“They once roamed Utah, and now they’re back.” Can you guess what we’re hinting at? The big secret’s finally out. On Wednesday, the Utah Hockey Club officially introduced its new nickname, the Utah Mammoth, along with a fresh logo. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman took the stage at the Delta Center, standing beside the Smiths to unveil the team’s new identity. He didn’t hold back, showering the couple with plenty of praise during the announcement. And guess what? Dwyane Wade, the team’s minority owner, just joined the conversation too.
It’s rare for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to speak without hearing boos from the crowd. At this point, it’s kind of a league-wide tradition. But when Bettman visits Utah, the vibe flips completely. Here, fans welcome him with open arms and zero jeers. On Wednesday, Bettman matched that energy while praising Utah Mammoth owners Ryan and Ashley Smith at the Delta Center. He admitted that over the years, Smith Entertainment Group has done “more than we ever could have expected, and we’re grateful for that.” But he also said something about the couple that even Dwyane Wade could not resist but give his reaction to.
Bettman said, “Good things happen to good people and luck, and skill and execution and vision and passion have always been on your agenda. And it’s great to see good things happen to good people, and the two of you and this entire community.”
And honestly, he’s not just being polite. The numbers do back it up. Ryan and Ashley Smith bought the Utah Jazz in 2020 for $1.66 billion. Fast forward to 2025, and CNBC reports the team’s value has soared to around $3.75 billion. So yeah, if they can pull that off with a basketball team and uplift an entire community, you know the Mammoth’s in good hands.
Aug 6, 2024; Paris, France; Dwyane Wade looks on at halftime between France and Canada in a men’s basketball quarterfinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena.
Utah residents are hopeful the Smiths can pull off the same magic with the hockey team. Turns out, so is Dwyane Wade. He shared the clip on his Instagram story, captioning it, “Perfectly said commissioner. @utahmammoth.”
And really, who’d know better than Wade? The guy has had a front-row seat to everything the Smiths have built in Utah. But he went a few steps further, and even thanked
Dwyane Wade snags a slice of the Utah Jazz pie, eyes a front-row seat in team decisions
Dwyane Wade joined the Utah Jazz ownership group in 2021, grabbing a minority stake and making big plans for the franchise. From the looks of it now, Wade’s definitely on the right track.
Wade also added, “Proud and excited to become a part of the @utahjazz family with Ryan Smith and the rest of the amazing ownership team,” Wade wrote on Instagram back then. “As a businessman, entrepreneur, and investor, I bring a lot to this partnership outside of my basketball experience. I’m excited to help take the Utah Jazz to the next level.”
Ryan Smith, Utah Jazz governor, shared that excitement too. He called Wade’s involvement a huge win for the team and the state. “As we continue building on the incredible legacy of the Utah Jazz, we’re thrilled to add Dwyane’s experience and expertise,” Smith said.
For Wade, a kid from Chicago’s south side, basketball was always the dream. Now, he’s taken that dream one step further. Since Wade joined as an investor, the Utah Jazz’s value reportedly climbed 28.5%. It rose from $1.75 billion to $2.25 billion in just two years, per Heat Nation. And according to CNBC reports, the team’s current value has soared to around $3.75 billion.
Sure, Wade alone didn’t spike those numbers. But it’s fair to say he’s holding up his promise to help take the Jazz to the “next level.”
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