[Software] A 42-year-old tech genius and lifelong fan is the new owner of the Utah Jazz

[EvKirito]

 

 

A kid who grows up rooting for his hometown team starts a tech company in college, two decades later sells it for $ 8 billion, and then a rare chance to buy that NBA team out there and run it.

 

It is a true story. His name is Ryan Smith, a 42-year-old Utah native and new owner of the Utah Jazz. He just bought the Jazz from the Miller family, who had owned the team since 1985. NBA owners approved the sale Thursday and the parties completed the closing of financial transactions Friday.

 

"Adam (Silver, the NBA commissioner) told me directly when we called him," Smith told USA TODAY Sports in a Zoom interview. “He said, 'Ryan, you're lucky enough in life to be part of the NBA in some way and that's pretty incredible. But there are not many people in the world who have the opportunity to do this with their team. ' This is really how I feel. It is one thing to be part of a team. Being able to take charge of his team that he grew up watching and cheering on is not normal. "

 

Smith's personal connection to the Jazz comes from his childhood and from watching Jazz games on television with his grandfather, who died about four years ago.

 

It was very instrumental in my life, ”Smith said. “He loved everything about John Stockton, Darrell Griffith, Karl Malone and Hot Rod (Hundley). He loved everything about jazz. That's where I was exposed for the first time. For me, it's quite personal, just that trip with him. "

 

Smith founded Qualtrics, a leading online survey software company, in 2002 with his father, brother, and friend. German giant SAP bought the company for $ 8 billion in 2018 and plans to list Qualtrics through an initial public offering possibly in early 2021. Smith will remain the CEO of Qualtrics.

 

Smith has also helped turn Utah into Silicon Slopes, a mountainous, albeit less expensive, version of Silicon Valley. There is a half court basketball court inside Qualtrics headquarters in Provo, and Smith likes to play every morning from 6 to 7 and then come home to help his kids get ready for school before the day begins. labor.

 

“I told the NBA (owners) that I've been in a lot of negotiations and made a lot of pretty big deals, but I've never been in a negotiation where it was a three-party negotiation where one was the buyer. One has been the vendor and the other has been the community, ”Smith said.

 

Smith has been a season ticket holder and has been to most games in the past five seasons with seats next to Greg Miller, the Jazz CEO, son of Gail Miller, the president of Larry H. Miller Group. of Companies.

 

The Millers bought 50% of the Jazz in 1985 and the remaining half in 1986. They built a strong NBA franchise that competed for championships and appeared in the playoffs regularly. Since 1984, the Jazz have missed the playoffs only eight times.

 

Jazz is a fundamental pillar of the community. It's difficult for some new NBA owners to understand a franchise as a public trust, something that "belongs" to the fans, even if they are not owners. Smith understands.

 

"I feel like the Millers at every point have stepped back or let the community have the largest seat in the room," Smith said. "This should be the example of how I think a sports franchise of any kind is transitioned into truly a stewardship. It's been said for years, which is often theoretical. But I'll tell you it's real. It's practical and I couldn't be more excited to take control of them and such an incredible organization. "

 

Smith poked here and there to buy the previously included Jazz in February. "Gail said, 'We've had this in our family for 35 years and we're going to keep it.' That has been the answer for the entire state of Utah. It's almost like you don't even ask, "Smith said.

 

Smith looked for other opportunities, especially the Minnesota Timberwolves. "At the end of the day, my wife (Ashley) reminded me as I was going down the road, 'Ryan, what is your plan here?' You know we are Jazz fans. This is what we do. This is what we do with our (five) children. Even in February, I was at a crossroads over whether to look for another opportunity. "