The ownership group behind the Utah Jazz and the Beehive State’s recently acquired National Hockey League franchise is envisioning a grand entrance for the Delta Center, a residential tower and a new hotel as part of a proposal to overhaul downtown Salt Lake City with a sports and entertainment district.
In a Tuesday presentation to the Salt Lake City Council, Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) executive Mike Maughan said a new arena entrance would open up to a new plaza, and if the proposal to build a sports district moves forward, renovations to the longtime home of the Jazz would begin next April.
“Right now, (we want to) make sure that there are downtown gathering spaces for the community to come together,” Maughan said, “and make sure that there are benefits for residents even if they never buy a ticket, whether that’s to a hockey game, a basketball game or they never buy a ticket to Abravanel Hall or never attend a convention.”
Maughaun’s presentation marked the public’s best look yet at what SEG wants to do with nearly a billion dollars of revenue from a proposed half-a-percentage-point sales tax increase in Utah’s capital.
For its part, SEG — led by pro sports magnate Ryan Smith — has committed to contributing at least $3 billion of its own money to the district, slated for the two blocks directly east of the Delta Center.
(Smith Entertainment Group) A site plan for a proposed downtown sports and entertainment district.
This story will be updated.
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