NHL training camps are about five weeks away — and crews are working hard to get the Utah Mammoth’s new practice facility ready in time.
The Mammoth posted a video on social media Thursday afternoon to show the progress that has been made on the building, which is located at The Shops at South Town mall in Sandy.
The video appears to show that the concrete surfaces for the two ice sheets are in place, along with walls between them. Other apparent details include the placement of two of the tubs (there will be both hot and cold tubs, as well as an infinity pool) and the outline of the NHL locker room.
Inside one of the tubs, an inaugural season logo can be seen on one of the tiles. That’s one of many intricate details that are supposed to make this one of the best practice facilities in the NHL.
At a press conference following his signing, Mammoth forward Michael Carcone said there’s a buzz around the league about the new facility — and it includes some of the NHL’s biggest stars.
“It’s the talk around the league right now,” he said. “At our gym in particular (Gary Roberts Performance, where many Toronto-area NHL players train in the summers), you see the Connor McDavids, Leon Draisaitls, the Steven Stamkos talking about the new facilities. They’ve heard about it and they’re excited for it, and they’re not even part of the organization.”
“It’s awesome for us and it’s just going to give us that little bit more of an advantage going into the season.”
The building will also be available for community use. It will have two ice sheets, eight public locker rooms and a pro shop to sell equipment and merchandise.
When will the Utah Mammoth’s new practice facility be ready?
Various updates provided by Smith Entertainment Group have declared the opening date to be Monday, Sept. 1. NHL training camps typically start halfway through September.
When the team renovated the Utah Olympic Oval ahead of the 2024-25 season, workers were still putting finishing touches on the locker room area during rookie camp (which takes place just before training camp). It’s possible that they’d do the same, if necessary, to both the new practice facility and the Delta Center.
When will the Delta Center be ready?
The first stage of the Delta Center’s major overhaul is projected to be completed in time for the NHL preseason. According to the most recent update, a July 10 video, that timeline is still accurate.
“We’re on schedule,” said Jim Olson, president of the Utah Jazz, in the video. “We’re feeling really good that we’re going to be open on time.”
The next scheduled event at the arena is the Mammoth’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 2, followed by five concerts the next week.
Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski stands with Ryan Smith, founder of Smith Entertainment Group and governor of Utah Hockey Club, and other representatives from the hockey team at a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Utah Hockey Club Practice and Training Facility at The Shops at South Town in Sandy on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News