Sure, Utah does not have the glitz of other states and Salt Lake doesn't really have the glamor of other big cities. But it sure is fun being a fan of sports in the state of Utah.
There is only one major sports franchise in the entire state, the Utah Jazz. The fans from Utah sure are passionate about their Jazz basketball. Fans love the Jazz and the players are treated like royalty around here. Every game night during the season, the streets of Salt Lake are flooded with passionate Jazz fans and living rooms glow with the lights of the game being played on television.
Not a professional basketball fan, well, there's the family atmosphere of Spring Mobile Park and Salt Lake Bees baseball. There isn't a bad seat in the park. Nothing is more relaxing than spending a lazy summer day eating a ball park hot dog and watching baseball. The Bees are a minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Want some harder hitting action? There is always AA hockey action of the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL. The Grizzlies are an affiliate of the Calgary Flames of the NHL. Or swing over and catch a Utah Blaze game of the Arena Football League.
As football season begins to roll around, there are no NFL teams in Utah but it still doesn't mean it isn't fun being a fan of the NFL in this state. The closest team for Utah is the Denver Broncos so all their games are telecasted on television, at least for northern Utah. But what makes the NFL season so much fun here is the fans follow teams from all across the country. Walking through an apartment complex parking lot and seeing the team stickers on vehicles can be interesting entertainment. The team stickers may vary from San Francisco 49ers to Buffalo Bills and from Detroit Lions to Dallas Cowboys. So even though it is Broncos country, fans as a whole may not be passionate about one team but they are passionate about football and their team, whoever that might be.
More of a college sports fan, Utah has that too. In the mood for an enthusiastic basketball game, there is no better place to go than the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum at Utah State University. The Stadium may be smaller but the fans pack it every night and they let the opponents know they are there all game long. It gets loud in the Spectrum.
Want some good old college football. Check out the Holy War football game. The University of Utah and Brigham Young University rivalry dates back to 1896 and is one of the best rivalries in all of college football. These two teams hate each other and that makes for good football.
So Utah may not be a high profile destination when it comes to sports, but as a fan, it sure is fun place to be for sports.
-Jake Ipson
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