The owners of the National Basketball Association’s Utah Jazz have requested the NHL begin the expansion process as they look to bring a professional hockey team to Salt Lake City.

In a letter penned to the league, the Smith Entertainment Group, led by Ryan Smith, who is the chairman of the group and governor of the Jazz, said they have been in discussions about Utah as a viable location with the NHL for nearly two years.

“SEG envisions a near future where the NHL will thrive in Utah, and we are 100 percent focused on making this happen as soon as possible,” said SEG president Ryan Smith. “We are passionate about sports and entertainment in the state and are committed to providing premium sports and entertainment experiences for the people of Utah and visitors from around the world.

“We are ready to welcome the NHL and are confident that the time and attention being spent by all parties will bring one of the most exciting and dynamic leagues in the world to our community on a permanent basis.”

Their plan, in the short term, would be to have an NHL franchise play out of the Delta Arena, home of the Jazz, with future plans for a hockey arena in the future.

In a statement of their own, the league said they had been impressed with the SEG’s commitment.

“The NHL appreciates the interest expressed by Smith Entertainment Group to bring NHL hockey to Utah,” a statement from the league said. “During conversations over the course of the past two years, we have been impressed by Ryan and Ashley Smith’s commitment to their community and their passion and vision for Utah, not only as a hockey market, but as a preeminent sports and entertainment destination. Utah is a promising market, and we look forward to continuing our discussions.”

The state of Utah, landlocked in the mountainous region of the western United States, has been home to the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies since 2005 located in West Valley City, a 20-minute drive from Salt Lake City. In Utah, the Salt Lake Golden Eagles played in the Western Hockey League, Central Professional League and International Hockey League between 1969 and 1994, as affiliates of multiple NHL franchises.

Utah also hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and are vying as a host city for the 2030 Winter Olympics, with a host city to be selected on July 23rd, 2024.