Picture Salt Lake City’s downtown in 2034: a vibrant, walkable core where families linger after Jazz games, tourists stroll from City Creek Center to a revamped Delta Center, and new high-rises gleam against the Wasatch Mountains. This isn’t a distant dream—it’s the vision behind the Smith Entertainment Group’s multi-billion-dollar plan to reimagine the Delta Center and a 100-acre sports, entertainment, culture, and convention district. As a Salt Lake real estate agent, I’m thrilled to see our city take this bold step, not just for sports fans but for anyone eyeing a home or investment in SLC’s buzzing urban heart. Let’s walk through what’s changing, what it means for our community, and how it stacks up to another city’s big swing.
What’s Changing: A $900M Overhaul
The Delta Center, home to the Utah Jazz since 1991 and the Utah Hockey Club since 2024, is getting a $525 million facelift starting April 2025, with completion eyed for October 2027. This isn’t just a touch-up. The arena will be reconfigured to seat 16,000 for hockey without losing its intimate basketball vibe, adding new seating bowls, a 500-stall parking garage, and upgraded concourses. A new east-facing entrance will open to vibrant plazas, replacing the northeast and southeast corners with modern buildings. The street out front, 300 West, will dip underground between 100 South and South Temple, making the area more pedestrian-friendly.
Beyond the arena, SEG is investing $375 million to transform three blocks—about 100 acres—into a district linking the Delta Center to City Creek Center. Expect retail, restaurants, hotels, and multifamily housing, with walkable pathways and public art celebrating SLC’s history, like Japantown’s heritage. The project, backed by a 30-year agreement, aims to make downtown a 24/7 hub, not just a game-day spot. Construction will roll out in phases, with the first phase wrapping by 2028 and the full district, including convention upgrades, by 2033—just in time for the 2034 Winter Olympics, where the Delta Center will host hockey and possibly a medals plaza.
Buildings Affected: Preservation and Progress
The Salt Palace Convention Center, spanning two blocks east of the Delta Center, will see the biggest changes. Its massive footprint will shrink to make way for new hotels and residential towers, with a remodel focusing on modern meeting rooms and ballrooms to suit today’s conventions. Abravanel Hall, home to the Utah Symphony, and the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA) are staying put, though their fate—renovation or rebuild—is still undecided. Salt Lake County, which owns both, is working with SEG to ensure they remain cultural anchors. The Salt Lake Buddhist Temple and Japanese Church of Christ in Japantown, on 100 South, are untouched, with SEG pledging funds for historical markers and streetscape improvements to honor this displaced community’s legacy.
The Ritchie Group’s West Quarter, a luxury development on the expanded district’s edge, is also integrated, adding parking and infrastructure. While no buildings face demolition for parking lots, zoning changes now allow buildings up to 600 feet—taller than SLC’s current 451-foot Astra Tower—sparking debate about skyline impacts. SEG must secure a land lease with Salt Lake County by July 1, 2025, for the convention blocks, or the project could stall.
Economic Impacts: A Game-Changer?
SEG’s total investment is pegged at $3 billion, with the Delta Center alone generating $326 million annually and the Utah Hockey Club adding $288 million in economic impact. The district could create thousands of jobs, from construction to retail, and boost tourism, especially with the 2034 Olympics on the horizon. Downtown businesses, struggling post-COVID, could see a “shot in the arm,” with 76% of SLC’s busiest days tied to Delta Center events and 72% to conventions. Property values are projected to rise 10–15% by 2030, making downtown condos (already selling 15% faster, per March 2025 MLS data) and rentals (5–6% yields) even hotter for investors.
But not everyone’s sold. Some economists argue sports venues don’t always deliver promised commerce, citing studies showing limited downtown prosperity. Critics worry the project could prioritize tourists over locals, and construction may disrupt conventions, potentially costing the Salt Palace business. Still, city leaders like Mayor Erin Mendenhall see it as a bulwark against urban decay, keeping SLC’s core vibrant and competitive.
Costs to Citizens: The Tax Debate
The project isn’t all private cash. A 0.5% citywide sales tax increase, approved in September 2024, will raise $1.2 billion over 30 years, with up to $900 million going to SEG for the Delta Center and district. This bumps SLC’s sales tax from 7.75% to 8.25%, adding about $120–$150 annually to the average household’s bill, though heavy spenders could pay more. Groceries and big-ticket items like cars are exempt, and 75–80% of the tax is expected to come from businesses and out-of-state visitors. SEG will also charge a $1–$3 ticket fee per Delta Center event, funding a public benefits account for affordable housing, Japantown revitalization, and public art.
Critics, including some residents and groups like Americans for Prosperity-Utah, call it a subsidy for a billionaire’s project, questioning why public funds are needed. Others see it as an investment, not a handout, with safeguards like penalties if SEG relocates the Jazz or Hockey Club within 30 years. The city insists the benefits—jobs, housing, and a thriving downtown—justify the cost.
Comparison: Denver’s Ball Arena District
To put SLC’s plan in perspective, look at Denver’s Ball Arena district, a similar sports-anchored revitalization. Opened in 1999 as the Pepsi Center, Ball Arena hosts the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, much like the Delta Center’s dual role. In the 2000s, Denver’s Lower Downtown (LoDo) transformed around the arena with $7 billion in private investment, adding 5,000 residential units, 2 million square feet of office space, and hundreds of bars, restaurants, and shops. The district boosted Denver’s tax base by 20% and created 30,000 jobs, with Coors Field and Union Station nearby amplifying the effect.
Like SLC, Denver faced public funding debates, with $180 million in bonds for the arena repaid via taxes. But unlike SLC’s focus on walkability and cultural preservation (e.g., Japantown, Abravanel Hall), Denver’s project leaned heavily on private development, with less emphasis on public art or community benefits. SLC’s plan, with its $3 billion private investment and $900 million public funds, is smaller but more integrated, aiming to connect existing landmarks like Temple Square and City Creek. Denver’s success shows what’s possible, but SLC’s unique blend of sports, culture, and convention elements could set a new standard—if it balances local needs with tourist appeal.
Why It Matters for SLC
As a realtor, I see this project as a game-changer for Salt Lake City’s real estate market. Downtown’s already a hotspot, with condos moving fast and rentals yielding strong returns. A revitalized district could push prices up 10–15%, making now a smart time to buy or invest. But it’s not just about dollars—it’s about a downtown where families feel safe, businesses thrive, and SLC shines on the global stage, from Jazz games to Olympic medals. There are risks, sure: construction disruptions, tax burdens, or unmet promises. But with SEG’s commitment and community input, this could be the bold move our city needs.
Want to live or invest in SLC’s future core? Reach out to explore homes near the Delta Center or get the scoop on downtown’s growth. Let’s make your place in this story!
