for the interim period. "

LOL wut

[RC14]

Sounds like the article was written by ChatGPT.

[bob rulz]

Originally Posted by locolife

You always have to go back to the money, is the Utah MLB stadium/ development fully funded or not? I can't tell from what I read and I'm not very well connected with Utah sports. I have no idea who the insiders are up there. Will they go ask the state for money like the A's did in Vegas? Will it pass there as it didn't in Nevada?

Big League Utah is spearheaded by the Miller family. They have the pull and the capital to make it happen. They also already have a location identified. I'm sure money isn't an issue, and the proposal is solid and led by people that have already owned a major league team.

Originally Posted by RC14

Sounds like the article was written by ChatGPT.

ChatGPT would at least know where Daybreak is.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by bob rulz

Big League Utah is spearheaded by the Miller family. They have the pull and the capital to make it happen. They also already have a location identified. I'm sure money isn't an issue, and the proposal is solid and led by people that have already owned a major league team.



ChatGPT would at least know where Daybreak is.

I’ll believe it when I see a funded plan. Even the richest of the rich seek public subsidies for multi billion dollar developments. Once those points are clear I’ll start to believe something is going to happen.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by wrendog

This quote:

"Deseret is a little over two hours south of Daybreak, where the A's would be playing minor league games if they did choose to move the franchise there for the interim period. "

LOL wut

I know right? These speculative stories on pro sports must drive tons of clicks, they’re basically published daily.

[Atlas]

This resolution supporting the idea of bringing the NHL to Utah passed the Utah House of Representatives unanimously this morning.

There are a few mentions of building a state of the art arena and whatnot but no mention of where it could or will be built. It is called a "hockey-specific" arena, so there's that.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by Atlas

This resolution supporting the idea of bringing the NHL to Utah passed the Utah House of Representatives unanimously this morning.

There are a few mentions of building a state of the art arena and whatnot but no mention of where it could or will be built. It is called a "hockey-specific" arena, so there's that.

LOL what in the world is that resolution accomplishing?

“We like the idea of the NHL, SEG should go get a team and they’ll need a stadium.”

they really spend time voting on passing these words?

[Comrade]

I'm sure there will be some public monies for the MLB ballpark. I also don't think the Millers would have committed to bringing a MLB team to Utah if they felt the odds were 50/50 or less.

[RC14]

Utah leaders, Ryan Smith meet with NHL Commissioner on bringing a team to Utah

https://ksltv.com/618480/utah-leaders-ry...commissioner-on-bringing-a-team-to-utah/


I hope that Salt Lake City leaders are involved in this discussion.

[bob rulz]

Originally Posted by locolife

I’ll believe it when I see a funded plan. Even the richest of the rich seek public subsidies for multi billion dollar developments. Once those points are clear I’ll start to believe something is going to happen.

Oh I have no doubt the Millers will seek public money. They're really not that rich by pro sports league owner standards these days. Neither is Ryan Smith. And they'll probably get it too.

[Paniolo Man]

Originally Posted by bob rulz

Oh I have no doubt the Millers will seek public money. They're really not that rich by pro sports league owner standards these days. Neither is Ryan Smith. And they'll probably get it too.

I will protest if a single dime of taxpayer money is spent on pro sports.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by Paniolo Man

I will protest if a single dime of taxpayer money is spent on pro sports.

As expected, the article above confirms the plan is to follow the roadmap that has failed in so many other places. Which is to essentially use taxes “generated” from the arena/entertainment district to subsidize the cost. It seems the plan for Utah is to make it agnostic so it can be used for any entertainment district, sounds like full state community input may be involved…

That means you and many, many others will have your say to support or oppose it. I do not expect the community support for this “property tax increment” plan will not go well. The opposition we saw in Tempe, for something similar for the Yotes arena was fierce and the messaging was “don’t subsidize billionaires.” The opposition didn’t have to spend or organize a lot to easily defeat the bonds.

Can Utah pass it without any vote? Not sure… will the state government support it with loud opposition from constituents…. So many questions, very few answers yet.

From the article-

Rep. Jon Hawkins, R-Pleasant Grove, is running the bill to allow for the creation of an “entertainment district.” His yet-to-be-released bill is titled “Entertainment Zone Amendments.”

Legislative leaders have said they do not support directly giving public money to fund a stadium, but they do support other types of financing. That’s what Hawkins’ bill will do.

“It is it is more of a zone where we are able to, you know, collect the property tax increment that allows us to basically reinvest back in that area,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins said local communities would have a say in decision-making.

[RC14]

As it seeks MLB, NHL teams, Salt Lake named 2nd-worst of NBA cities for visiting fans

https://kutv.com/sports/utah-jazz/utah-j...-angeles-lakers-clippers-cryptocom-arena

Salt Lake City likely lost points on entertainment, despite the top reviewed bars and restaurants downtown, just due to the number of them vs. the number of venues in other NBA franchise cities. It also likely lost points on the sports culture, just due to the number of professional teams affiliated with the city. And while Utah is rife with tourist attractions, there are only one or two within the city that would be considered landmarks of international note. Most other Utah tourist hotspots are scattered across its multiple national parks and monuments.

But probably taking the biggest chunk out of Salt Lake City's ability to rise on the list is Utah's strict law against gambling. According to Utah code, gambling is an "offense against public health, safety, welfare and morals," and outlaws all forms of gathering, including betting online.

This demonstrates why it is a bad idea to build these venues in the suburbs. If Salt Lake City already ranks low when it comes to entertainment options, how much worse is that going to be if we move the Jazz to the suburbs.

Also, I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but I feel like part of the passion around professional sports teams is home town pride or a love for the story that team tells about a city. If all our teams end up in the suburbs, with a team name that doesn't include the name of the city and doesn't have anything to do with the city or state it represents, then these teams are going to be empty and void of meaning. For example, the San Francisco 49ers name obviously refers to the miners who moved out there and built that city. Whereas, the names "Utah Jazz" and "Real Salt Lake" don't mean anything to this city other then the names of our professional sports teams.

I'm happy that we may get more professional sports teams but I really want at least one of them to be a team Salt Lakers can be proud of and not just an entertainment option for sports enthusiasts.

[locolife]

Figured I'd post the same thing here since Utah is clearly the pawn NHL powers are going to use to drive the Yotes ownership and Arizona to conclude a stadium situation ASAP. Not much in terms of clarity on when an arena will be finalized but this is what was said.

Coyotes Arena News-

- Team has applied to buy about 200 acres of state trust land northwest of the Loop 101 Pima Freeway and Scottsdale Road. Details are limited on where they stand in the process and how long it could take to buy the land.

- Bettman said he was not in the business of contradicting owners and was trusting Meruelo. “Alex Meruelo, as recently as last week, told me he was certain he was going to get this done,” Bettman said. “I’m both hopeful and reasonably confident that he’s going to do what he says.”

- The Coyotes’ instability comes amid significant interest from the owners of the NBA’s Utah Jazz to put an NHL team in Salt Lake City. Bettman said Ryan Smith and his group are “very enthused about the possibility.”

https://www.azfamily.com/2024/02/03/...mains-concern/

[RC14]

The NHL commissioner just called Utah’s bid for a team ‘aggressive.’ Here’s what else he said

Bettman noted that several other cities, including Houston, Atlanta, Cincinnati and Kansas City, are also vying for expansion teams, but described Utah’s approach as the “most aggressive.”

“It’s fair to say the Utah expression of interest has been the most aggressive and has carried a lot of energy with it, including from governor and leaders of the legislature,” he said.

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2024/2/2/24059427/nhl-expansion-team-utah-players-olympics

[locolife]

Originally Posted by RC14

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2024/2/2/24059427/nhl-expansion-team-utah-players-olympics

They sure know how to make it sound really promising then you read the text and realize all he's saying is the interest is aggressive. Then he adds.

"the NHL is not currently engaged in a formal expansion process."

“What’s happening is people are expressing an interest. ... We’re not envisioning what we did in prior times where we say, ‘If you want a team, here’s the date. Submit your application,’” Bettman said.

[wrendog]

Lots of Twitter rumblings about Coyotes ultimatum and needing to know soon. Couple national insiders stating that it's unlikely Arizona comes up with a solution.

An insider just tweeted this:

https://twitter.com/KevinWeekes/status/1755331134966075400?t=qW-k7UYHzclHtKMKgTDDhg&s=19

[Comrade]

I am nervous about the NHL. Ryan Smith seems like a snake and I absolutely could see him finessing the fans by lulling them into thinking the Jazz will remain at the Delta Center just to turn around and move 'em to a new arena out in Draper.

In fact, I am expecting it. I don't think he likes being downtown.

The irony is I'm not sure Utah lands the NBA All Star game if their arena is out in Draper. Draper is a cultural pit - no offense to those who live there.

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by Comrade

I am nervous about the NHL. Ryan Smith seems like a snake and I absolutely could see him finessing the fans by lulling them into thinking the Jazz will remain at the Delta Center just to turn around and move 'em to a new arena out in Draper.

In fact, I am expecting it. I don't think he likes being downtown.

The irony is I'm not sure Utah lands the NBA All Star game if their arena is out in Draper. Draper is a cultural pit - no offense to those who live there.

I feel like the pushback against moving the Jazz out of SLC will be incredibly immense. Hopefully that forces Ryan Smith's hand. I get the worry, though.