Utah unveils Mammoth-themed Zamboni based off 2002 Olympic ice resurfacer
The Utah Mammoth are bolstering their intensity heading into the final stretch of the 2025-26 NHL season.
They call it the Zammoth — a Zamboni refitted to look like a mammoth, which will be able to carry up to eight joyriding fans at a time.
The Zammoth’s base comes from an ice resurfacer used at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, and while it no longer functions as a working Zamboni, it will take a lap with fans before every game and at the end of every period, before functioning ice resurfacers take over the job.
Talk about an entrance. The Zammoth is ready to take the ice tonight.
While using a former Olympic machine and turning it into an animal is a new take, the fan Zamboni concept has been used in other NHL markets before. The Florida Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets both allow several fans to ride on Zambonis, while other teams allow individuals to ride on regular, non-fitted vehicles.
“It’s an opportunity for our fans to engage with the crowd,” said Chris Barney, president of revenue and commercial strategy for Smith Entertainment Group, which owns the Mammoth. “It puts them down on the ice where their heroes are playing. A lot of people don’t get the opportunity to be down there on the ice. It’s one more example of us trying to do that.”
Initial plans for the Zammoth did not include tie-ins to the 2002 Olympics, but when the team began searching for a Zambioni, the 24-year-old base became a clear contender, already sitting inside the Delta Center.
While no debut date has been announced for the Zammoth, and no registration details for fans have been released, the team announced that it will be on display at the arena for the next several games, starting with Tuesday’s matchup against the Edmonton Oilers, so fans can see it in person.