Apr 21, 2025 , 2:03 PM | Updated: 3:28 pm
Utah Hockey Club’s President of Hockey Operations Chris Armstrong speaks as he and General Manager Bill Armstrong attend an end of season press conference at the Kearns Olympic Oval on Monday, April 21, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
CHANDLER HOLT
SALT LAKE CITY – At the Utah Hockey Club’s exit interviews, President of Hockey Operations Chris Armstrong gave some important updates on the team’s name and the arena’s renovation plans.
He wasn’t able to give much information on the announcement of the name, but did say that it should be coming soon.
Chris Armstrong provides an update on the Utah Hockey Club’s future name:
“We’re definitely in the home stretch and on track to announce that in the coming months here.”
“Not much more I can say about it today.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
“We’re definitely in the home stretch and on track to announce that in the coming months here,” Armstrong said.
A date to keep in mind regarding the official announcement of the name is June 27. The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft is on this day. Although there is no confirmation on this, having an official sweater with the team logo to hand to Utah’s picks would be the best-case scenario.
As of right now, the Delta Center is optimized for basketball and serviceable for hockey.
The goal is to have the arena fully support both sports and make the fan experience equal, whether you’re attending an NBA or an NHL game.
Armstrong said that renovation work has already begun and wont stop until the first preseason game.
Chris Armstrong on the Delta Center renovations:
“The work has already begun for this offseason and will continue right through to our first home preseason game.”
“Lots of work to be done over the next several summers to optimize the building for hockey.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
This aligns with what Ryan Smith said in an interview on the KSL Sports Zone two months ago.
Smith said that work will begin on the lower bowl and the whole process will probably take about three years.
“It’s a big lift,” Smith said. “It would probably be easier to start from scratch. But, it’s really important for us to stay downtown. We’re going to start in the summer. We’re going to pull a crane in there, and it won’t leave until we start up again. We’re going to start with the lower bowl. It’s probably a three-year process. There’ll be more lower bowl seats. In talking with Adam Silver, our goal was ‘How do we create the first-ever hockey dual-purpose basketball arena, but keep the tightness that we love about the Delta Center.’”
It is an exciting time for sports in Utah, and it will only get better from here.
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