SALT LAKE CITY | Development Thread

[delts145]

Salt Lake City & MSA/CSA Rundown

Remodeled Delta Center and other downtown developments envisioned with NHL team

Ben Winslow Reporting for FOX13 - Full Article @ https://www.fox13now.com/sports/nhl-...-with-nhl-team

SALT LAKE CITY — With the arrival of the new professional hockey team in Utah, city leaders are working quickly to enact plans for the downtown entertainment district surrounding them...

...So far, team owners Ryan and Ashley Smith have signaled a desire to remodel the Delta Center to host both the Utah Jazz and the team formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes. Ryan Smith suggested as much in a recent interview with FOX 13 Sports following the announcement of the team's move to Utah.

"For the community and for Salt Lake, we have a chance to really re-imagine what downtown Salt Lake looks like and both Ash and I and our partners are on board making that kind of impact. Any time you've got over 80 to 100 nights of guaranteed major league sports downtown, there's a lot you can do with that," he told FOX 13's Jeff Rhineer.

But there will be development beyond that. The legislature's special entertainment district stretches blocks surrounding the Delta Center.

"There is all kinds of opportunity in that immediate area," said Dee Brewer, the executive director of the Downtown Alliance, an organization within the Salt Lake Chamber that serves to advance downtown Salt Lake City interests.

He said he envisions more restaurants, bars and hotels. Negotiations are currently under way between Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County (which owns
the Salt Palace and Abravanel Hall) and other downtown stakeholders...

.

[delts145]

More details of Utah NHL arena vision revealed

Ryan Smith says Delta Center will be remodeled to seat about 17,000 fans without compromising basketball experience

(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) @ https://www.fox13now.com/sports/nhl-...pro-sports-hub


By Alixel Cabrera - For The Utah Dispatch - Full Article @ https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2024/04...sion-revealed/
Hours after the National Hockey League announced that the Arizona Coyotes would move to downtown Salt Lake City under a new name and logo, the Delta Center sold over 22,000 season ticket deposits for the new hockey team.

A sign that — according to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman along with Ryan and Ashley Smith, who own the Smith Entertainment Group — demonstrates the state’s enthusiasm to bring professional hockey.

Going forward, the arena that until now had hosted the Utah Jazz is set to undergo a major makeover to also accommodate an ice rink. That, instead of building a new arena as SB272, or Capital City Revitalization Zone, originally proposed to the Utah Legislature during this year’s general session...

The hockey rink at the Delta Center is seen with the “NHL in Utah” logos appearing on the signage on April 19, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The NHL has allowed the sale of the Arizona Coyotes and the team will relocate to Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) @ https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2024/04...sion-revealed/

...The Delta Center, which Smith described as having “great bones,” will be remodeled to host both hockey and basketball. The Smiths’ current plans entail a reduction of seats, from 20,000 to about 17,000. It wouldn’t compromise the NBA experience, Smith said. About 12,000 of those will have perfect views.

The hope, he said, is to create a more vibrant downtown, with families visiting for afternoon games and hanging out until midnight. “Another 40 nights a year helps that.”

Smith also expects the redevelopment to benefit the surrounding area to the Delta Center and include more housing around the facility.

The company had plans to move the Utah Jazz to an arena in Draper, where there was “a blank piece of land,” that could have included 100 acres and 5,000 housing units. But elected officials stopped that effort in the middle of the process, Smith said, arguing that the Jazz should stay downtown...


..."Salt Lake City can’t wait to welcome the world back and we are going to sign that contract on July 24 for the 2034 Winter Olympics to come back here," Mayor Mendenhall said. “And I think all of these things combined are symbolic of the spirit of Salt Lakers.” ...

(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) @ https://www.fox13now.com/sports/nhl-...pro-sports-hub

.