“Pleasantly surprised”: Utah HC fans spread positive vibes despite obstructed view in the Delta Center

SALT LAKE CITY – Ryan Smith climbed the lower steps of the Delta Center stadium on Monday as the first fans streamed in.

He greeted some early arrivals with a big smile and waved as shouts of “Thanks, Ryan!” echoed through the arena. When he was almost at the top, he turned and looked at the ice.

It was all real. Utah's own NHL team was about to step onto home ice for the first time.

It's been a tumultuous five months for the new franchise. Utah HC has built a temporary practice facility and begun construction on a permanent facility, designed jerseys, developed a temporary brand and moved an entire organization north, installed an NHL-level dressing room at the Delta Center and begun planning renovations to improve the less than ideal sightline.

As Smith surveyed the arena—with wide black curtains covering much of the lower section and large rows of seats that only had a view of one goal—he wondered what it would look like in the future.

“We have to fix this,” he said.

Steffaun Dandy sat with wide eyes in the middle of the upper bowl behind one of the gates.

The Utah Hockey Club had just gotten off to a great start, scoring two first-period goals in quick succession (with a few tackles in between). A team determined to make a good first impression succeeded in every way.

The only problem? Dandy and the other fans sitting behind the goal couldn't see any of the goals – at least not live. The view of the goal – and much of the attacking zone – was blocked by the arena's steep wall. That's what Smith hopes to fix with the renovations.

The good news for Smith and Utah HC? Fans are willing to cut the organization some slack.

“I mean, we have a big screen so we can still watch it,” Dandy said. “It's better than watching at home, and we get to experience it live a little bit. It's an inexpensive seat; it's worth it. I'd rather be here than not.”

That was the feeling of many fans who had tickets for a single goal on Monday. Of course, they would have preferred to see the whole ice, but being in the arena and enjoying the atmosphere of NHL hockey still made the evening unforgettable.

“It's a great experience and I feel like the team benefits from the crowd,” Aaron Feifer said. “I'd love to watch the whole thing, but it's cool.”

Even those who had some bad luck – all four of Monday's regulation goals were scored in the same end – said they would return for a game in the same section.

“Damn, I can rarely tell when the puck is going in anyway,” said Sam McCraig with a laugh. “It was just great to be here. I would 100% come back.”

The organization has not yet decided which games will have individual tickets available, but a Smith Entertainment Group spokesperson said there is a good chance they will be offered for Friday and Saturday's games.

There were no loud complaints in the other places with limited visibility either.

“The game was moving so fast I barely noticed it,” said Kevin Adams, whose view was blocked from one corner of the ice. “I thought it was going to be more annoying. I was pleasantly surprised.”

There's no doubt that fans are in a bit of a honeymoon phase. This was the first preseason game for a team that has arrived in a flash, so what's the plan if the goodwill eventually fades?

Utah HC President Chris Armstrong said the team has explored the possibility of raising the floor to address the visibility issues, but no plans have been finalized.

“As you can understand and expect, it's a complicated undertaking to do what we're trying to do in this building while maintaining the integrity of the fan experience for the Utah Jazz, but also ultimately creating the best NHL hockey experience,” he said. “So I think we're going to be very deliberate, careful and patient and make sure we get this right in the shortest amount of time possible.”

If Monday is any indication, fans can be patient.