Utah lawmakers scored two goals Monday when Gov. Spencer Cox and legislative leadership met with the National Hockey League commissioner, and the Utah Senate unanimously voted “yes” on a resolution supporting a franchise coming to the state.

Will they get the hat trick?

With Qualtrics founder and Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith and his wife Ashley in attendance, SJR12, or Joint Resolution Supporting a National Hockey League Franchise in Utah, got a green light from the Senate in the morning; that afternoon, Cox, along with Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz, met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

“With the fastest growing economy, youngest population in the country and a long history as a premier winter sports destination, Utah is excited about the prospect of being the new home to an NHL franchise,” Cox and Schultz said in a joint statement.

That sentiment was echoed in the Senate’s resolution, sponsored by Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, which touts Utah’s growth, young population, “family-friendly” reputation and “extensive and rich sports history.”

“This resolution recognizes Utah as an incredible state for sports and entertainment and supports efforts to bring a National Hockey League franchise to Utah,” the resolution reads

McCay, who asked the Senate to suspend the rules so he could present wearing his old hockey jersey, told reporters after the vote that the resolution tells stakeholders the state is “open for business.”

“We’re available for talks (and) conversations for things that bring economic progress or growth to the state,” he said.

Ryan Smith’s Smith Entertainment Group has been lobbying the NHL for a Utah-based team since 2022, and last week formally asked the league to begin expansion efforts. McCay said the resolution sends a message that “it’s not just the Smith Entertainment Group, but it’s also the state” pushing for a team.

“The Legislature supports the Smith Entertainment Group’s efforts, knowing ‘you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,'” the resolution’s closing line reads, using a quote from hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

It’s unclear how much, if any, public funding the state will use to entice a team coming to Utah.

“We’ve done this before,” Adams said, citing the Delta Center, the inland port and developments around the point of the mountain as examples where lawmakers have courted businesses. But Adams couldn’t say exactly what kind of resources the state will afford.

“We’ll get into details later, but I know we can handle it no matter what it is. We will be prudent with taxpayer dollars,” he said.

McCay said it’s important for a team to have adequate infrastructure — hockey teams that are lacking in hospitality and food service suffer, he said, telling reporters “there’s going to be a desire to have a new facility as well.”

Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said Democrats are ready to have conversations about how the state can support a team, but the caucus has yet to take an official stance.

Democrats are open to exploring a “combination of tools in the toolbox, and I think the state plays a role in building infrastructure and helping communities,” she said.

At least one lawmaker, Rep. Jon Hawkins, R-Utah County, is eying some kind of bill to create an “entertainment district,” although its specifics are not yet public.

Utah News Dispatch is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news source covering government, policy and the issues most impacting the lives of Utahns.

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