Ryan Smith Expects Olympic Hockey At Delta Center In 2034

Oct 8, 2024, 1:45 PM | Updated: 4:52 pm

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – Hours before dropping the puck at Delta Center for Utah Hockey Club’s first game in the Beehive State, owner Ryan Smith announced Delta Center will be the home of Olympic hockey when the Winter Olympics return to Utah in 2034.

“With the Olympics coming, this will be the hockey venue,” Smith told assembled media. “Sorry, I’m telling that right now. You can’t have the NHL and not have the hockey.”

Want to connect with other hockey fans in Utah? Join our free fan message board.

Ryan Smith said Delta Center will be the home of Olympic Hockey in 2034.#UtahHC #NHL

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 8, 2024

UHC opens its inaugural season in Utah by hosting the Chicago Blackhawks at Delta Center on Tuesday, October 8.

History of Delta Center

Opened in the spring of 1991, Delta Center was built as the primary home of the Utah Jazz. In 33 years, Delta Center has hosted two NBA Finals, two NBA All-Star Weekends, numerous concerts, arena football, ice hockey, speed skating, figure skating, and UFC. Along with the Jazz and UHC, the Salt Lake Golden Eagles (IHL), Utah Grizzlies (IHL), Utah Starzz (WNBA), and Utah Blaze (AFL) have called Delta Center home.

The National Hockey League commissioner came into Utah on Monday to kick off the historic event of the very first season opener of the Utah Hockey League.

Gary Bettman calls it “unprecedented” for Utah to get an NHL team in a matter of months.

“It’s clearly unpresented. I don’t think any league or any sports league has been able to do this in this time frame. We were counting on Ryan and Ashley to do the amazing and they exceeded our expectations,” said Bettman to KSL Tv.

Bettman joined team owner Ryan and Ashley Smith for a press conference to kick off the day on the plaza at the Delta Center. The Smith’s say they really wanted to make this a community event.

“I just love the synergy of everything that is coming together and it’s because everybody is here,” said Ashley Smith. “It is the fans, it is the players, the coaches the NHL the communities and SEG (Smith Entertainment Group) and I’m just proud to be here today.”

The arena’s design and 18,000+ seating capacity for basketball have made it one of the more intimidating home arenas in the NBA.

The NHL in Utah begins now.#UtahHC #NHL pic.twitter.com/wNIg5TuDzD

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 8, 2024

The arena underwent $125 million worth of renovations in 2016-17, including state-of-the-art video boards, club seating, and other fan improvements. Delta Center will undergo further renovations over the next two seasons to meet the needs of the NHL and its fans.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said the future Delta Center improvements will increase unobstructed hockey seating from 12,000 to 17,000.

Delta Center Renovations

“Over the past five months, Level 1 of Delta Center underwent significant renovations to create new family hospitality areas, a dedicated locker room for the Utah Hockey Club, an updated Jazz locker room, newly configured NBA and NHL visiting locker rooms, and shared facilities for NBA and NHL coaches and league officials,” Smith Entertainment Group wrote in a press release in September.