SALT LAKE CITY — Screens are everywhere inside Delta Center. At one point a few of those screens, along with the rich voice of the building’s public address announcer, issue a message to fans.
“We remind you to drink responsibly,” is the message, and it’s a rather common one delivered by teams throughout professional sports.
But then, the in-arena cameras immediately cut to a fan holding a beer. With an orange-red beard and dressed in Carhartt T-shirt, the fan promptly starts chugging and the crowd erupts as each ounce goes down. The cameras then cut to another person. And another person. And another person.
The “Celly cam” and its instant popularity produced two of the memorable moments in a night that saw the Utah Hockey Club win its first-ever game. The first was when the entire Delta Center crowd booed someone because they couldn’t chug half of their beer. The second was when the arena was brought to its collective feet because another person poured their cup of beer into their Retro Jordan 1s and guzzled it down like they were Daniel Ricciardo after winning a Formula 1 race.
“We love it! We love the Celly cam!” said Christian Priskos, a lifelong Salt Lake City resident whose friends smile and nod in agreement. “We’ve never seen that at a Jazz game! This is a first in Utah history right here! Seriously, I’ve never seen a Celly cam at any Utah sports or anything in any sort of capacity at all. To have the hockey game, the first one, sets a precedent.”
Utah’s players noticed a difference too.
“That was pretty cool,” said forward Dylan Guenther, who scored the first goal in franchise history. “That building was special. That was a ton of fun. A lot of fun to play in front of that crowd.”
Goal horns. Goal songs. The pregame introductions. The breakout chants. The mascot. And the in-game highlights of thousands of people celebrating how someone drinks a beer. These are how an NHL team and its fans foster an identity.
After deciding in June that the team’s name for Year 1 would be “Utah Hockey Club” (with no nickname), Tuesday was the first official step in the team’s path toward creating something the franchise can call its own. Architects of this process often share how developing an environment takes time to perfect, while also admitting it can take years to craft a presentation that will never be perfect.
After an abrupt sale, and subsequent move from Arizona, the Utah Hockey Club had four months to figure out how to create an in-game experience that was unique, memorable and specific to its fans. They also had to create an entirely new identity, because the former owners of the Coyotes retained the name and intellectual property of that franchise.
The team did it with the hope that the big surprise it spent countless hours curating would be a big hit.
Although much of the UHC’s game operations staff has experience doing this for the NBA’s Utah Jazz, they still needed to figure out how their game experience would be different from a Jazz game. They had to create and execute ideas that they hoped would work — with the knowledge that their plans could also fall flat on the most important night in franchise history.
Above all, they had to cultivate an experience that felt like both a hockey game and a Utah-specific event.
“It’s been a challenge, but we’ve had unbelievable collaboration,” Utah president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said. “We’ve had good collaboration internally and had some great agency partners that have helped us accelerate our output with the timelines we’ve had.”
LAMONT BUFORD IS the vice president of entertainment experience and production for the Seattle Kraken. Eric Schulz is a senior lecturer at Utah State University, who once oversaw the Jazz’s marketing department. Together, they provide the context necessary to understand what was at stake for the Utah Hockey Club.
Buford, who has worked for the St. Louis Blues and the Arizona Coyotes, was part of the team that developed the Kraken’s in-game experience. The Kraken had nearly two years to create something ahead of their opening night. They used their time to observe crowd dynamics at other Seattle sporting events. They also had one employee who was dedicated to studying the nautical history of Seattle, given the team’s name and how it is part of the city’s sports fabric.
As Buford points out, the UHC didn’t have that runway — which only adds to what is an already high degree of difficulty.
“You have to think about every little thing, every little detail,” Buford said. “You talk about the goal horn, then you have to think about the goal song. You’re thinking about those other small nuances for a power play or a penalty kill. What’s that thing that might be a tradition somewhere else, and is it something you can bring over? Or what is your tradition?”
Buford and those who operate in the field of in-game operations often refer to everything from the arena to the PA announcer’s voice as a character. They view the game experience as a show, and as with all shows, there are characters who can make or break a production.
The challenge that comes with having characters is knowing when to use them, how to use them or if you even need them. Buford cited having a mascot as an example. He said that a mascot is one of the primary ways a team interacts with its fans because players cannot be everywhere.
“It’s putting together all of that stuff and asking, ‘What is Salt Lake City known for?'” Buford said. “‘Are they a music city? What are they?’ You have to figure out what that is and does that fit within the mold of what you’re trying to put forth. Sports and entertainment has changed so much over the years. It’s evolved that it’s not just about the product on the ice. The product on the ice is very important, but how you’re entertaining people and grabbing their attention is even more important.”
Schulz explained what the in-game presentation landscape has historically looked like in Salt Lake City. He said it started 30 years ago when Grant Harrison, who was the VP of game operations for the Jazz, was among the first to lay the foundation for many elements now routinely seen throughout sports.
Harrison and the Jazz did everything from indoor fireworks to being among the first teams to use indoor blimps to drop tickets on fans to hosting cow-milking contests at halftime. They also created Jazz Bear, who is one of the seven NBA mascots to have been inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame.
Jazz Bear ultimately paved the way for fans across Utah to have high expectations for their mascots. That continues today with Cosmo the Cougar, BYU’s anthropomorphic mascot who has gone viral for smoothly pulling off everything from hip-hop dance routines to jumps through flaming hoops.
“Grant’s philosophy was you can’t control wins and losses on the court and some nights are going to be stinkers,” Schulz said. “If we can entertain people and it doesn’t matter what the final score is, they’re going to be happy.”
ARMSTRONG SAID THE UHC wants to create an environment that’s respected by fans. Doing that meant it needed to address concerns about Delta Center’s obstructed seats.
As a basketball-first building, Delta Center’s setup for hockey includes seats behind each goal that are obstructed to the point that fans can see only the goal on the far end because of the steep angles.
Chris Barney, the Smith Entertainment Group’s president of revenue and commercial strategy, said that the UHC has taken a transparent approach. Any fan who purchases one of those tickets receives a form acknowledging that the seat they’re about to buy comes with an altered view.
“Transparency through this whole thing was really important to us,” Barney said. “Lessons were learned from talking to other hockey clubs that had been in NBA buildings in the past. … It’s also the other end of the stick in that we are trying to develop a fan base and acclimate people to hockey and get them excited to support the team.”
A day after the first game, the team issued a statement that it drew 16,020 fans to Delta Center by “leveraging the use of single-goal view seating to welcome more guests to watch the game live beyond the arena’s typical hockey capacity of 11,131.”
That’s what makes relying on the characters Buford referenced so crucial. And for any team, the arena it plays in might be the biggest character of all.
That was even more evident with Delta Center’s interior signage, which appeared to be more extensive than what most NHL arenas have. There were scoreboard screens tucked in the highest corners of the building, as well as smaller scoreboards closer to ice level, a detail that’s associated with NBA teams.
Delta Center has a four-sided videoboard above center ice. It also has four smaller videoboards within the larger videoboard, in addition to an LED ribbon above the main one. That’s how the UHC is able to create an immersive environment, such as when the team took the ice for the first time.
As the lights dimmed, all of the LED scoreboards went black, and then the screens started showing falling digital snowflakes which were then complemented by smaller artificial snowflakes that dropped from the ceiling and became visible when the arena’s strobe lights started flashing.
It’s all part of creating that unique fan experience that becomes part of the team’s identity.
“In the spirit of the strength of the community in Utah, you’re going to see us support Utah football, BYU football, the Jazz and Real Salt Lake,” Armstrong said. “We share many of the same fans and have our own unique fans as well. At the end of the day, all of it is about the pride for Utah, the identity of Utah and showing the potential of this state.”
DYLAN GUENTHER SCORING THE first goal in franchise history was an important moment. But it needed those other elements to make it feel even more unique. Shortly after Guenther scored, the UHC’s goal horn blared. It wasn’t one single sound. It was the combination of several goal horns from across hockey, a detail that Armstrong said was deliberate.
While the goal horn was something the team teased on social and in its one preseason game, the goal song was another matter. Immediately after the horn, the arena shook when its sound system began blaring “Papi” by Swedish electronic artist Kaaze. It’s an anthem that needed a few seconds to let the beat build before the bass dropped with the same earworm tendencies that make “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes such an oft-played stadium favorite.
When it came to finding a goal horn, Armstrong said his team studied what it felt were the most iconic ones in the NHL. The in-game operations staff learned those horns generated a physiological response that brought fans to their feet. That’s when the club worked with a sonic expert to create a horn that suited the building’s acoustic range.
Choosing a goal song was — and remains — a conversation that continues to evolve because “it’s a living and breathing thing,” according to Armstrong.
“Through our first season, we’ll get feedback from our fans,” he said. “We may try to develop something custom over time. We’re keeping an open mind there. In terms of our goal for when we launch, it was to really elevate and sustain the energy level of our building that we want to deliver to our fans. We also wanted something that had interactive components because of fan participation.”
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Dylan Guenther scores Utah Hockey Club’s first-ever goal
Dylan Guenther nets Utah’s first ever goal in the NHL and the hometown crowd erupts.
Given the team has yet to choose a name and is currently called the Utah Hockey Club, how does that work when it comes to forming fan chants?
Armstrong said it wasn’t an issue — because the fans were already coming up with ideas. He said there was one chant in which fans in one part of the building screamed “U” and those in another answered with “TAH.” The classic “Let’s go, Utah” also was heard during the first game at Delta Center.
And for anyone wondering about a mascot, Armstrong said the team will have one, and it will be representative of the permanent team name that’s eventually chosen. In the interim, Jazz Bear will do double duty at NBA and NHL games this season.
Asked whether team captain Clayton Keller gave away the team name at the NHL’s player media tour in August — “It sounds like it’s going to be the Yeti, but I don’t know,” he told NHL.com — the exec smiled.
“Kels, I think, was speaking to the public sentiment,” Armstrong replied.
THEY HAVE A goal horn. They have a goal song. They have chants. They even have a temporary mascot with plans for a more permanent solution. They have many of the boxes checked, but some are left to answer.
For example: the national anthem. Nearly every NHL team’s fans seemingly have some part of “O Canada” or “The Star-Spangled Banner” that they loudly sing as a fan tradition. There was no one moment that stood out during Utah’s first game, but could it be possible that UHC fans scream “YOU” in the American anthem’s first line as a way of invoking the letter U for Utah? Or could they go down another route?
These are the sort of details that will be figured out in time.
But as for the initial impression after Game 1, head coach Andre Tourigny, who previously coached the Arizona Coyotes, appreciated the extravagance of the franchise opener.
“Today was special, there’s no doubt about it,” Tourigny said. “One day we will look back. I received texts from about half of the head coaches in the league today. That means something, and it’s because it’s special.”
There were fans who said they liked a lot of what they experienced during the first game, too. Priskos said what made something like the Celly cam so amazing is the fact that Utah has a history of being one of the nation’s more restrictive states for alcohol.
“What I hope people realize is that whatever you’ve heard about Salt Lake City is just not true,” Priskos said. “That it’s a sleepy town. That’s what the assumptions are. But it’s Tuesday night and everything is happening. We’re hosting the Olympics in 10 years. We’re not this quiet town anymore, and people need to realize that the Stanley Cup now comes through Utah.”
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
NEW YORK — Robbed an inning earlier, Cody Bellinger wasn’t sure his first three-homer game had been swiped away again.
“I didn’t know at first,” he said. “For that third one to finally get over feels pretty good.”
Bellinger hit three two-run homers against his former team and was denied a fourth by a spectacular catch, leading the Yankees to an 11-0 rout of the Chicago Cubs on Friday night.
Aaron Judge made a trio of outstanding grabs in right field for the Yankees, who have won five straight games following a a six-game losing streak.
Bellinger, whose dad Clay played for the Yankees from 1999 to 2001, is a two-time All-Star and 2019 NL MVP.
He spent 2023 and 2024 with the Cubs, hitting .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games last year while missing time because of a broken right rib. The Cubs traded him to New York in December with $52.5 million remaining on his contract and agreed to pay the Yankees $5 million.
He homered in a three-run third off Chris Flexen and in the fifth against Caleb Thielbar for this 18th multihomer game. Bellinger nearly went deep in the seventh but was robbed by Kyle Tucker on a drive above the right-field wall.
“I was watching it. He timed it up perfect, so I was a little sick about it, honestly,” Bellinger said. “But it was a good catch.”
“Boys were giving me a hard time after he robbed it. Boonie was giving me hard time,” Bellinger added.
A four-time All-Star and a Gold Glove winner, Tucker snatched the ball as a fan tried for it, the spectator clasping both sides of the outfielder’s glove.
“I caught the ball and he caught my glove, so I figured even if I dropped it they’d probably look at it and get it overturned,” Tucker said. “I’ve probably had some encounters with me trying to go into the stands and catching a ball and me hitting someone’s hand or whatever but I don’t know if anyone’s ever actually kind of caught my glove while doing it.”
Bellinger homered in the eighth off Jordan Wicks, just above the red glove of leaping center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and into the dark glove of a kid in the front row.
“The fan just beat to the spot,” Crow-Armstrong said. “He just had a better chance of catching it higher than I did.”
Bellinger, who had rounded first, watched and then smiled when he saw he had hit No. 3.
“Glad the fan caught it before PCA could grab it,” said Bellinger, who met the boy after and got the ball back. “I’ve seen PCA rob so many homers. He’s a freak athlete out there.”
Bellinger is batting .406 over a career-high 16-game hitting streak, raising his average to .285 with 16 homers and 54 RBIs.
He had spoken with his Cubs ex-teammates during batting practice.
“No, no, no revenge,” he said. “Honestly, ultimately it was just fun to be out there. I saw a bunch of guys I hadn’t seen in a while and I shared a bunch of good memories with them for these past two years.”
Jazz Chisholm Jr. and manager Aaron Boone encouraged Bellinger to emerge from the dugout for a curtain call.
“He was a little reluctant, but then the Bell-lin-ger” over the dugout got pretty loud. So I think he succumbed to it,” Boone said. “Belly’s loved being here and loved playing here in a meaningful place to him, going back to his childhood.”
Bellinger turns 30 on Sunday and can opt out of the final season of his contract this fall. With long balls and wide smiles, he seems to have found a home in the Yankees clubhouse.
He tried not to make much of getting the three homers against the Cubs, but Bellinger’s teammates could sense the significance.
“It’s always good to go against your old teammates that you spend a lot of time with, you know, you respect,” Boone said. “To perform right away against them I’m sure probably is a little cherry on top for him.”
DETROIT — Cal Raleigh hit his 37th and 38th home runs in Seattle‘s 12-3 victory over Detroit on Friday night to move within one of Barry Bonds’ 2001 major league record for homers before the All-Star break.
Raleigh hit a solo homer off former teammate Tyler Holton in the eighth to tie the American League record of 37 before the All-Star break set by Reggie Jackson in 1969 and matched by Chris Davis in 2013.
“[Holton] and I are really good friends, and I’ve caught a lot of his pitches,” said Raleigh, who was in the lineup as the designated hitter instead of at catcher. “I don’t think that helped much, but I’m sure he’s not very happy with me.”
Raleigh hit a grand slam off Brant Hurter in the ninth.
“I didn’t even know it was a record until just now,” Raleigh said. “I don’t have words for it, I guess. I’m just very grateful and thankful.”
It was Raleigh’s eighth multihomer game this season, tying Jackson (also in 1969) for the most such games before the All-Star break in MLB history, according to ESPN Research. He also tied Ken Griffey Jr. for the most multihomer games in Mariners franchise history.
Seattle has two games left in Detroit before the break.
“Cal Raleigh … this is just unbelievable,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “He’s already set the AL record and now he’s only one short of Barry. There are two games, so who knows?”
Raleigh hit 10 homers in March and April, 12 in May, 11 in June and has five in July.
“This is a very boring comment, but baseball is all about consistency,” Wilson said. “This hasn’t been one hot streak, he’s doing this month after month. That says everything.”