Smith Entertainment Group isn’t rushing into unveiling new branding or team nickname for the new Utah Hockey team.
We had fun with the AI model ChatGPT, generating possible jersey designs for 'Utah Yetis', 'Utah Unicorns', and others.
Utah officially has an NHL franchise, but it doesn’t yet have a team name.
The Arizona Coyotes' name and logo were not included in this week’s blockbuster sale, and new NHL owner Ryan Smith has said he doesn’t want to rush into rolling out new branding.
“As far as the nickname, (Smith Entertainment Group) will take their time with it, even if it means starting next season without new nickname,” according to Pierre LeBrun, who covers hockey for The Athletic, among other sites.
Smith’s comments on branding haven’t stopped Utahns from speculating about where Smith Entertainment Group will eventually land.
Will hockey fans soon be rooting for the Utah Yetis? The Utah Blizzard? The Utah Outlaws?
With the help of ChatGPT, we took our office debate about team branding to a new level and mocked up some jersey options for Smith Entertainment Group to consider.
What will the Utah hockey team be called?
First, we tried out a classic name: the Utah Hockey Team.
The team will almost certainly be called something basic like that for the next year or two.
Then, we had ChatGPT design a Utah Yetis jersey, as well as two others built around an alliterative phrase: the Utah Unicorns and Utah Yuccas.
The kids’ sizes of the Utah Unicorns gear would almost certainly fly off the shelves.
Next, we asked ChatGPT to offer some suggestions based on Utah’s unique heritage.
What if the Utah NHL team celebrated the state’s early pioneer settlers or the dinosaurs that once roamed the desert landscape?
Then, we prompted ChatGPT to consider Utah wildlife and present an animal-themed jersey.
Its idea for the Utah Elk is both intimidating and majestic.
Finally, we couldn’t resist following through with our colleague’s idea to create a jersey that celebrates the one thing that makes Utah truly special: Its terrible drivers.
Thank you, ChatGPT, for making our dreams come true.