The Utah Hockey Club officially kicked off its inaugural season in style, securing a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in front of a sold-out crowd at the Delta Center on Tuesday night. However, it wasn’t just the team’s performance on the ice that made headlines—the fans set a new record for beer sales at the venue during the home opener.
The new franchise was born after the Arizona Coyotes ceased operations at the end of the most recent NHL season. In a swift turnaround, the team was purchased by tech billionaire Ryan Smith, who invested $1.2 billion to bring professional hockey to Salt Lake City under the temporary name “Utah Hockey Club.” The acquisition and relocation of the team to Utah raised some eyebrows, with many wondering if there was enough demand for hockey in the area.
Those questions were quickly answered when season tickets flew off the shelves as soon as they went on sale. The enthusiasm surrounding the team’s debut was palpable, and fans packed the Delta Center on opening night, with more than 16,000 people in attendance.
Impressively, around 5,000 of those spectators were seated in obstructed-view areas, eager to be part of the historic moment despite the less-than-ideal sightlines.
As the team took to the ice, the Utah Hockey Club’s debut could hardly have gone better, with the home side securing its first-ever win with a decisive 5-2 scoreline against the Blackhawks. But while the action on the ice was a focal point, fans in the stands were also making their mark—this time by setting a record for beer sales at the Delta Center.
Before the season began, the Delta Center had introduced a new concessions menu featuring some enticing deals for fans, though beer wasn’t among the discounted items. Despite that, attendees didn’t shy away from indulging in some beverages, and the final tally proved it. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, the venue raked in $120,000 in beer sales, breaking the previous record for any NHL or NBA event held at the Delta Center.
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The Delta Center, which has been home to the Utah Jazz since 1991, has seen its fair share of sporting events, but this beer sales figure was a new high.
It wasn’t immediately clear how far back the recorded sales data stretches, but the impressive numbers from the Utah Hockey Club’s debut game have made a strong statement about the passion—and thirst—of the team’s fan base.
Utah might not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about hockey fandom or beer consumption, but Tuesday night’s game proved otherwise.
The enthusiastic crowd showed that they are ready to embrace their new team wholeheartedly, and they set a high bar both in the stands and at the concession stands.
As the Utah Hockey Club looks to build on its early success, both on the ice and with its fan base, it’s clear that the excitement surrounding the franchise is real.
With a packed house and record-setting sales, the team’s inaugural season has gotten off to a memorable start, signaling that Salt Lake City is ready to be a hockey town.
