Cosmic Hockey will bring its first tour to the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Feb. 6, 2027. The new league plans to switch from regular arena lighting to black lights during each game, making neon-colored equipment and players glow. Organizers say Salt Lake City was a natural tour stop after Cosmic Baseball drew local fans.
A League Built on Spectacle, Not Just Score
Cosmic Hockey’s format hinges on a midgame lighting change. Deseret News describes two halves, with the second played under black lights; the Olympic Authority describes two periods, with the same shift from traditional lighting to UV-reactive black lights. Cosmic Hockey’s tour announcement confirms the West Valley City date as one of seven stops on its first tour.
The league's two clubs, the Chilly Peppers and the Neon Miracles, will compete for a trophy called the Cosmic Cup once the tour wraps, per the same cosmichockey.com announcement. The whole concept follows a familiar playbook: the Deseret News report notes that Cosmic Hockey is following the Harlem Globetrotters' model of turning competitive sports into spectator-first spectacles, altering rules the same way Cosmic Baseball and Banana Ball already do.
Why Utah Got the Call
John Cimperman, Cosmic Hockey's vice president and chief marketing officer, pointed to a ready-made fan base when explaining the Salt Lake City pick. Cosmic Baseball sold out all of its games in Salt Lake, he said, which built in excitement and awareness for Cosmic Sports broadly. Cimperman also praised the venue itself, telling the outlet, “The Maverik Center is really a nice-sized building, 10,000 seats for us to launch this. They were aggressively seeking this opportunity.”
Fans will need to enter a ticket lottery through the Cosmic Hockey website rather than buy tickets directly. A pregame block party is also planned, with player meet-and-greets, early merchandise access and interactive fan zones, according to Fox 13.
Borrowing Banana Ball's Playbook
Cosmic Hockey's sister league, Cosmic Baseball, offers a preview of just how far the rulebook can bend for entertainment's sake. The same Deseret News report describes a fungo toss standing in for a walk after four balls, stretches where the entire stadium becomes fair territory with fans helping return the ball to play, and coaches' challenges decided by crowd noise rather than replay review. Bunting is banned outright, and players are sometimes sent running the bases in reverse.
Cosmic Baseball has also drawn large crowds on tour. Sports Business Journal reports that it drew more than 750,000 fans across 74 sold-out games in 2026. Its 2027 schedule is set to cover 50 cities and 146 games, including five MLB ballparks and 45 minor-league parks. Founder Chris Martin told the outlet that three games at Indianapolis’s Victory Field drew 39,000 fans.
A Roster Built From Junior, College and Pro Ranks
The roster draws on junior, college and professional hockey, with three women among the players, according to Deseret News. Players reportedly need about five minutes to adjust when the black lights come on.
Phil Beaulieu, one of the players profiled by Deseret News, said he had never experienced anything like Cosmic Hockey.
A Miracle-On-Ice Launch Point
Cosmic Hockey's very first game arrives before the Utah stop, set for Dec. 18 at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, New York — the same rink where Team USA pulled off its legendary 1980 “Miracle On Ice” Olympic win. That debut has already generated buzz: the Olympic Authority reports the lower bowl at Herb Brooks Arena has sold out, with additional upper-bowl seating set to open for the game.
The Maverik Center hosted a Utah Grizzlies game against the Rapid City Rush in April. The Grizzlies have since relocated to Trenton, New Jersey, and the franchise will be known as the Trenton Ironhawks, according to Deseret News. Cosmic Hockey’s West Valley City stop will bring another hockey event to the arena.
Utah’s Hockey Venues
Utah’s professional hockey teams play in different cities and venues: NHL.com reports that the state’s NHL team plays at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, while Cosmic Hockey’s event is at the Maverik Center in West Valley City. The Utah Grizzlies’ venue information notes that the Maverik Center hosted ice hockey championships during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
