There has been another twist in Utah Hockey Club’s naming process.
After fan feedback, Smith Entertainment Group is swapping the “Utah Wasatch” option with “Utah Outlaws” in the survey which is taking place at Delta Center during the team’s four home games this week.
The final three potential names for the NHL franchise are now Utah Outlaws, Utah Hockey Club and Utah Mammoth.
“The fans will choose the name,” said Mike Maughan who is an executive with Smith Entertainment Group. “Anyone who wants to be able to take [the survey] will be able to.”
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fans watch during the second period of the game between the Utah Hockey Club and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
The team announced Wednesday that Yetis was out of the running due to the Yeti Cooler company being unwilling to strike a co-existence deal so both parties could use the trademark. SEG chose to pivot and further involve fans in the process by releasing the next iteration of names and logos that could represent the team’s identity come the 2025-2026 season.
“We have engaged with Yeti coolers extensively. The NHL has also helped engage with us with them,” Maughan said. “At the end of the day, they have a trademark that allows them to print Yeti or Yetis on clothing and other licensed merchandise. Without a co-existence agreement, we would not be able to print that.”
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) People walk the concourse during the first period of the game between the Utah Hockey Club and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Voting opened Wednesday night at Delta Center as Utah took on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Stations with iPads were set up on every floor of the arena and were available from the time doors opened, throughout the intermissions and periods and until the game ended. Fans were asked to put their phones away while they took the survey to prevent the spreading of the logos.
The same process will ensue on Friday, Sunday and Tuesday at Delta Center but this time, Utah Outlaws will be an option. Outlaws was one of the top six names voted on by the fans in the last iteration of the SEG survey.
“I’m excited. I like the thought process behind the three names and I really like the fact that our fans will have the opportunity to choose what they want,” head coach André Tourigny said. “It will be an honor for us to have the name that the fans choose.”
