SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Now that Utah has a new NHL team on the way, professional hockey is shaping up to be front and center in Salt Lake City.
What will its economic impact be?
“They come downtown. They spend. Hockey fans travel to see their teams. And so we expect a bump in the tourism sector as well. It’s very good news,” Downtown Alliance executive director Dee Brewer said.
Downtown Alliance said they are dedicated to helping build a dynamic downtown Salt lake City, and thinks the NHL action will be a “very good” addition to Salt Lake City’s “vibrant sports scene.”
“Downtown is an entertainment destination and the addition of hockey and the expansion of entertainment resources … so I think more bars, more restaurants, more hotel rooms … is really going to add to the downtown economy,” Brewer said.
Additionally, Brewer said Downtown Alliance recognizes and appreciates that the arrival of professional hockey will include more families in the downtown experience.
“It will foster a new cohort of Winter sports athletes. Professional hockey further elevates the experience for downtown visitors, workers, and residents,” he said in a statement.
According to the Utah Sports Commission, the Beehive State is “the state of the sport” — home to the Utah Jazz, Real Salt Lake, Salt Lake Bees, and more. Salt Lake City Mayor Mendenhall thinks the new hockey addition will be “defining.”
“This announcement is about more than bringing an NHL team to Salt Lake City — it’s a defining moment in our trajectory, becoming a catalyst for a positive vision that integrates community, connection, and more possibilities for families, residents, and visitors to experience our capital city,” she said in a statement. “This is the beginning of a new era that will generate exciting opportunities for our communities, amplify pride and unlock new potential in our downtown core.”
