AI Summary
5 min read"We've Programmed Loneliness Into Our World": Why the Smiths Are Betting on Live Sports
The night before this conversation, Ryan Smith watched his family of seven and everyone they know glued to their phones, all waiting for a single moment of shared anticipation: the NBA draft lottery. When the Utah Jazz landed the number two pick, people were jumping on couches, dogpiling, celebrating together. For Smith, that scene captured exactly why he and his wife Ashley have poured billions into live sports at a time when most entertainment dollars chase screens.
"You can go in my house and people are in different rooms at different times, getting different feeds and different info coming to them," Smith said. "Everyone's living an alone life, a lonely life. We've kind of programmed loneliness into our world, and sports bypasses that."
The Decision to Buy In
The Smiths didn't set out to own sports teams. They spent twenty years building Qualtrics, a software company that reached multi-billion-dollar valuation. That journey required constant sacrifice—Ryan gone frequently, Ashley supporting from her world. When the opportunity came to buy the Utah Jazz, the decision wasn't automatic. Gail Miller, the previous owner, sat them down multiple times with a buyer-beware message.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:20) **Sports as an Antidote to Digital Isolation** - Smiths explain why live sports matter in an age of phones and AI
- 2 (04:14) **The "New Why": Community and Utah Identity** - The Smiths explain their deeper motivation beyond wins and losses
- 3 (07:36) **Utah as a "Sneaky Good" Sports Town** - The surprising energy around the Jazz and Mammoth
- 4 (10:47) **Hockey Culture vs. NBA Culture** - What hockey players do differently after the season
- 5 (11:59) **The Sergachev Story: A Crossover Moment** - How a hockey player's sacrifice inspired the Jazz
- 6 (14:26) **Threats to the NBA Product: Tanking, Load Management, and Season Length** - A deep dive on the league's structural challenges
- 7 (17:34) **The Tanking Debate: "If You're Going to Lay Up, Lay Up"** - Ryan's philosophy on rebuilding
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Show Notes
Why are the owners of a multibillion-dollar tech empire doubling down on live sports in an age of AI and digital isolation? In this episode of “Deseret Voices,” host McKay Coppins sits down with Ryan and Ashley Smith, owners of the Utah Jazz and the new Utah Mammoth, to explore why they believe the stadium is one of the last remaining places where a community can truly breathe, cheer, and connect as one. Ashley describes the "electric," high-stakes atmosphere of a live hockey game where strangers connect through shared moments to bypass the "lonely life" of the digital age. Meanwhile, Ryan reflects on their 20-year transition from the tech world to sports ownership, emphasizing their unique role as stewards keeping these franchises grounded on behalf of the state of Utah.
The Smiths also pull back the curtain on the business, grit and strategic complexities of running professional sports franchises. Ryan provides a candid look at the "means to an end" philosophy required to survive the emotional volatility of wins and losses. Together, they discuss the distinct, team-first culture of the NHL compared to the NBA, the evolving nature of athlete health, and changing league rules. Hear the fascinating story of the "way to get in front of the puck" mentality that defines hockey culture, and how that very spirit of sacrifice is influencing their approach to the Utah Jazz.
Finally, the conversation tackles the tough questions regarding the NBA regular season and the strategic necessity of "laying up" during a team rebuild. The episode concludes with a look ahead at the 2026 NBA draft, with Ryan expressing full confidence in his front office to ignore the outside noise, draft for greatness, and make the bold, sometimes unpopular moves necessary to pursue a championship. Turn off your screens, step inside the arena, and find out why the Smiths are betting big on the vital power of the shared civic experience.
This episode was recorded in front of a live audience during “The Atlantic Across America” series in Salt Lake City on May 11, a joint event from the Deseret News and The Atlantic magazine.
“Deseret Voices” is hosted by award-winning journalists McKay Coppins and Jane Clayson Johnson, who go beyond the headlines to explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping our world today. Through thoughtful, in-depth conversations, the “Deseret Voices” podcast brings clarity and common ground to the complex issues defining our time.
“Deseret Voices” is a Deseret News podcast, produced by
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