The creation of a Sports, Entertainment, Culture and Convention District is a generational opportunity to revitalize and reimagine a vital area of downtown. The district will provide a destination for Utahns and visitors alike to gather, linger, and discover the treasures that exist in that section of our capital city. It will create an even more inspiring, compelling, connected, and successful downtown core where people come to live, work, meet, and play.
A: The County is selling this approximately 6.5-acre parcel to Smith Entertainment Group in order to allow for the development of the Sports, Entertainment, Culture and Convention District, as well as allow for a modernization of the Salt Palace Convention Center. This will unlock significant economic benefits, including new tax revenue, improved public infrastructure, and a major boost to downtown development. The County negotiated the sale at market value to SEG and the future development aligns with County goals.
Buyer and Seller shall consummate the sale and purchase of the Property (the “Closing”) on or before February 16, 2027.
The public will benefit through increased tax revenue once the project is developed on a site that is currently not taxed, and the revitalization of downtown will lead to more events, attract more visitors, and support more local jobs. The project also helps fund major upgrades to the Salt Palace Convention Center, which will, in turn, increase revenue. Adding a second ballroom enables two conventions to take place simultaneously, generating an estimated $105 million in additional annual economic impact.
While the architect is not yet retained, early planning has determined that the current site of UMOCA and the back of house of Abravanel Hall will need to be rebuilt, however, this will not impact the Hall itself.
Salt Lake County has been in conversations with leadership at the UMOCA, and a joint fundraising and planning period will occur immediately to determine the next phase and location of a new museum.
Abravanel Hall’s back of house will be reconfigured to allow for an east to west walkway throughout the entire sports, entertainment, culture and convention district, spanning City Creek to Delta Center. Salt Lake County is engaged with Utah Symphony leadership regarding fundraising for and plans around updates to the hall and lobby in future years.
No. The County will continue to own that property and maintain the garden.
Salt Lake County will go to request for proposal (RFP) to select architectural services the week of April 28, 2025. It is expected the selection period will conclude in September 2025. The selected architect will then address site location, feasibility study, due diligence, programming, demolition, design and construction administration for the partial demolition and rebuild of the Salt Palace Convention Center (SPCC), Abravanel Hall back of house demolition and rebuild and/or other areas impacted, and Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA) demolition and re-build.
The Salt Place convention center's planning for revitalization will begin immediately as Salt Lake County moves to engage an architectural team. Completion is anticipated for 2031, well in advance of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games, where the Salt Palace will serve as the media center and potential curling site.
This is not a full center closure and there will be a strategic phased approach that will ensure that convention business will continue during construction.