Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith formally asked the NHL to initiate the expansion process and bring a team to Salt Lake City back in January. Now he’s already taking name suggestions.
Smith took to X on Monday to ask fans what they think an appropriate name for a franchise in Salt Lake City would be. And they did not hold back.
“If an NHL team were to come to Utah, what should we name it?” the billionaire businessman asked his social media followers, linking to an online survey.
If an NHL team were to come to Utah, what should we name it?
Fill out this survey and send your ideas:https://t.co/wmedXEUEyh https://t.co/BXhSRBqcPd
— Ryan Smith (@RyanQualtrics) April 8, 2024
With the internet being what it is, the replies ranged from raunchy and silly to catchy and clever.
Here are a few standouts.
Graphic designer Tyler Stevens came prepared with four separate names, logos, and jersey designs, which included the Utah Yeti and Salt Lake City Stags.
I’ve got you covered @RyanQualtrics just take your pick pic.twitter.com/FR9yh8zEYh
ā TS20Designs | Tyler Stevenson (@tysteve20) April 8, 2024
Another suggested the “Salt Lake City Stingers” since Utah is known as the “Beehive State.”
The name is a tad generic but āSalt Lake Stingersā seems like a fitting name given Utah is the ābeehive stateā. pic.twitter.com/dSPuwrtGMy
ā Blake The Concerned (@ConcernedBlake) April 8, 2024
More mock-up jerseys were provided in the lengthy thread. One of which bore the name “Salt Lake Loons.”
.@The_JerseyNerds already know pic.twitter.com/AsBZFuwMke
ā Justin Brolley (@JustinBrolley) April 8, 2024
Alternatively, a large number of people seem to be in favour of calling the club the “Salt Lake Golden Eagles,” a callback to a minor professional hockey team based in Salt Lake City from 1969 to 1994.
Bring back the
Salt Lake Golden Eagles pic.twitter.com/P9mqKuw0Xmā RA Grizzšāš» š³ (@Grizzfather) April 8, 2024
Along with a few great prospects, there were plenty of tongue-in-cheek submissions as well.
On a less serious note, one user proposed the name “Polygamists,” a nod to the state’s decriminalization of the controversial practice.
The Utah Polygamists.
ā Surrey Ryan (@RyanChand) April 8, 2024
Another sarcastically pitched “Dolphins” since the Jazz already have a name that’s not tied to the region.
The Utah Dolphinsā¦ why not stay consistent with team names that arenāt associated with the area.
ā Michael Harrison (@HarrisonMJ1967) April 8, 2024
One suggestion referenced the state fossil, which is a bit of a mouthful.
Utah Allosauruses, the state fossil, of course! pic.twitter.com/dIne7lz7RV
ā Frank LeBlanc (@Frank_LeBlanc) April 8, 2024
The “69ers” was also proposed for… historical reasons.
The Utah 69ers, in honor of the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869
ā Robby (@okeIIeykm) April 8, 2024
While nothing is set in stone just yet, there is growing excitement for professional hockey in Salt Lake City.
Smith has revealed that SEG has been in discussions with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman āsince early 2022ā about a possible expansion team in Utah. And just last month, state legislators approved a bill that creates the possibility of building a new, mixed-use arena in downtown Salt Lake City
With that said, other cities are still interested.
Representatives of the Houston and Atlanta groups are also expected to soon meet with the NHL, as per a Monday report from Kevin Weekes.
š Iām told that members of the Tilman Fertitta led Houston group, and the Vernon Krause led Atlanta group are meeting with the @NHL in NYC. #HockeyTwitter #HockeyX pic.twitter.com/qVxVMn6JL1
— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) April 8, 2024
Meanwhile, Eric Girard, Quebec’s minister of finance, was in New York City last Tuesday for a meeting with Bettman, marking a sign of hope for local hockey fans.
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