Ryan Smith's ownership of the NHL's Utah team, formerly the Phoenix Coyotes, is proving to be a remarkable success story. Despite initial skepticism and an NBA 'tanking' controversy with the Jazz, the new Utah franchise is rapidly building a strong identity and fan base, mirroring the success of the Vegas Golden Knights.
Impact: Medium. This showcases the potential for rapid franchise building and fan engagement in new markets, offering a blueprint for sports expansion. It also highlights the complex relationship between team performance, ownership, and fan perception.
In the source video, this keypoint occurs from 00:18:00 to 00:20:03.
Sources in support: Pat McAfee (Host), Ty Schmit (Co-host)

