Utah’s New NHL Team TV Situation Settled, Fans to Help Choose Name
Utah’s New NHL Team Secures TV Deal, Fans to Help Choose Name
Utah’s newest professional hockey team, formerly the Arizona Coyotes, may not have a name yet, but fans can already celebrate the team’s TV situation being settled. The team will retain its existing TV contract with Scripps Sports, as announced by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman during a recent press conference welcoming the team to Utah.
The TV deal with Scripps, which previously aired Coyotes games on KUPX channel 16 in Utah, was established prior to the 2023-24 season. This over-the-air TV arrangement is a unique feature for the NHL, as most teams typically broadcast games on regional cable networks.
The team playing on Utah 16 will be under the ownership of Ryan and Ashley Smith’s Smith Entertainment Group, who also own the NBA’s Utah Jazz. The same Scripps station in Arizona will continue to air games for the relocated franchise in Utah, which has taken over existing Coyotes players and contracts.
While the team’s name is yet to be determined, fans will have a say in the decision-making process. Ryan Smith plans to involve fans in choosing the team’s name through a selection process that will be facilitated by his survey company Qualtrics and design firm Doubleday & Cartwright.
To kick off the fan engagement, a special event will be held at the Delta Center on Wednesday, featuring free food, live music, and the opportunity to welcome the players, coach André Tourigny, and general manager Bill Armstrong to Utah. Despite not being named the Coyotes, the team’s new identity will soon be unveiled, with the promise of an exciting future ahead for hockey fans in Utah.