Delta Center Information
The Delta Center (formerly Vivint Smart Home Arena) is an indoor arena of a a 19,911 seating capacity. Originally opening in 1991 under the name of the Delta Center (to replace the 12,616-seat capacity arena Salt Palace), the venue became the EnergySolutions Arena in 2006 when EnergySolutions bought the naming rights, until 2015, when it became the Vivint Smart Home Arena as part of a naming rights contract with Vivint. The venue has also been called the Salt Lake Ice Center when it hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002.
Today, the Vivint Smart Home Arena is the home venue for the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League, the Utah Starzz of the Women’s National Basketball Association, and, of course, the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association.
In addition to sporting events, the venue also hosts huge music concerts, with Oingo Boingo being the first band to headline the arena in 1991.
About Delta Center
The Delta Center is Salt Lake City’s premier multi-purpose indoor arena. The venue can house up to 20,000 fans, and its layout can be converted to cater to various events, such as concerts, basketball, football, boxing, ice hockey, and more. The venue’s vast array of amenities includes 56 luxury suites and 668 club seats. Moreover, guests will easily access their seats via the escalators, stairwells, and elevators. The venue is equipped with fully trained staff to ensure guests’ safety and convenience. Guest services locations ensure attendees can easily approach the staff for any assistance (e.g., lost items or children, need for first-aid, etc.). The Delta Center is currently the home of the NBA’s Utah Jazz.
History
The venue opened in 1991 and had many names, but its original name was the Delta Center. Designed by FFKR Architecture, the venue’s construction had a budget of US 93 million dollars. The arena was originally under the leadership of Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller. Through private financing, the venue broke ground on May 22, 1990, and finally completed its construction on October 4, 1991. A few weeks later, the venue housed its first headlining concert featuring Oingo Boingo. It also hosted its first NBA pre-season game that year with the Utah Jazz vs. the New York Knicks. In 1993, the Delta Center hosted the NBA All-Star Game. Within a few years, Larry Miller passed away, and the Jazz basketball court was named in his honor.
In 2016, the venue announced a $125 million worth of renovation. The refurbishment and massive update began after the culmination of the Utah Jazz basketball season 2016 – 2017. The construction was completed during the fall season of 2017.
In 2002, the venue hosted the Winter Olympics, but due to the Olympics’ restrictions on sponsors, the venue was temporarily renamed. That year, until 2006, the venue was named the Salt Lake Ice Center. From 2006 to 2015, it took the name EnergySolutions Arena, followed by Vivint Smart Home Arena from 2015 to 2020. For the last three years, the venue was renamed to Vivint Arena. In 2023, Delta Air Lines once again purchased the naming rights. Salt Lake City’s most famous indoor arena was renamed back to the Delta Center on January 14, 2023. Having its original name back holds great significance for longtime Utah Jazz fans and local entertainment enthusiasts. In a press conference, Ryan Smith mentioned, “Words probably can’t express to some people what this means. I was coming out of the gas station this morning and a grown man came up to me in tears because the memories came back.” Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian added that Delta purchasing the naming rights of the arena is a move to “make things right.” He said, “There was always something missing. And I personally have lived out here. I’ve had a home up in Park City for the last 12 years, so I understand how everyone calls it the Delta Center. And every time someone called it the Delta Center, it would bother me. I felt guilty.”
Today, the arena is now once again called the Delta Center. Vivint will still have a presence within the venue until year 2025.
What Makes Delta Center Special
The Delta Center is a state-of-the-art arena that prides itself on excellent customer service. The venue’s staff are all highly trained to manage large-scale events and address guests’ concerns. The Delta Center has a stark reputation for hosting smoothly-run sports events and concerts. Since the demolition of the Salt Palace Arena, the Delta Center has become the home for the Utah Jazz and the Salt Lake Golden Eagles. The venue also has a notable place in history for being home to the 2002 Winter Olympics and for hosting the legendary UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez Vs. Caceres. The venue was also the destination of choice by world-class performers, such as Metallica, U2, Rush, Grateful Dead, Fleetwood Mac, Iron Maiden, and many more.
Who owns Delta Center?
The Delta Center is currently owned by Ryan Smith and operated by Smith Entertainment Group. The arena, formerly owned by the late Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller, was purchased in 2020 from the Miller family.
Home of the NBA Utah Jazz
Since its opening in 1991, the Delta Center has been home to Utah’s NBA team, the Utah Jazz. The first game ever played in the arena was a pre-season game with the New York Knicks. The venue also has a Utah Jazz sports memorabilia store open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition to the Utah Jazz, Delta Center was the home base of the former WNBA team, the Utah Starzz. It was also the home of the Salt Lake Golden Eagles and the Utah Grizzlies.
Sensory Room
Vivint gives back and provides great accommodations for children at the Sensory Room. This area is designed as a safe space for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The room is equipped with sensory components that can help individuals relax, unwind, and feel at home. The Sensory Room includes an activity panel, sensory cubbies, technology lockers, a weight room, a marble wall, and a bubble tube. The room is located on level 5 between Portals LL and MM. The room is open during any event in the arena.