• Loading stock data...
Thursday, October 16, 2025

Ryan Smith’s Ascension in Sports Ownership: Four Teams in Five Years

  • The new owner of the NHL’s Utah franchise is ascending quickly.
  • Smith broke into sports when he purchased the Jazz in 2020.
Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

Last week’s deal to take an NHL team out of Arizona and into Utah brought a resolution to one of the messiest franchise situations in the league. It also solidified Ryan Smith’s sports ownership portfolio as one of the fastest-growing in the country. Take a look at his last five years:

  • 2020: Buys the NBA’s Utah Jazz for $1.66 billion
  • 2022: Acquires MLS club Real Salt Lake with David Blitzer for roughly $400 million
  • 2023: Revives the NWSL’s Utah Royals franchise for $2 million, again with Blitzer
  • 2024: Purchases yet-to-be-renamed NHL team for $1.2 billion

“When these things come along, you don’t blink,” Smith said Friday during a press conference in Salt Lake City with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. The 45-year-old billionaire’s sports interests all fall under his company Smith Entertainment Group, which is already starting to stack up nicely against rival heavyweights in the industry, like Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (Rams, Nuggets, Avalanche, Rapids) and Fenway Sports Group (Red Sox, Penguins, Liverpool).

Money Well Spent

In 2002, Smith co-founded the software technology outfit Qualtrics with his brother, father, and one other business partner. That company sold in 2019 for $8 billion, and Smith wasted no time turning his attention to sports, buying the Jazz less than 24 months later.

Smith spent at least $3 billion for his share of the four sports teams he owns all or part of, and already they’re worth roughly $5.5 billion (based on Forbes’s valuations for the Jazz and Real Salt Lake, and recent comparable team sales within the NWSL).

Could There Be More?

Salt Lake City has been talked about as a potential option for MLB expansion, and the city was considered as a temporary landing spot for the A’s before they settled on playing in Sacramento while they wait for a ballpark to be built in Las Vegas. The WNBA is expanding too, but last week Smith admitted he “has a full plate right now,” even though he’s a fan of the W and speaks with commissioner Cathy Englebert often.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jan 8, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) makes a save against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at Wells Fargo Center

Golden Knights Add Hockey Canada Trial’s Carter Hart

Hart is the only acquitted player to sign with an NHL team.

NBA Season About to Tip Off With New TV Deal—but No LeBron..

James will reportedly be out until mid-November.

NHL Raises Concerns Over 2026 Olympic Arena’s Delayed Construction

The commissioner says construction progress in Italy remains a deep concern.
Oct 14, 2025; Birmingham, AL, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari talks with the media during SEC Media Days at Grand Bohemian Hotel.

SEC Coaches Sound Off on NIL, Revenue-Sharing: ‘Upside Down’

John Calipari doesn’t want to become “transactional.”

Featured Today

May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Derek Jeter walks the red carpet on Sunday, May 25, 2025, ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Players’ Tribune Is Still Kicking 11 Years Later

Founder Derek Jeter is still closely involved in the publication.
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive
October 10, 2025

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Jun 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Mercedes driver George Russell (63) and Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli (12) celebrate their first and third place at the F1 Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.

Mercedes F1 Team Rides With Russell, Antonelli Despite Verstappen Link

Russell took the Formula One seat at Mercedes in 2021.
October 13, 2025

Titans Turnover: Brian Callahan Firing Adds to Pattern of Instability

Tennessee fired coach Brian Callahan six games into his second season.
October 13, 2025

RAJ Sports Withdraws Lawsuit Over Trail Blazers Stake

RAJ Sports had sued the Cherng family, owner of Panda Express.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) throws as quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) looks on during rookie minicamp May 9, 2025, in Berea.
October 9, 2025

Browns Paying $41.6M to 8 QBs, but Only 2 Are on Their..

Cleveland traded Joe Flacco to the Bengals this week.
October 9, 2025

The Yankees’ $319M Roster Flopped. Now Comes the Hard Part: 2026

The MLB club’s current contracts limit its flexibility somewhat for next year.
October 6, 2025

Connor McDavid Signs Short-Term Deal, Eyeing Oilers’ Cup Window

The three-time Most Valuable Player signs for below his market value.
October 1, 2025

Cardinals Vow Changes Coming After Historic Attendance Drop

A stalwart franchise looks to correct an alarming slide in attendance.