Salt Lake City seems too small of a market. And Mormons won’t like 5 minute fighting majors…
They didn’t seem to mind so much with the Baker-Fancher wagon train in 1857.
Too soon?
SLC is a growing market. And they will be #2 option (after Utah Jazz).
In Phoenix or Atlanta, they'll be #8 or #9 because there are other things to do.
It’s not the market size so much as generating fan loyalty. The Jazz owner has money to build a real NHL team that probably won’t regularly be one of the first 4 teams eliminated from playoff contention. Hopefully. People want to watch the home team win.