SALT LAKE CITY — The NHL playoffs are coming to Utah for the first time, and excitement is building across the state.
Game 3 of the first-round series between the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights is set for Friday night. Utah tied the series at 1-1 with a 3-2 victory in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Since tickets went on sale, the prospect of Stanley Cup Playoff hockey in Salt Lake City has generated a buzz. Team officials report that merchandise sales at the Delta Center team store have jumped 18% since the Mammoth clinched a playoff berth. Tickets for Friday’s Game 3 and Tuesday’s Game 4 are nearly sold out, with only a few seats remaining.
“It’s going to be amazing,” said Utah captain Clayton Keller. “I think it’s going to blow past our expectations and I can’t wait for it. Everyone’s been talking about it — people I’ve met in the community — saying they can’t wait to come to the game.”
Playoff ticket prices have soared well above regular-season costs. According to TickPick, the average lower-bowl seat for Game 3 is $481, while upper-bowl seats average $217. The overall average price of $266 is 213% higher than the $85 average for regular-season games.
Despite the higher prices, demand remains strong. “It’s a breath of fresh air,” said Tyson Enniss, a Mammoth season-ticket holder and bar owner who hosts watch parties. “People are really energized about hockey. … I think hockey has kind of reenergized local sports fans.”
Enniss noted that first-round home games cost him 30% more than his regular-season package, but he quickly opted in. Season-ticket holders can also opt in for subsequent rounds if Utah advances.
“There’s something special about our playoffs: the intensity, the excitement,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. “As good as our regular season is, and it’s terrific, the playoffs takes everything to the next level.”
For fans unable to attend, watch parties offer a community experience. SLC Puck!, a Mammoth hockey podcast, organized a Game 1 watch party at A Bar Named Sue that drew about 75 fans. Monthly regular-season watch parties averaged 50 fans. Enniss said the Game 1 party boosted his Sunday evening revenue by 30-40%.
“It’s a big deal,” Enniss said. “It’s helping out the local community. It’s really helping out the local economy on many levels other than just downtown on gameday.”
The next watch party will be for Game 4 on Tuesday at Flanker, a downtown Salt Lake City sports bar. Organizers hope to provide an option for fans who want pregame festivities but can’t get a ticket.
“The buzz is getting louder every day,” said Austin Facer, host of SLC Puck!. “There’s definitely been an appetite for a really competitive sports team … The Mammoth are just in a good position where they’re catching a lot of hunger.”
Hockey has long had a presence in Utah, with minor league teams like the Salt Lake Golden Eagles (1969-1994) and the Utah Grizzlies (1995-2026). But the Mammoth have elevated the sport to new heights. For fans of those earlier teams, seeing an NHL team in the playoffs is a dream come true.
“It gives me the chills,” said Codie Jones, whose grandfather played for the Golden Eagles. “It’s so cool to see the NHL come to Utah, but then to have them in their second season go to the playoffs is just huge.”
