Ryan Smith Vows ‘Aggressive’ Push for Utah MLB Expansion Team
The Jazz and Mammoth owner has a vision for baseball in Utah.
Jazz and Mammoth owner Ryan Smith expressed his intention to aggressively pursue an MLB expansion franchise for Utah. Speaking with Front Office Sports, Smith mentioned his group's intentions to be proactive in acquiring sports teams, noting that they operate differently from others. The Salt Lake City area is seen as a potential contender for one of two new MLB teams, due to its population growth, development, and geographic separation from other existing teams or rivals.
Smith, who acquired the Jazz in 2020 and the NHL's Coyotes franchise in 2024 (renamed as the Mammoth), would need to collaborate with The Larry H. Miller Company in the quest for an MLB team. The Miller Company owns the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees and has identified a stadium site, helping secure $900 million in state funding for a ballpark.
MLB has not established a formal expansion process yet, but it is expected to accelerate once the league and MLB Players Association resolve their labor issues.
Written by urgent.news from Front Office Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
