The NHL team moving from Arizona to Salt Lake City will be known as Utah, at least initially, until a long-term name is determined.
Click here to read the story at apnews.com.
Discussion Questions:
- What is revenue?
- Why is revenue important to a pro sports team?
- What is a “venue” in sports and entertainment?
- How might new or renovated venues help a sports team to maximize revenue?
- How does that explain why a team like the Arizona Coyotes would want to build a new venue, and ultimately decided to relocate to Utah?
- What is the difference between relocation and expansion when it comes to professional sports?
- According to this story, does the Coyotes move to Utah mean the end of NHL hockey in the state of Arizona? Why or why not?
- What is fandom?
- How might the decision to move impact levels of NHL fandom in the state of Arizona? How about Utah?
- Do you think hockey fans in Arizona would like the NHL to come back to Phoenix? Or do you think fans might be upset because the team moved to Utah since they couldn’t get a new deal for their stadium?
- How do you think this move affects fans’ feelings towards the team’s owners and the league?
- Why do you think the Coyotes’ owner wanted to keep the rights to the franchise brand? What does that mean?
- According to this story, what is the name of the venue that the franchise will now call home?
- What type of renovations to the team’s venue will be necessary to stage NHL games?
- Do you think the new franchise will be successful in Utah? Why or why not?
- What is branding?
- Why is branding going to be important to the relocated franchise in Utah?
- How might the franchise benefit once they have determined a name, logo, and colors? Be prepared to discuss your answers in class.