New NHL Team Marks Coming-of-age Moment For Salt Lake City

April 21, 2024 6:34 am

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — It may look like an NHL team has just fallen into Salt Lake City’s lap. But local organizers say the Arizona Coyotes’ relocation to Utah is the product of a yearslong effort to beckon professional hockey and other elite sports to the capital city. The move marks a coming-of-age moment for Salt Lake City as a pro sports hub in the Mountain West. It gives the midsize market its second major professional sports franchise and a chance to prove that it can sustain multiple pro teams year-round. Hockey fans outside of Utah are not yet convinced the city can support its new team.