^The original Royals folded after the 2020 season. The team was reestablished in 2023, inheriting the history and records of the former franchise, and will resume play in 2024.
The professional sports team nicknames are often noted for the unusual frequency of the letter Z appearing in team nicknames (such as the Utah Jazz). This phenomenon reached the peak of its popularity during the 1990s; however, several Utah teams continue to make use of the letter Z. At least ten Utah-based professional sports franchises have used team names that include the letter Z, some of which are intentionally spelled incorrectly, using the Z unnecessarily or as a replacement for another letter. Commenting on the proliferation of such team names, New York Times sportswriter Alan Schwarz called Utah "the state where sports fans go to get their Z's."[1] Local television stations KJZZ-TV (which was owned by Larry H. Miller from 1993 until his estate sold the station in 2016) and KPNZ also played off the Jazz's name to end their calls with Z's.
Early Utah -zz teamsEdit
The popularity of the Z in Utah sports was likely inspired in part by the unusual nickname of the Utah JazzNBA team, which in 1979 relocated from New Orleans —which is noted for jazz music— to Salt Lake City, which is not. Up until the early 1990s, Utah's other professional teams used somewhat conventional nicknames (such as the Stars, Golden Eagles, and Trappers).
With the arrival of the Salt Lake Buzz in 1994, the similarity of the nicknames "Buzz" and "Jazz" was unmistakable (although the name "Buzz" was really a play on the name of owner Joe Buzas, as well as a nod to Utah's "Beehive State" moniker).[2][3] The following year, the Utah Grizzlies minor league hockey team also entered the market.
The announcement of the Utah StarzzWNBA franchise in 1996 cemented the state's propensity for using the letter Z in its team names. [4] The peculiar "Starzz" nickname was an homage to the Jazz (as well as to the old Utah StarsABA team).[5] The precedent firmly set, several -zz teams entered the Utah market in subsequent years, to include the Utah Catzz, Utah Freezz, and Utah Blitzz.
From 1994 to 1999, at least seven professional sports teams in the state adopted nicknames containing a double Z (see table below). All of these team names ended in -zz, except the Utah Grizzlies (which are also commonly called "the Grizz").[6] With the exception of the Jazz and Grizzlies, none of the -zz teams remain in Utah today, each having relocated, folded, or renamed the franchise.
The Ogden Raptors (1994–present) were the only notable Utah pro franchise to forgo use of the letter Z when entering the Utah market during the 1990s. The Raptors offered this as a selling point, using the slogan "All the fun without the ZZs!"[7] Since 2000, new and renamed franchises have tended to steer away from the Z naming fad, opting instead for names such as Salt Lake Bees, Utah Flash, Real Salt Lake, and Utah Royals FC. However, the creation of the Orem Owlz in 2005 and the Utah Blaze in 2006 provide some indication that Utah's Z nicknaming trend continues.
The Orem Owlz previously played as Provo Angels from 2001–2004, taking its name from the parent Anaheim Angels franchise. The Owlz' last season playing in Orem was 2019; the team had planned to play in 2020, but the 2020 season of all leagues in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) was not played due to COVID-19. After the contraction of MiLB in 2021, the Owlz were purchased by a Colorado-based group; the team was on hiatus for the 2021 season before resuming in 2022 as the Windsor-based Northern Colorado Owlz.
The Salt Lake Buzz, Stingers, and Bees are various names for the same Pacific Coast League team.
After the 2020 NWSL season, Utah Royals FC folded amid a controversy surrounding the principal owner of its parent club, Real Salt Lake, that led to that team's sale. The Royals' player-related assets were assumed by a new ownership group in Kansas City. Following the closure of Real Salt Lake's sale in 2022, the new owners exercised an option to revive the Royals, which will start play in 2024 as a continuation of the original franchise.
^Dicou, Natalie. "Salt Lake Buzz…er, Stingers…er, I forget" 2007-05-08 at the Wayback Machine, Utah Daily Chronicle, 24 May 2006, retrieved 18 May 2008.
^For example, see: Jorgensen, Loren. "Utah's WNBA Team Dubbed the 'Starzz'", Deseret News, 29 January 1997, pg D1 (accessible at Deseret News archives Archived 2012-07-30 at archive.today).
^Hollis, Randy. "Starzz starting to shine bright as Jazz fade into history"[permanent dead link], Ogden Standard-Examiner, 2 June 2002 (republished by realgm.com).
^For example, see: Hamilton, Linda. "Grizz Excited To See Wirll Skate", Deseret News (hosted by Utah Grizzlies), accessed 12 May 2008.
^Wadsworth, Reuben. "I'm gonna miss the ZZZs and the Buzz," Archived 2012-07-15 at archive.today The Utah Statesman, 2 February 2001, retrieved 19 May 2008. See also archived .
August 25, 2023
list, professional, sports, teams, utah, professional, sports, teams, based, utah, encompass, multiple, teams, including, utah, jazz, major, league, soccer, real, salt, lake, contents, current, teams, historical, teams, american, football, baseball, basketball. Professional sports teams based in Utah encompass multiple teams including the NBA s Utah Jazz and Major League Soccer s Real Salt Lake Contents 1 Current teams 2 Historical teams 2 1 American Football 2 2 Baseball 2 3 Men s Basketball 2 4 Women s Basketball 2 5 Ice Hockey 2 6 Indoor American Football 2 7 Indoor Soccer 2 8 In line Hockey 2 9 Rugby 2 10 Men s Soccer 2 11 Women s Soccer 2 12 Ultimate 2 13 Volleyball 3 The use of the letter Z 3 1 Early Utah zz teams 3 2 Utah becomes a zz market 4 See also 5 ReferencesCurrent teams EditMajor professional teams current Club Year introduced Sport League TierUtah Jazz 1979 Basketball National Basketball Association TopReal Salt Lake 2004 Soccer Major League Soccer TopUtah Royals FC a 2017 Soccer National Women s Soccer League TopUtah Warriors 2017 Rugby Major League Rugby Top The original Royals folded after the 2020 season The team was reestablished in 2023 inheriting the history and records of the former franchise and will resume play in 2024 Minor professional teams current Club Year introduced Sport League TierSalt Lake Shred 2022 Ultimate AUDL TopSalt Lake Bees 2006 Baseball Pacific Coast League Class AAAUtah Grizzlies 2005 Ice hockey ECHL Mid levelSalt Lake City Stars 2016 Basketball NBA G LeagueReal Monarchs 2015 Soccer MLS Next Pro Division IIIOgden Raptors 1994 Baseball Pioneer League MLB Partner LeagueHistorical teams EditAmerican Football Edit Club Year introduced Sport LeagueUtah Pioneers 1992 American Football Professional Spring Football LeagueUtah Blitz 2010 American football Women s Football AllianceUtah Argonauts 2012 American football Professional Developmental Football LeagueSalt Lake Stallions 2018 American football Alliance of American FootballBaseball Edit Club Year introduced Sport LeagueLagoon 1901 Baseball Inter Mountain LeagueOgden 1901 Baseball Inter Mountain LeagueOrem Owlz 2005 Baseball Pioneer LeaguePark City 1901 Baseball Inter Mountain LeagueSalt Lake City 1901 Baseball Inter Mountain LeagueSalt Lake City Elders 1903 Baseball Pacific National LeagueSalt Lake City Mormons 1909 Baseball Inter Mountain LeagueSalt Lake City Skyscrapers 1911 Baseball Union AssociationOgden Canners 1912 Baseball Union AssociationMurray Infants 1914 Baseball Union AssociationSalt Lake Bees Three previous franchises 1915 1946 1958 Baseball Utah Idaho League Pacific Coast League Pioneer LeagueLogan Collegians 1926 Baseball Utah Idaho LeagueOgden Gunners 1926 Baseball Utah Idaho LeagueOgden Reds 1939 Baseball Pioneer LeagueOgden Dodgers 1966 Baseball Pioneer LeagueSalt Lake City Giants 1967 Baseball Pioneer LeagueSalt Lake City Angels 1971 Baseball Pacific Coast LeagueOgden Spikers 1974 Baseball Pioneer LeagueSalt Lake City Gulls 1975 Baseball Pacific Coast LeagueOgden A s 1979 Baseball Pacific Coast LeagueSalt Lake City Trappers 1985 Baseball Pioneer LeagueSalt Lake Buzz 1994 Baseball Pacific Coast LeagueSt George Pioneerzz FKA Zion Pioneerzz 1999 Baseball Western Baseball LeagueProvo Angels 2001 Baseball Pioneer LeagueSalt Lake Stingers 2002 Baseball Pacific Coast LeagueSt George RoadRunners 2007 Baseball Golden Baseball LeagueMen s Basketball Edit Club Year introduced Sport LeagueUtah Stars 1970 Basketball American Basketball AssociationUtah Rockies 1976 Basketball American Basketball AssociationSalt Lake City Prospectors 1978 Basketball Western Basketball AssociationUtah Snowbears 2004 Basketball American Basketball Association new Salt Lake Dream 2006 Basketball American Basketball Association new Utah Eagles 2006 Basketball Continental Basketball AssociationUtah Flash 2007 Basketball NBA Development LeagueSalt Lake City Saints 2008 Basketball American Basketball Association new Utah Valor 2018 Present The Basketball Tournament TBT Women s Basketball Edit Club Year introduced Sport LeagueUtah Starzz 1997 Basketball Women s National Basketball AssociationIce Hockey Edit Club Year introduced Sport LeagueSalt Lake Golden Eagles 1969 Ice Hockey WHL CHL IHLUtah Grizzlies 1995 2005 1995 Ice Hockey IHL AHLIndoor American Football Edit Club Year introduced Sport LeagueUtah Catzz 1997 Indoor American football Professional Indoor Football LeagueUtah Rattlers 2001 Indoor American football National Indoor Football LeagueUtah Warriors 2003 Indoor American football National Indoor Football LeagueUtah Blaze 2006 Indoor American Football American Indoor Football Association Arena Football LeagueUtah Saints 2008 Indoor American football American Indoor Football AssociationOgden Knights 2009 Indoor American football American Indoor Football AssociationSalt Lake Screaming Eagles 2016 Indoor American football Indoor Football LeagueIndoor Soccer Edit Club Year introduced Sport LeagueUtah Freezz 1999 Indoor soccer World Indoor Soccer LeagueIn line Hockey Edit Club Year introduced Sport LeagueUtah Rollerbees 1993 Inline hockey Roller Hockey InternationalRugby Edit Club Year introduced Sport LeagueUtah Warriors 2010 Rugby union Rugby Super LeagueMen s Soccer Edit Club Year introduced Sport LeagueUtah Golden Spikers FKA Utah Pioneers 1976 Soccer American Soccer LeagueSalt Lake Sting 1990 Soccer American Professional Soccer LeagueUtah Blitzz 1999 Soccer USL Second DivisionUtah Salt Ratz 2003 Soccer National Premier Soccer LeagueOgden Outlaws 2006 Soccer Premier Development LeagueWomen s Soccer Edit Club Year introduced Sport LeagueUtah Starzz FKA Utah Spiders 1999 Soccer Women s Premier Soccer LeagueRush Salt Lake City 2007 Soccer Women s Premier Soccer LeagueReal Salt Lake Women 2007 Soccer United Women s SoccerUltimate Edit Club Year introduced Sport LeagueSalt Lake Lions 2014 Ultimate American Ultimate Disc LeagueVolleyball Edit Club Year introduced Sport LeagueSalt Lake City Stingers 1979 Volleyball International Volleyball AssociationUtah Predators 1994 Volleyball Women s Western Volleyball LeagueThe use of the letter Z EditThe professional sports team nicknames are often noted for the unusual frequency of the letter Z appearing in team nicknames such as the Utah Jazz This phenomenon reached the peak of its popularity during the 1990s however several Utah teams continue to make use of the letter Z At least ten Utah based professional sports franchises have used team names that include the letter Z some of which are intentionally spelled incorrectly using the Z unnecessarily or as a replacement for another letter Commenting on the proliferation of such team names New York Times sportswriter Alan Schwarz called Utah the state where sports fans go to get their Z s 1 Local television stations KJZZ TV which was owned by Larry H Miller from 1993 until his estate sold the station in 2016 and KPNZ also played off the Jazz s name to end their calls with Z s Early Utah zz teams Edit The popularity of the Z in Utah sports was likely inspired in part by the unusual nickname of the Utah Jazz NBA team which in 1979 relocated from New Orleans which is noted for jazz music to Salt Lake City which is not Up until the early 1990s Utah s other professional teams used somewhat conventional nicknames such as the Stars Golden Eagles and Trappers With the arrival of the Salt Lake Buzz in 1994 the similarity of the nicknames Buzz and Jazz was unmistakable although the name Buzz was really a play on the name of owner Joe Buzas as well as a nod to Utah s Beehive State moniker 2 3 The following year the Utah Grizzlies minor league hockey team also entered the market Utah becomes a zz market Edit Hootz the Orem Owlz mascotThe announcement of the Utah Starzz WNBA franchise in 1996 cemented the state s propensity for using the letter Z in its team names 4 The peculiar Starzz nickname was an homage to the Jazz as well as to the old Utah Stars ABA team 5 The precedent firmly set several zz teams entered the Utah market in subsequent years to include the Utah Catzz Utah Freezz and Utah Blitzz From 1994 to 1999 at least seven professional sports teams in the state adopted nicknames containing a double Z see table below All of these team names ended in zz except the Utah Grizzlies which are also commonly called the Grizz 6 With the exception of the Jazz and Grizzlies none of the zz teams remain in Utah today each having relocated folded or renamed the franchise The Ogden Raptors 1994 present were the only notable Utah pro franchise to forgo use of the letter Z when entering the Utah market during the 1990s The Raptors offered this as a selling point using the slogan All the fun without the ZZs 7 Since 2000 new and renamed franchises have tended to steer away from the Z naming fad opting instead for names such as Salt Lake Bees Utah Flash Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals FC However the creation of the Orem Owlz in 2005 and the Utah Blaze in 2006 provide some indication that Utah s Z nicknaming trend continues Selected Utah Professional sports teams ZZ teamsTeam Name Sport League Nickname still in use Years usedUtah Jazz Basketball NBA Yes 1979 presentSalt Lake Buzz Baseball PCL No Renamed 1994 2001Utah Grizzlies Hockey IHL AHL ECHL Yes 1995 present two franchises Utah Starzz Basketball WNBA No Relocated 1997 2002Utah Catzz Indoor football PIFL No Folded 1997 1998Utah Freezz Indoor soccer WISL No Folded 1999 2001Utah Blitzz Soccer USL 2 No Folded 1999 2004St George Pioneerzz Baseball WBL No Folded 1999 2001Other Z teamsOrem Owlz Baseball Pioneer League Yes but relocated from Utah 2005 2020Utah Blaze Arena football AFL I and AFL II Yes 2006 presentNotable non Z teams introduced since 1990Ogden Raptors Baseball Pioneer League Yes 1994 presentUtah Rattlers Indoor football NIFL No Folded 2001Salt Lake Stingers Bees Baseball PCL Yes 2002 presentUtah Warriors Indoor football NIFL No Folded 2003 2004Real Salt Lake Soccer MLS Yes 2004 presentUtah Snowbears Basketball new ABA No Folded 2004 2005Utah Eagles Basketball CBA No Folded 2006 2007St George RoadRunners Baseball GBL No Relocated 2006 2010Utah Flash Basketball NBA G League Yes 2007 presentUtah Saints Indoor football AIFA No Folded 2008 2008Utah Royals FC Soccer NWSL Yes 2017 2020 2024 Notes The Ogden Raptors previously played as Salt Lake City Trappers from 1985 to 1992 The Orem Owlz previously played as Provo Angels from 2001 2004 taking its name from the parent Anaheim Angels franchise The Owlz last season playing in Orem was 2019 the team had planned to play in 2020 but the 2020 season of all leagues in Minor League Baseball MiLB was not played due to COVID 19 After the contraction of MiLB in 2021 the Owlz were purchased by a Colorado based group the team was on hiatus for the 2021 season before resuming in 2022 as the Windsor based Northern Colorado Owlz The Salt Lake Buzz Stingers and Bees are various names for the same Pacific Coast League team After the 2020 NWSL season Utah Royals FC folded amid a controversy surrounding the principal owner of its parent club Real Salt Lake that led to that team s sale The Royals player related assets were assumed by a new ownership group in Kansas City Following the closure of Real Salt Lake s sale in 2022 the new owners exercised an option to revive the Royals which will start play in 2024 as a continuation of the original franchise See also EditList of developmental and minor sports leagues Professional sports leagues in the United States Sports in the United StatesReferences Edit Schwarz Alan Go Banana Slugs Beat The Burn New York Times 19 July 1998 Lange Scott Mascot lawsuits drain Buzz Fund Georgia Tech Technique accessed 12 May 2008 Dicou Natalie Salt Lake Buzz er Stingers er I forget Archived 2007 05 08 at the Wayback Machine Utah Daily Chronicle 24 May 2006 retrieved 18 May 2008 For example see Jorgensen Loren Utah s WNBA Team Dubbed the Starzz Deseret News 29 January 1997 pg D1 accessible at Deseret News archives Archived 2012 07 30 at archive today Hollis Randy Starzz starting to shine bright as Jazz fade into history permanent dead link Ogden Standard Examiner 2 June 2002 republished by realgm com For example see Hamilton Linda Grizz Excited To See Wirll Skate Deseret News hosted by Utah Grizzlies accessed 12 May 2008 Wadsworth Reuben I m gonna miss the ZZZs and the Buzz Archived 2012 07 15 at archive today The Utah Statesman 2 February 2001 retrieved 19 May 2008 See also archived Ogden Raptors website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of professional sports teams in Utah amp oldid 1167013958, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
