Arizona Coyotes players apparently told team moving to Salt Lake

[Max Rockatansky]

Here's the Delta Center in Salt Lake City during an LA Kings preseason game last year. From what I understand, the NHL team will likely close off the seats at either end of the upper level because you can't see the goal at your end of the ice from up there.

This is similar to the situation at the Footprint Center in Phoenix (America West Arena at the time) that prevented the Coyotes from remaining there in 1998.

American West was by far the better venue to attend compared to Glendale Arena.  The seating at America West raised more abruptly and had way better views.  America West was also way more loud and lively. 

[triplemultiplex]

Well at least it snows in Utah.  That's my only criteria for who gets hockey teams. 

[Max Rockatansky]

It snows in Arizona also.  I was stuck up on the Mogollon Rim in Show Low for three days one time after being snow bound in a hotel there. I've even seen it snow on the mountains in Phoenix a couple times.

[1995hoo]

Well at least it snows in Utah.  That's my only criteria for who gets hockey teams. 

It snowed in Miami in 1977, so I guess the Panthers are safe.

[KeithE4Phx]

It snows in Arizona also.  I was stuck up on the Mogollon Rim in Show Low for three days one time after being snow bound in a hotel there. I've even seen it snow on the mountains in Phoenix a couple times.

The last time I saw snow in Phoenix (specifically, Ahwatukee) was January 2007.  The last time I saw it in Mesa was February 2013.  When I worked in north Scottsdale (1997-2002), there were 2 or 3 times I got to work and there was about 1/2 inch of snow on the ground each time.  So it does happen on rare occasions.

[JayhawkCO]

Saw this pic on Twitter and really liked it.

[KeithE4Phx]

Saw this pic on Twitter and really liked it.

Is that an official proposal?  Last I heard, they will be called just "Utah" and will determine their final nickname/logo/trademarks after the 2024-25 season.

[Flint1979]

That's a pretty small metro area to have both an NBA and NHL team.

[JayhawkCO]

Is that an official proposal?  Last I heard, they will be called just "Utah" and will determine their final nickname/logo/trademarks after the 2024-25 season.

Nope. Just a fan mockup.

[SEWIGuy]

That's a pretty small metro area to have both an NBA and NHL team.

Yep. The next smallest metropolitan area that has both a NBA and NHL team is Denver. Salt Lake is the 46th largest metro area...Denver is 19th.

They are already the second smallest metro area in the U.S. to have either an NBA and NHL team - Buffalo is the only one smaller. Winnipeg is as well if you include Canada.

[Max Rockatansky]

Heh, I just noticed how close Fresno is in those rankings to Salt Lake City.  Nobody would ever consider moving a major sports franchise here. 

[hotdogPi]

By drawing polygons, I'm getting about 2.6 million for Salt Lake City and 2.1 million for Fresno (includes Merced but not Modesto or Bakersfield), although the numbers are from 2015.

https://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/mapping/popest/gpw-v4/

[Flint1979]

That's a pretty small metro area to have both an NBA and NHL team.

Yep. The next smallest metropolitan area that has both a NBA and NHL team is Denver. Salt Lake is the 46th largest metro area...Denver is 19th.

They are already the second smallest metro area in the U.S. to have either an NBA and NHL team - Buffalo is the only one smaller. Winnipeg is as well if you include Canada.

Yep. I was wondering what the smallest market to have both the NBA and NHL was and my first thought was Denver actually.

And your second thought here I also figured they were one of the smaller NBA markets just off the top of my head without looking anything up.

[Flint1979]

By drawing polygons, I'm getting about 2.6 million for Salt Lake City and 2.1 million for Fresno (includes Merced but not Modesto or Bakersfield), although the numbers are from 2015.

https://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/mapping/popest/gpw-v4/

I went even further into it and Utah as a state only has 3.3 million people which is roughly the population of the Denver Metro area (currently the smallest market to have both the NBA and NHL). A state is of course going to cover a much larger land area that a metro area.

[mgk920]

Yes, it normally snows in northern Arizona, the I-40 corridor (Flagstaff area), but not in the Sonoran Desert (Phoenix area).  PHX is normally one of the, if not the hottest metros in the contiguous 48.

Mike

[Rothman]

Yes, it is indeed hot in Phoenix.