The Utah Hockey Club are the newest franchise in the NHL, and although they're yet to play a game, they're about to sign a deal that will lock them in for 30 years.
After a long time coming, the Utah Hockey Club are just months away from their first game in the league, and as expected, there's about to be a big deal on the way for the organization. According to a report, Owner Ryan Smith is set to sign a 30-year commitment for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and the Utah HC that will keep them in Salt Lake City for three decades, getting a massive $900 million to renovate the Delta Center in the process.
The deal would be an incredible move for the city, and as a part of the reported deal, the organization would renovate the area surrounding the Delta Center, turning the three-block radius into a sports and entertainment district. We've seen moves like these revitalize areas of cities in North America, and given the growth of Salt Lake City, it would be a huge boost.
On top of that, the deal would come with a clause that if Utah HC play a home game outside of Salt Lake City, whether it be with the Stadium Series or a game in Europe, they would face major fines, just like the New York Knicks and Rangers deal with Madison Square Garden. That can be worked around be simply being the 'away' team in those potential games, but with the excitement surrounding the team already, this deal would help push fans towards the Utah HC and Salt Lake City.