Utah's New NHL Team Files Logos, Prepares for Inaugural Season

Utah's new NHL team, temporarily named Utah Hockey Club, has taken a significant step towards finalizing its branding for its inaugural season at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Over the weekend, the team filed trademarks for eight logos with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The logos, submitted by Uyte LLC, feature a consistent design theme with a color palette limited to blue, black, and white. All logos use the same font, and two of the eight logos incorporate an outline of the state of Utah behind the design. This move potentially reveals the team's branding for the upcoming season.

The team's owner, Ryan Smith, had previously announced a fan vote to determine the team's name, narrowing it down to four final names. Mammoth and Yeti are among the frontrunners, with the latest betting odds listing Yeti (+300), Mammoth (+520), and Outlaws (+330) being the top three favorites. Smith emphasized the importance of community involvement in the naming process, calling the team 'a community asset'.

In early May, the Smith Entertainment Group unveiled 20 naming finalists and opened the options to a fan vote. The first round of voting closed on May 22, with fans encouraged to pick up to four of their preferred names. The official name for the team will be decided and announced 'well into' the team's inaugural season, according to Smith.

The Utah Hockey Club name appears to be a placeholder until the team settles on a final nickname. This approach is similar to that taken by the Washington Commanders, who were known by the name Washington Football Team for two seasons before adopting their current name. Despite not having a permanent nickname, anticipation for the team is growing.

The team will play its inaugural season at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, aiming to build its brand and identity as it prepares for the 2024-25 NHL season. Owner Ryan Smith has been actively promoting the team, and fans showed their support at a 'Welcome the Team' event at Vivint Arena in late April.

Utah Hockey Club gears up for its first season, the community's involvement in selecting the team's name and the newly filed logos suggest that the franchise is moving closer to revealing its final branding.

Key Takeaways

• Utah's NHL team files 8 logo trademarks with US Patent and Trademark Office.
• Logos feature blue, black, and white color palette and consistent design theme.
• Fan vote to determine team name narrowed down to 4 finalists: Mammoth, Yeti, Outlaws, and more.
• Team to play inaugural season at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, aiming to build brand and identity.
• Final team name and branding to be revealed "well into" inaugural season.