As the skate blades cut a fresh mark on the ice, a new era in hockey has dawned in Utah. Spearheaded by Ryan Smith, the NHL's Arizona Coyotes have undergone a transformation, both in location and identity, rebranded as the Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City. The inaugural night of the season was nothing short of a spectacle, shining the spotlight on the celebrity duo of retired Basketball Hall of Fame guard Dwyane Wade and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, who lent their star power to the game's opening festivity.
The presence of Dwyane Wade marks more than just a casual appearance. Wade, who is a limited partner in the Utah Jazz and the freshly minted Utah Hockey Club, shares a burgeoning sports-based vision with Smith, extending beyond the basketball court. "I took a plane to watch hockey! Never thought I'd do that in my life," Wade humorously remarked, underscoring the cross-sport engagement that has been fostered in Utah.
Sports Synergy in Utah
The partnership between Wade and Smith is one that stretches across multiple arenas. Ryan Smith, known for co-owning the Utah Jazz alongside Wade—purchased for a staggering $1.66 billion in 2020—now holds influence over a trio of major Utah sports teams. His stakes extend into Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake and the National Women's Soccer League's Utah Royals, forming a solid nucleus of athletic pursuits across divergent fields.
Gentry Anderson commented on the impact of Smith's sports ownership, noting, "It's been surreal to be able to have three sports teams [four professional clubs] here now in Utah owned by someone who will come hang out with the fans." This communal approach offers new dimensions to fans' interaction with their teams, an aspect enthusiastically embraced by the community.
The Olympic Vision
Beyond just sports franchises, Smith's influence pervades several aspects of Utah's cultural and infrastructural landscape. His role in the successful bid to bring the 2034 Winter Olympics to Utah is a testament to his broader vision. This move is anticipated to invigorate Salt Lake City's dynamism and bolster its standing on the global stage.
Additionally, Smith's investments and roles extend into the educational realm, as seen with his guest lectureship at Brigham Young University. While he has no financial involvement in the substantial NIL deal of promising talent A.J. Dybantsa, valued between $4 million and $7 million, Smith's connection to the university underscores his multi-faceted commitment to community growth and talent nurturing.
Business Savvy Meets Community Engagement
Entrepreneurial savvy is another cornerstone of Smith's profile. The co-founder of Qualtrics, Ryan Smith, has made headlines through the company's acquisition by SAP for $8 billion—showcasing his acumen in technology and business leadership. His involvement in rejuvenating Salt Lake City's downtown area forms part of a plan to harmonize economic prosperity with community development.
"No one's really given me anything in life. If you wanted something, you have to go get it. It just doesn't happen any other way," Smith's words resonate with a sense of determined self-reliance that drives his expansive portfolio and ambitious projects. His endeavors are a testament to this philosophy, weaving a narrative of calculated risk-taking and calculated successes.
As Ryan Smith continues to forge a path through Utah's sporting, economic, and societal landscapes, his role is that of a pivotal player in a rapidly evolving narrative. His diverse array of ventures serves to stimulate not only those directly involved but the broader community as well, proving that with the right vision, boundaries between sports, business, and community can be elegantly blurred for mutual benefit.