The Utah Hockey Membership is just a few months into their existence however they’ve already made an affect within the league. They’ve bought merchandise like no different workforce and have been so widespread in Salt Lake Metropolis that proprietor Ryan Smith has even opened up obstructed seats throughout video games that in fact additionally bought out. One factor that has been mentioned to additional the workforce’s recognition even additional is to host an outside recreation in Utah.
Utah’s president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong informed reporters earlier this month that an outside recreation in Utah is a chance and the group has already begun discussing with the league how that may occur sooner quite than later. With Utah probably getting an outside recreation quickly and the NHL’s sixteenth Winter Basic occurring in lower than per week, let’s take a look at what venues within the Salt Lake Metropolis space may maintain one of many league’s marquee occasions.
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Rice-Eccles Stadium is the house of the College of Utah’s soccer workforce. Opened in 1998, the stadium was constructed to host the 2002 Winter Olympics. Ever since its opening, Utah’s soccer workforce has been the primary tenant however has additionally hosted Main League Soccer’s (MLS) Actual Salt Lake and quite a few live shows. The stadium will even host the 2034 Winter Olympics.
The stadium was most lately renovated in 2021 when extra seating, new locker rooms, new suites, and a restaurant have been added. Rice-Eccles Stadium now holds 51,444 folks however has held as much as 54,383. It’s positioned on the outskirts of the campus and is on the bottom of Salt Lake Metropolis’s mountains, overlooking the town.
There are a number of execs of holding an outside recreation on the stadium. The primary is that it’s the closest stadium to Delta Heart and downtown Salt Lake Metropolis. It’s additionally simply accessible through the town’s mild rail transit. The stadium holds a good variety of folks and has a wonderful backdrop of Utah’s mountains. It’s an iconic venue because it’s the house of the Utes and has hosted the Winter Olympics.
Smith and Utah’s athletic director Mark Harlan truly had somewhat dialog on social media about it. Smith retweeted a fan’s want for the stadium to host an outside recreation saying “Umm.. This could completely be occurring. I do know @PresidentUofU could be down. You get it.”
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Harlan responded with a tweet saying “Carry. It. On…!!!” This solely fueled that the 2 have engaged in conversations a few potential out of doors recreation.
There may be one little disadvantage. Alcohol gross sales, which is a big a part of sporting occasions, are a bit bizarre on the stadium. At Utes video games, liquor isn’t permitted in any respect. Nonetheless, the varsity has allowed particular occasions like live shows to promote alcohol. It’s laborious to think about that liquor gained’t be bought on the occasion even when Smith has to have a dialog with the College.
General, Rice-Eccles Stadium is a slam dunk to host an outside recreation. Its proximity to downtown Salt Lake Metropolis, the gorgeous backdrop of the mountains, and the accessibility to public transportation make it the proper venue to host what might be Utah’s largest-attended sporting occasion in state historical past.
LaVell Edwards Stadium
If Rice-Eccles Stadium can’t be used, LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo is an ideal backup possibility. Residence of Bringham Younger College’s soccer workforce, LaVell Edwards Stadium opened in 1964. The stadium was most lately renovated in 2024 to incorporate new LED lights and improved seating. Much like BYU’s rivals, the stadium is positioned on the bottom of a few of Utah’s stunning mountains.
In contrast to Rice-Eccles Stadium, LaVell Edwards Stadium has by no means hosted occasions outdoors of soccer though its parking zone was used in the course of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Nonetheless, it’s the greatest venue in Utah with a capability of 62,073. Its report attendance is 66,247, although that was set again in 1993.
There are a few cons to holding it at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The primary is that the stadium is positioned in Provo. Through public transit, it’s nearly two hours away from Salt Lake Metropolis. It’s nearly an hour away by automobile.
The second con is that the stadium is much more strict with alcohol than Rice-Eccles Stadium. No occasion ever held at LaVell Edwards Stadium has allowed alcohol gross sales. In truth, even consuming within the parking heaps is strictly prohibited. Consuming or smoking wherever on BYU’s campus is just not allowed as a consequence of their strict Honor Code.
Whereas LaVell Stadium is a wonderful stadium that holds a great variety of folks, its distance from Salt Lake Metropolis and its strict alcohol rule do present some challenges for doubtlessly internet hosting an outside recreation. Nonetheless, if all falls by, it’s an possibility.
America First Discipline
The most recent out of all three of Utah’s out of doors sporting venues, America First Discipline is positioned in Sandy and is the house of Actual Salt Lake. The stadium opened in 2008 and has hosted the MLS workforce ever since together with the NWSL’s Utah Royals and different occasions like live shows.
The stadium’s greatest benefit is that Smith truly owns the venue (with enterprise companion David Blitzer, Smith owns Actual Salt Lake and America First Discipline.) It makes it the simplest stadium to host the occasion because the billionaire has full management over the stadium. In contrast to the opposite two stadium choices, America First Discipline has no alcohol restrictions.
The stadium additionally has a wonderful backdrop (which appears to be a typical theme amongst all Utah venues) because it sits on the bottom of the Wasatch Vary. America First Discipline is definitely accessible through Salt Lake Metropolis’s mild rail transit and is just 17 minutes through automobile from downtown Salt Lake Metropolis.
Nonetheless, America First Discipline is the smallest of the three venues. Its capability is 20,213 which is barely larger than among the greatest arenas within the NHL. Compared, the smallest official out of doors recreation the NHL hosted was at Canadian Soccer League stadium Tim Hortons Discipline in Hamilton between the Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The capability for that recreation was 26,119.
Exterior of the seating capability, America First Discipline is the proper venue for an outside recreation. Smith owns it, it’s near downtown Salt Lake Metropolis, and it’s a pleasant venue with stunning environment. Nonetheless, the capability of 20,213 actually makes it laborious to check an NHL recreation being performed within the stadium.
An out of doors recreation in Utah is inevitable at this level. It’s not a query if the workforce will get an outside recreation ini the subsequent 5 years, however quite it’s a query of when and the place. Whereas Rice-Eccles Stadium is the probably best choice, judging by the Utah’s recognition throughout their inaugural season, will probably be a well-attended occasion that would make Utah State historical past wherever it’s performed.
