Major Changes Coming for the Utah Hockey Club's Home Arena: Millions at Stake
Photo credit: Sports Video Group
The biggest issue with the Utah Hockey Club's Delta Center this season were the horrible sightlines, and those will be fixed, with millions of dollars to be spent.
Utah Hockey Club has brought a breath of fresh air to the state, rising to become the Utah Jazz's equal as a major league attraction and introducing a completely new level of state sports excitement.
Now, that excitement is powering dramatic change at the legendary Delta Center. Smith Entertainment Group said Wednesday that the arena is being remodeled as a genuine dual-use arena for both hockey and basketball.
The changes are intended to improve hockey sight lines without sacrificing home-court advantage for Jazz fans. Unlike other dual-purpose arenas designed from the outset to host hockey, the Delta Center is adjusting in the moment.
"Adding an ice rink inside an existing basketball arena is an unthinkable feat given that an ice rink is nearly double the size of a basketball court. We are excited for the challenge as we kick off this never-before-done renovation project. This transformation will create the most compelling, welcoming, and exciting experience for hockey fans, while also allowing us to maintain the steep vertical seating for basketball that has made Delta Center such a dynamic venue with its loud atmosphere that energizes our players night after night," said Ryan and Ashley Smith, co-founders of Smith Entertainment Group and owners of Delta Center.
Retractable seats will be installed to help with sightlines
The renovation will include installing retractable seat risers to improve sightlines for hockey without sacrificing the Jazz seating arrangement. The adjustment eliminates obstructed views and enables all spectators to view both goals during a game.
Seating capacity will also be boosted, as the Utah Hockey Club games will now be able to seat up to 17,000 spectators, and Jazz games will increase from 18,206 to almost 19,000.
Other things being done include stretching the arena bowl 12 feet at both ends and moving the floor up two feet.
To maintain the quality of ice, there will be four new dehumidifiers. Future upgrades include a 450-stall parking garage, more premium spaces on Level 1, and a 12% expansion of restroom capacity.
Long-term visions include renovating the upper bowl to continue enhancing sight lines and constructing a new east entrance and plaza.
Fans of both clubs can look forward to a revamped, more diverse Delta Center experience when the puck drops next season.
| POLL | ||
MAI 2 | 146 ANSWERS Major Changes Coming for the Utah Hockey Club's Home Arena: Millions at Stake Will the Delta Center have their horribler sightlines fixed for next season? | ||
| Yes | 73 | 50 % |
| No | 73 | 50 % |
| List of polls | ||
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