Salt Lake NHL and MLB News Thread

[Comrade]

It is interesting that the legislature actually came to bat for Salt Lake instead of their opposite history of supporting screwing the city over at every turn. I suspect that's because Mendenhall has a good relationship with the legislature (unlike Rocky, who was toxic) and, as I hinted at, I wonder if the LDS Church's Property Reserve, which has a massive stake in downtown's success, especially in terms of bringing people into the downtown for City Creek, kinda nudged the legislature a bit too.

[RC14]

While professional sports are growing in the metro area, it looks like we are loosing one pro sports team. The Utah Warriors MLR announced today they are shuting down club operations.

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by RC14

While professional sports are growing in the metro area, it looks like we are loosing one pro sports team. The Utah Warriors MLR announced today they are shuting down club operations.

Bummer. Not too long ago that had announce a new 10,000 seat stadium at the fair park

[mattreedah]

Originally Posted by wrendog

Bummer. Not too long ago that had announce a new 10,000 seat stadium at the fair park

they really use that Herriman stadium for a lot of sports, which is good. there is always something going on over there. That rugby team actually drew a lot better than some other cities in the league. it's tough that they are shutting down.

[TheWireRedux]

Great read from NYT/The Athletic on the landscape around bringing major sports to SLC (gift link): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7044898..._gift_article_copylink&smid=url-share-ta

[Boz]

Originally Posted by TheWireRedux

Great read from NYT/The Athletic on the landscape around bringing major sports to SLC (gift link): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7044898..._gift_article_copylink&smid=url-share-ta

Cheers

[delts145]

Originally Posted by TheWireRedux

Great read from NYT/The Athletic on the landscape around bringing major sports to SLC (gift link): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7044898..._gift_article_copylink&smid=url-share-ta

Great Article, thanks for posting!

[Comrade]

Ryan Smith announced he plans to independently seek a MLB team for Utah (or at least make an aggressive push). I wonder how this will impact the Miller Group and Big League Utah - more importantly, I wonder how it'll impact the Power District.

If Ryan Smith gets it, the Power District might not be an option anymore and I would bet on the stadium being built out in Draper or somewhere else far-south of downtown.

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by Comrade

Ryan Smith announced he plans to independently seek a MLB team for Utah (or at least make an aggressive push). I wonder how this will impact the Miller Group and Big League Utah - more importantly, I wonder how it'll impact the Power District.

If Ryan Smith gets it, the Power District might not be an option anymore and I would bet on the stadium being built out in Draper or somewhere else far-south of downtown.

Yeah, that seems super weird. He should collab instead, but MLB has to love a bidding war. Look at Vegas NBA expansion fee bidding war right now. Good heavens

[Atlas]

Was there an actual announcement about that or is it just speculation based on his cryptic response to that one interviewer?

[RC14]

Originally Posted by Comrade

Ryan Smith announced he plans to independently seek a MLB team for Utah (or at least make an aggressive push). I wonder how this will impact the Miller Group and Big League Utah - more importantly, I wonder how it'll impact the Power District.

If Ryan Smith gets it, the Power District might not be an option anymore and I would bet on the stadium being built out in Draper or somewhere else far-south of downtown.

I am worried too. Hopefully this doesn't cost us the team.

[Makid]

I look at Ryan Smith's announcement as more of a guarantee that we will get a team and it will be the Miller Group that gets it.

The announcement puts more focus on Utah for MLB and that puts more focus on the Big League Utah campaign and the Miller's plan and the overall Power District. It also puts a focus on the State Funding for the stadium and helps to show just how far ahead Utah, and the Miller's are with the funding, development plan, and even development of the stadium area.

As more people look at the area, they will see the advantages that the Power District has over other areas, especially the Point of the Mountain.

[delts145]

The latest word is that Nashville is having a morass of problems. Not that they are not still the favorite bid for the Eastern U.S., but now Salt Lake City is the overall national favorite.

I'm sure Nashville will be able to work out the details eventually as the final pressure countdown begins. I think it's amusing that several teams are complaining that a team in Nashville will infringe on their territory. I mean, Tennesee has a very significant population to draw from. What do surrounding States expect. It's like building a tower on Main and residents on State complaining it blocks their view.

Also, this is another time where Salt Lake's location helps to bridge the scheduling delema between coasts.


Salt Lake City's Advantage

• Advanced Bid: Analysts like ESPN's Jeff Passan rank Salt Lake City's bid first among prospective cities, calling it the closest thing to a turnkey operation.

• Site and Funding: The Larry H. Miller Company has secured a 100-acre site at the Power District on Salt Lake City's west side, and public stadium funding has been backed by the Utah Legislature.

• Ownership and Market: Backed by structured initiatives like Big League Utah, the region's expanding major sports footprint has bolstered confidence.


Nashville's Hurdles

• Slow Progress: While previously viewed alongside Salt Lake City as a co-favorite, Nashville's bid has faced delays regarding a finalized ownership structure, a concrete stadium site, and complete local alignment.

• Territorial Pushback: Existing regional franchises, such as the Atlanta Braves, have expressed territorial sensitivity regarding expansion into the Nashville market.

.

[RC14]

Originally Posted by Makid

I look at Ryan Smith's announcement as more of a guarantee that we will get a team and it will be the Miller Group that gets it.

The announcement puts more focus on Utah for MLB and that puts more focus on the Big League Utah campaign and the Miller's plan and the overall Power District. It also puts a focus on the State Funding for the stadium and helps to show just how far ahead Utah, and the Miller's are with the funding, development plan, and even development of the stadium area.

As more people look at the area, they will see the advantages that the Power District has over other areas, especially the Point of the Mountain.

My concern is the South Towne Mall site. Ryan Smith clearly has big plans for it, and it could easily fit an MLB stadium. SEG's headquarters and the Jazz and Mammoth practice facilities are already headed there, and from what I've heard, it's where he originally wanted a new NBA/NHL arena. I wouldn't be surprised if he's eyeing an MLB team as a "plan B." The site is just as turnkey as the Power District, and I'm sure the state would be happy to screw over Salt Lake City again.

I'm not saying that's definitely his play, but the pieces fit.

[mattreedah]

Originally Posted by RC14

My concern is the South Towne Mall site. Ryan Smith clearly has big plans for it, and it could easily fit an MLB stadium. SEG's headquarters and the Jazz and Mammoth practice facilities are already headed there, and from what I've heard, it's where he originally wanted a new NBA/NHL arena. I wouldn't be surprised if he's eyeing an MLB team as a "plan B." The site is just as turnkey as the Power District, and I'm sure the state would be happy to screw over Salt Lake City again.

I'm not saying that's definitely his play, but the pieces fit.

It's obviously his play, but he won't be able to get state financing for it as of today. Sandy would likely have to pony up some. It wouldn't be a bad place for it, although I would prefer the Power District.

It will soon have the frontrunner bridge and it's actually one of the sites LHM was considering for the Delta Center.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by Makid

I look at Ryan Smith's announcement as more of a guarantee that we will get a team and it will be the Miller Group that gets it.

The announcement puts more focus on Utah for MLB and that puts more focus on the Big League Utah campaign and the Miller's plan and the overall Power District. It also puts a focus on the State Funding for the stadium and helps to show just how far ahead Utah, and the Miller's are with the funding, development plan, and even development of the stadium area.

As more people look at the area, they will see the advantages that the Power District has over other areas, especially the Point of the Mountain.

If that's the case, Smith is doing a terrible job clearing things up because it's been widely reported in multiple places that he is looking to go it alone and potentially battle it out with the Miller family for a team.

https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2026/10/01/millers-vs-smith-billionaire/

https://sports.ksl.com/professional-sports/ryan-smith-seg-mlb-expansion/577581

https://kutv.com/news/local/utah-jazz-mammoth-owner-ryan-smith-signals-interest-in-bringing-mlb

For someone as media savvy as Smith is, the fact he hasn't said anything makes me think he wants to do it independent of Big League Utah.

I also don't really interpret his comments as opposite of what I've said:

“Our group will be pretty aggressive in how we pursue sports. OK? I think that's probably all I'll say. We do it our own way. We don't do a lot publicly. I actually think that's not the way expansion really gets done. Salt Lake's ready for it, but if you saw how we operated with the NHL, it just happened.”

1. Ryan Smith is not part of the Miller Group. He has not signed on in any capacity with Big League Utah, unlike other community and sports leaders. It would seem Smith is NOT talking about Big League Utah here since it's not his group and he mentions 'our group' and compares it to how SEG brought the NHL to Salt Lake.

2. 'We do it our own way, we don't do a lot of publicly' seems to go counter to Big League Utah, who is pretty visible in their push for the MLB (from releasing renderings of the stadium, creating a website, being interviewed about the prospects).

Of course, it could mean he's talking another sport (maybe NFL?) but if he was, why not clear things up. he tweets a lot ... one tweet would clear the air. He hasn't said a thing since that interview, tho, despite multiple outlets reporting that he intends to compete against the Millers.

idk whole thing smells fishy.

[RC14]

Originally Posted by Comrade

Of course, it could mean he's talking another sport...

This is the best alternative hypothesis I have heard yet. But I don't think so, (certainly not the NFL which has been open about not having any interest in US expansion.)

I would like to remind everyone about the rumor we heard a few years back, about how the city approached Ryan Smith about trying to bring an MLB team here and he basically ghosted them after initially expressing interest.

I don't think he is trying to work with Big League Utah. If the goal is just to bring the team to Utah by any means necessary, targeting a struggling team for relocation, like he did with the Yotes, seems like the faster and more secure way to do it. Expansion could take years if it even happens at all. Meanwhile, there are several struggling teams with uncertain futures that are good candidates for relocation and Smith has proven that he can pull it off.