The Utah Jazz did more than carve out a place in this city. They became a Salt Lake City institution, continuing to draw sellout crowds long after Stockton-to-Malone eventually turned into a rebuilding team that very well could be going

Beyond cultivating a young fan base in Salt Lake City, there’s also the task of educating those who haven’t watched hockey much, if at all, but are curious.

The council also gave final approval to a participation agreement with Smith Entertainment Group, which owns the basketball and hockey teams. Both passed unanimously.

The Salt Lake City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a final participation agreement and a sales tax hike that would allow the Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club to stay downtown. Why it matters: The council's vote marks a critical step towards making Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) and the city's proposed entertainment and sports district a reality.

Utah's capital has finalized an agreement with Smith Entertainment Group on a plan to completely change downtown Salt Lake City to welcome in the NHL and retain the NBA.