The new NHL team in Salt Lake City may prove to be a hat trick for Park City’s tourism industry.
Hockey fans from the visiting teams could make their way to Park City to ski.
They may book their lodging in the Park City area.
And Park City could provide dining and entertainment options for them.
The Utah Hockey Club begins its first season on Tuesday with a game in Salt Lake City. Although the team plays in the capital city, it is likely the Park City-area tourism industry will enjoy residual economic benefits with another professional team so close.
The point was underscored Friday with the presence of the team this week in Park City. And General Manager Bill Armstrong and Head Coach André Tourigny introduced forward Clayton Keller at the Hotel Park City on Friday as the first captain in Utah Hockey Club history.
It is difficult to project what level of economic benefit Park City and surrounding Summit County could anticipate as a result of having a team in Salt Lake City, but it seems certain there will be some sort of boost to the tourism industry.
Park City has long been a popular day trip for people visiting Salt Lake City. Park City’s lodging industry for decades has been an attractive option for some people traveling to Salt Lake City but wanting to stay in the mountains.
Jennifer Wesselhoff, the president and CEO of the Park City Chamber/Bureau, said the organization has not held discussions with the Utah Hockey Club, “but anyone who follows their team when it travels to Utah is a very good potential Park City visitor.”
Park City has for years drawn fans of visiting sports teams playing in Salt Lake City or elsewhere along the Wasatch Front. During the college football season, people wearing apparel of University of Utah or Brigham Young University opponents are regularly seen in Park City. Utah Jazz games also can bring the supporters of the opposing team to Park City.
“Sports tourism positively impacts Park City, as fans attending games in Salt Lake City often include pre- and post-game visits to Main Street and it is not uncommon for fans to book overnight rooms in the area. Hockey fans travel well and will be excited to have a new venue and destination to experience this season – we should be a popular draw,” Wesselhoff said.
The hockey season largely coincides with the ski season, when Park City’s tourism industry is already at its busiest and when lodging prices are typically at their peak. Wesselhoff, though, predicted the busy season for tourism will not be a hindrance to hockey fans interested in Park City.
“I would not worry about winter being ‘high season’ as a detriment to potential hockey team guests. We have very few dates where the town is completely sold out – even in winter — and I would expect more day visits in general,” she said.
Wesselhoff, meanwhile, said the NHL team could lead to additional tourism to Park City from people who live in Canada, where the sport is wildly popular.
“We have a lot of consumer relations with potential guests in Canadian capital cities (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton) and we have a good set of weekly flights to SLC, and the NHL activity will likely attract some of those great guests who we are communicating with throughout the year,” she said. “This gives us a whole new reason to connect with them and encourage them to add on a visit to our winter recreation attractions and maybe even stay in Park City to plan a pre- or post-visit.”
