(SALT LAKE CITY) For the third time since the inauguration of the Videotron Center, the National League preferred an American market rather than a return to Quebec. And for Gary Bettman, it’s because the stars were aligned towards Utah.
After Vegas and Seattle, Salt Lake City is in fact the third market to host the NHL since the completion of the Videotron Center in 2015. In baseball, a batter is removed after three strikes. Does this mean that the Quebec representatives who are working to bring the NHL back to town must move on?
PHOTO RICK BOWMER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gary Bettman and Ryan Smith, new owners
“Not at all,” replied Bettman, in a short meeting with The Press after his press conference. When a substantial case for expansion presents itself, it is considered. Here it was a unique situation.
“In addition to what you heard during the press briefing (we will come back to that), there is the fact that it works geographically. The schedule for the next season is 85% ready. By relocating the team to Utah, there is no need to rearrange the divisions. For television markets, too, it was a perfect match. »
The Red carpet
Bettman had a somewhat furnished Friday. In the morning, he was in the Phoenix area to bury the Coyotes, but not hockey in Arizona, let’s be clear. Three hours later, he arrived in the capital of Utah to attend a press briefing lasting more than an hour, alongside Ryan and Ashley Smith, the new owners of the team that will end up here in the fall. next.
A press briefing where the commissioner was rather relaxed. He is a skilled orator, even in front of hostile crowds, but this time, it was with a round of applause that he was welcomed, in front of an audience of local elected officials.
PHOTO RICK BOWMER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman
As you become hockey fans, you will quickly learn that I don’t usually get this kind of welcome! The NHL in Utah sounds really good. I am very excited to welcome Utah to the NHL.
Gary Bettman, NHL commissioner
At his side, Ryan and Ashley Smith, a wealthy couple from the region, also owners of the Utah Jazz in the NBA. At 45 years old, Ryan Smith will substantially rejuvenate the NHL ownership group. The billionaire, founder of the Qualtrics firm, is good at social interactions. He arrived casually at the press point, gray windbreaker on his back. In the minutes before the conference, he greeted a few journalists, local and from outside.
Ashley Smith, his wife, thanked Bettman several times, before explaining the genesis of their interest in an NHL club.
“It started with a conversation at the table, at dinner, as was the case for Jazz,” she explained. So my commitment is that from now on, we will no longer have conversations like that at dinner! »
We obviously don’t all have the same conversations at dinner.
Energetic steps
What we understand is that Ryan Smith was vigorous in his efforts. “It was Ryan who knocked on my door two years ago to have an expansion team in Utah,” Bettman said.
The new owner said the adventure began with a dinner with Bettman in New York. “We hoped that no one would recognize us,” he agreed. I was amazed at how open Gary was. He didn’t know me, we just had mutual friends. But he changed his plans that day because I was in town. He gave me his number and said we’d keep in touch. »
PHOTO GUILLAUME LEFRANÇOIS, THE PRESS
New Utah team owner Ryan Smith in conversation with reporters
Smith wasn’t the only one. The state’s governor, Spencer J. Cox, said he had also been in communication with the NHL commissioner “since late January.”
And it was precisely at this moment that the actions of the Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) became public. On January 24, SEG released a letter loudly proclaiming its desire for an NHL team.
Public and loud campaigns rarely do professional leagues, but it seems that in this case, SEG hit the target with its efforts.
“That convinced us of your seriousness. We had several discussions, but by making your approach public, it was a subtle way of putting pressure on us! “, joked Bettman, to Ashley and Ryan Smith.
His confidence was all the more evident as his visit to Salt Lake City was his first since the process began. Other NHL executives were there, however, we were told.
Advice for the future
For the moment, no expansion plans are underway. The NHL has also, she hopes, stabilized the dunce among its 32 franchises.
But things can change quickly. The Senators will sooner or later have to build a new amphitheater. The Winnipeg Jets finished second-to-last in the NHL this season, with 13,490 fans per game; if they don’t rectify the situation next year, the Coyotes will no longer be there to steal the 32e rank.
In short, whether for a relocation or for an expansion if the circuit wants to grow its ranks, there will be other opportunities for markets looking for professional sport. The commissioner’s advice for future investors?
“Be imaginative, daring, committed. Have the resources at hand and don’t beat around the bush. And we will build a relationship, we will try to imagine the impossible. »
On this subject, Quebec clearly does not lack audacity and imagination, having assigned a minister specifically to the issue of the return of hockey to the Great Capital. Éric Girard, Minister of Finance, met Bettman again two weeks ago.
“I will meet the elected officials of Quebec whenever they want. But the Quebec government will not be the owner of the franchise,” Bettman reminded The Press. During this meeting, Minister Girard explained that he had asked the commissioner for his support in the event that Quebec proposed to the Montreal Canadiens to play a season match at the Videotron Center. “Everything is evaluated on a case-by-case basis,” Bettman replied.
Tourigny returns
André Tourigny will follow the former Coyotes in the move to Salt Lake City. Its general manager, Bill Armstrong, should also survive, if we rely on the words of Ryan Smith. “As we only acquire people, we need people,” explained Smith. That’s all we get. So that’s their status; we need everyone. We had a good conversation yesterday. » It therefore seems that the organization will imitate the Avalanche, which retained the services of Marc Crawford and Pierre Lacroix while moving from Quebec to Colorado. On the other hand, the Winnipeg Jets had started again on a new basis after their departure from Atlanta.
Kings–Golden Knights in Salt Lake?
The famous preparatory schedule of the Los Angeles Kings, probably the most talked about preparatory schedule in the history of preparatory schedules, has not stopped making people talk. In addition to its two matches in Quebec, the Californian team was scheduled to play one in Salt Lake City, against the Golden Knights, on September 23. However, in response to an email from La Presse, a Kings publicist indicated that “the match is still scheduled on the schedule under these conditions”. If there is a change, it seems unlikely that Quebec will also inherit this match, since it will take place 10 days before the two meetings scheduled at the Videotron Center, October 3 and 5.