Utah Hockey Club invests millions in Olympic Oval for training facility for inaugural season

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Smith Entertainment Group and Utah Hockey Club are donating millions of dollars to renovate the Utah Olympic Oval, creating a state-of-the-art training facility for the team’s inaugural season.

The renovations include converting one of the facility’s ice surfaces from Olympic-size to NHL standards, building an NHL locker room and training and treatment facilities, and creating offices for the Utah Hockey Club’s coaches and staff, a press release said.

The upgrades will not only provide the new team with an NHL-quality headquarters, but will also “create lasting benefits for the youth and Olympic athletes who will participate in hockey and skating programs at the Oval in the years to come,” the press release said.

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Chris Armstrong, president of hockey operations for the Utah Hockey Club, said the club is excited to partner with the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation to make this possible.

“This partnership not only allows us to build a strong foundation for our new franchise, but also underscores our commitment to supporting the local hockey community and promoting the growth and success of winter sports in Utah,” he said.

Built in 2001 prior to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the Utah Olympic Oval is a 25,000-square-foot facility located 16 miles west of Salt Lake City.

The venue covers 5.5 acres and features Utah’s only 400-meter ice rink and two international-sized ice surfaces.

Colin Hilton, president and CEO of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, said welcoming the Utah Hockey Club to the Utah Olympic Oval is “another shining example of how our Olympic legacy efforts help develop athletes of all levels, from youth novices to world-class athletes.”

“We look forward to partnering with the Utah Hockey Club in creating a comprehensive training center for players and staff,” he said.

Upon completion, the Utah Hockey Club will move to its permanent practice and training facility at The Shops at South Town in Sandy, Utah.