Utah Taxpayer’s Association weighs in on entertainment district plan

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The coming NHL franchise has many Utahns excited, and this has made officials feel more confident that a downtown revitalization in Salt Lake City will be worth the money.

RELATED: Salt Lake City plans Abravanel Hall’s future within downtown revitalization

Parker Winters, a local sports fan, is all for bringing an NHL team to Utah. He said it’s clear others are, too. He tried to go to the team meet-and-greet event on April 24, but it was so busy he watched from outside.

“Every seat was filled. And unfortunately or fortunately, thousands of people had to watch the event on the plaza,” said SEG spokesman Mike Maughan.

Maughan presented to the city council on Tuesday, advocating for the half-percent sales tax hike in Salt Lake City, something SEG and city partners are calling “a community investment.”

MORE: SEG details entertainment district proposal near Delta Center in Salt Lake application

“The tax is looking to create $1.2 billion over the 30-year period,” Maughan said.

2News asked Utah Tax Association President Rusty Cannon about his thoughts on the proposed tax increase, and if he thinks it would be a worthy investment.

Cannon said, “With any stadium deal, some are different. Some are pretty egregious and some are well thought out.”

RELATED: Entertainment district proposal may include occupied blocks east of Delta Center

Cannon, who is president of the watchdog group when it comes to public spending, added that the plans seem pretty well thought out.

“Thankfully, lawmakers in Utah and local officials have been pretty thoughtful on the hockey stadium so far,” he said.

Sales tax aside, Cannon said that SEG’s commitment to invest its own money into the project is significant, too, also noting the early and apparent public backing.

MORE: Salt Lake City eyes half-cent tax increase for new sports-entertainment zone

“We all saw the turnout on season ticket deposits. Who would have thought hockey was so positive?” he said.

As more details are learned about the overall plan, Cannon urges transparency for decision-makers and attentiveness for taxpayers.

SEG said they’re prepared to invest up to $3 billion into the project. There is also a $900 million cap to the taxpayer money SEG can access for developments.

Officials with Smith Entertainment Group confirmed that the final team name for Utah’s new NHL team will not be announced until “well into the first season.”

A survey is expected to be released by SEG sometime Wednesday or Thursday asking Utah to help name the new team.

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