SALT LAKE CITY – The ‘Frozen Fury’ tradition continues as the Los Angeles Kings return to Salt Lake City for a preseason exhibition against the San Jose Sharks later this year.
The Kings will host the San Jose Sharks in the fifth ‘Frozen Fury’ preseason game at the Delta Center on Thursday, October 5. The puck drops at 7 p.m. (MT).
JUST ANNOUNCED: Frozen Fury is returning to Salt Lake City! Don't miss the @LAKings face off against the @SanJoseSharks on October 5🏒
Tickets go on sale 4/14 at 10am. pic.twitter.com/YpHU3pZIGC— Vivint Arena (@vivintarena) April 5, 2023
This will be the fifth time that the Kings have played a preseason game in Salt Lake and the first time the Sharks will be involved. The matchup in Salt Lake City will be a Kings “home” game. The game in Salt Lake City marks the first announced so far as part of the 2023 LA Kings preseason schedule, with the remainder to be announced this summer.
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Frozen Fury was created by the Kings in 1997 at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas and took place in Las Vegas until 2016 when its final game in the series took place as the first-ever hockey game at the T-Mobile Arena. Frozen Fury moved to Salt Lake City in 2021.
According to Elliotte Friedman, a leading hockey insider for SportsNet Canada, Utah Jazz governor Ryan Smith recently met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
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Reportedly, the NHL is all ears in regards to Ryan Smith joining ownership ranks.
“That night, according to multiple sources, Bettman had dinner with Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz,” Friedman wrote. “This is one to watch. When Fenway bought the Penguins, Smith was rumored as another potential purchaser. Obviously, that didn’t happen, but I was told to keep his name on my radar, because he’s interested in the NHL — and the NHL is very interested in him.”
Friday 32 Thoughts Podcast and Blog links. Enjoy both! Written: https://t.co/trW9IBqP7T
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 31, 2023
Last October, Smith announced Arctos Sports Partners was buying a minority share in the Smith Entertainment Group (SEG), the entity that owns the Jazz, and hoped to bring a fifth professional sports team to the state of Utah.
“A very, very sharp guy, [Smith] and New Jersey Devils co-owner David Blitzer are majority partners in MLS Real Salt Lake and, earlier this month, announced the return of a NWSL franchise to the city,” Friedman added.
“Salt Lake City hosted the excellent 2002 Winter Olympics and is considered the favorite to do it again in 2030. That could lead to new facilities, including a future home for the NBA team and an NHL brother.”
“We believe in Utah and all the amazing things happening in the state and we believe SEG is poised to be the next big sports and entertainment group,” Chad Hutchinson of Arctos Sports said in the August release.
Last year in a 6-4 LA Kings preseason victory over the Las Vegas Golden Knights, Beehive State hockey fans showed out for the Frozen Fury preseason game at Vivint Arena last October.
RELATED: Report: NHL Commissioner Met With Jazz Owner Ryan Smith
#FrozenFury Final@GoldenKnights 6@LAKings 4 #GoKingsGo #VegasBorn #NHL pic.twitter.com/UpmyxCSfVQ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 7, 2022
The crowd at Vivint Arena loved the action, filling a majority of the seats available in the modified venue. The lower bowl was filled and much of the available upper bowl seating was occupied as well.
The Kings did an excellent job making the contest feel like a home game for fans. The graphics and jumbotron featured LA’s logos and a video of celebrity Will Ferrell to hype up the crowd with a “Go Kings Go!” chant.
The overall environment was great and proved that professional hockey has a place in Utah.
