Utah Jazz And Mammoth Owner Ryan Smith Says 'Sports Are The Antithesis Of AI'

Summary

Ryan Smith discusses the Utah Jazz rebuild, the NBA's tanking debate, and his vision for combining the Jazz and Mammoth into a shared sports hub. He also covers local media strategy, the appeal of live sports as an asset class, and why he passed on owning a soccer team.

• Ryan Smith explains the decision to reset the Jazz roster and rebuild through the draft.
• He discusses NBA tanking reforms, including flat draft odds, and the league's process.
• Smith details the synergy of co-owning an NBA and NHL team sharing an arena and practice facility.
• He highlights the success of the Jazz's local media strategy, expanding reach from 1.2M to 6M viewers.
• He contrasts live sports with AI, calling sports the 'antithesis of AI' and a driver of communal experience.
• He explains why he chose not to invest in soccer, citing lack of passion and the need to go all-in.
• Smith notes the economic impact of sports on struggling urban cores, using the Mammoth's arrival as an example.
• He emphasizes consistent fan support in Utah, even during losing seasons.