🦒 Utah Mammoth — Key Facts
| Owner | Smith Entertainment Group (Ryan Smith) |
| League | NHL (National Hockey League) |
| Relocated From | Arizona Coyotes (team relocated to Utah for 2024–25 season) |
| Played As | Utah Hockey Club (2024–25) → renamed Utah Mammoth (2025–26) |
| Home Arena | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Ryan Smith Also Owns | Utah Jazz (NBA), Real Salt Lake (MLS), Real Monarchs (USL) |
| Ryan Smith Background | Co-founder & CEO of Qualtrics (sold to SAP for $8B in 2019) |
The Utah Mammoth are an NHL franchise owned by Smith Entertainment Group, controlled by tech billionaire Ryan Smith. The team played its inaugural Utah season (2024–25) as the Utah Hockey Club after relocating from Arizona, where the team had played as the Arizona Coyotes since 1996. Before Arizona, the franchise originated as the Winnipeg Jets (1979–1996). For 2025–26, the team was rebranded as the Utah Mammoth.
Who Is the Owner of Utah Mammoth?
The Utah Mammoth are owned by Smith Entertainment Group, which is controlled by Ryan Smith, a Utah-born tech entrepreneur who co-founded Qualtrics — the survey and experience management software company sold to SAP for $8 billion in 2019. Smith grew up in Provo, Utah, and built Qualtrics in his father’s basement before scaling it into one of tech’s most successful enterprise software companies. Smith acquired the Utah Jazz (NBA) in 2020 and then — after the NHL’s decision to relocate the struggling Arizona Coyotes franchise — Smith Entertainment Group acquired the team and brought it to Utah for the 2024–25 season.
The Arizona Coyotes Relocation
The Arizona Coyotes had been one of the NHL’s most troubled franchises for years, wrestling with arena conflicts, financial difficulties, and consistently poor attendance. After failing to secure a new arena agreement in the Phoenix area, the NHL facilitated the team’s relocation to Salt Lake City in 2024. Ryan Smith’s Smith Entertainment Group purchased the franchise and moved it to the Delta Center — the arena already shared by the Utah Jazz — giving Utah a second major professional sports tenant. The franchise initially operated as “Utah Hockey Club” while a permanent name was determined through a fan vote, ultimately settling on Utah Mammoth for 2025–26.
Ryan Smith’s Utah Sports Empire
Ryan Smith has assembled a multi-sport portfolio centered on Utah. Beyond the Utah Mammoth (NHL), Smith Entertainment Group owns the Utah Jazz (NBA), Real Salt Lake (MLS), Utah Royals FC (NWSL), and Real Monarchs (USL). Smith has been a visionary owner — investing heavily in fan experience, facility upgrades, and technology integration across his properties. His Utah-centric identity and his origins as a local success story have made him one of the most popular sports owners in the state’s history.
