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Salt Lake City Council Approves Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention District

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Whitney González Fernández
801-707-6759
CouncilMedia@slc.gov

Salt Lake City Council Approves Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention District

The Council’s vote approves Smith Entertainment Group’s proposal and allocates a 0.5% sales tax increase to fund the district’s revitalization and Delta Center renovation.

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 1, 2024 – This evening, the Salt Lake City Council voted to approve the proposed Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention District around the Delta Center and a 0.5% citywide sales tax increase to fund the project, including retrofitting the Delta Center to meet National Hockey League standards. The decision starts a major change in downtown Salt Lake City, including public benefits such as the revitalization of historic Japantown, public art, workforce development and more.

“This project is about much more than a sports arena,” said Council Chair Victoria Petro. “It’s an economic engine that will catalyze much-anticipated progress downtown. By supporting this district, we are acting in good faith to ensure Downtown Salt Lake City remains the economic and cultural core of our region and state.”

In accordance with the state’s Capital City Revitalization Zone Act, the Council’s vote designates Smith Entertainment Group (Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club owners) as the project participant and solidifies the agreement’s terms, including the district’s boundaries, sales tax revenue uses and several public benefits in exchange for sales tax revenue.

The sales tax is predicted to generate around $1.2 billion over 30 years. Of this, a maximum of $900 million will be dedicated to Delta Center renovations and the revitalization of the surrounding entertainment district. Per state law, the funds must be used within the project area for stadium renovations and activities that benefit the project area, such as infrastructure improvements.

Smith Entertainment Group’s public benefits commitments include:

  • Workforce development and community support.
  • A public benefits account—funded by Delta Center ticket fees—that will allow the city to invest in key priorities such as:
    • Affordable and family-sized housing.
    • Japantown revitalization.
    • Financing for public art.
  • Free and inclusive public gathering spaces and improved pedestrian connectivity.
  • Designated space in the district for law enforcement and security personnel.

“These were important, hard-fought gains that, as a city, we would not have been able to achieve on our own,” said Council Vice Chair Chris Wharton. “While the sports arena has been a focal point, we must remember the long-term benefits that come along with the project—helping families afford housing, supporting local artists and business owners, and strengthening our workforce and local economy.”

The Delta Center has demonstrated its significant impact as an economic generator for the downtown area. According to the Downtown Alliance, over three-quarters of the top 25 activation days in 2022 were associated with Delta Center events. Utah Sports Commission data show that Utah Jazz home games generate around $1 million in local revenue, highlighting the center’s vital economic impact.

The city will begin development agreement discussions with Smith Entertainment Group in the coming months. The agreement will help finalize how development in the district will proceed and set the terms and conditions that govern it. With the Council’s approval, the State Tax Commission is expected to implement the revenue collection in early 2025.

For more information, visit tinyURL.com/SLCRevitalizationZone.

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About The Salt Lake City Council:  

The Salt Lake City Council is the seven-member legislative branch of Utah’s capital city. The Council sets Salt Lake City’s overall policy direction and allocates resources via the adoption of annual budgets and ordinances. The Council also serves as the Board of Directors for Salt Lake City’s Redevelopment Agency, the Local Building Authority, and the Board of Canvassers. For more information, visit slccouncil.com.

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