The Utah Mammoth are already making history, and now its owner is making headlines, too. After a thrilling 3-2 win in Game 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights, Utah has evened the Round 1 series at 1-1, with the spotlight shifting to Game 3 at the Delta Center on Friday.
But as the action moves to Utah, team owner Ryan Smith is taking a bold step to ensure home-ice advantage truly feels like it.
Utah Mammoth Owner Targets Golden Knights Fans
In what many see as a savvy and slightly cheeky move, Smith launched a campaign aimed directly at Golden Knights fans. Posting on social media X, he wrote, “For any Golden Knights fans still left in Utah, come swap your VGK jersey for a new @UtahMammoth jersey on Friday at noon at the Delta Center. Utah shows up! #TusksUp.”
The message was clear: it’s time to pick a side.
The initiative is part of a broader push to turn the Delta Center into a fortress of Mammoth colors, especially with the franchise hosting its first-ever playoff game. For a team still in its infancy, building a strong local identity is just as important as winning on the ice.
Utah’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable. Established in 2024 after Smith purchased the former Arizona Coyotes hockey assets, the team played its inaugural season as the Utah Hockey Club before officially adopting the Mammoth name in 2025.
Now, just two seasons in, they’ve reached the playoffs, becoming one of the three teams in modern NHL history to do so quickly.
Game 2 was a defining moment. Logan Cooley scored the game-winner in the third period, delivering the franchise’s first-ever playoff victory and proving Utah can go toe-to-toe with an established contender like Vegas.
Smith’s jersey-swap campaign isn’t just about marketing; it’s about culture. Similar initiatives have been used with his NBA team, the Utah Jazz, to strengthen fan identity and unify the crowd.
He’s doubling down on that idea for the Mammoth’s biggest moment yet, even offering a unique fan experience by inviting a handful of supporters to join him in his suite for Game 3.
The goal is simple: create an atmosphere where the Mammoth feel the full backing of their city, and where opposing colors are hard to find.
Now, as the series shifts to Salt Lake City, the battle won’t just be on the ice; it’ll be in the stands, too. And if Ryan Smith has his way, the Delta Center will be roaring in Mammoth colors.
