The years go by and sports venues continue to evolve at a dramatic pace. Watching top-notch events, basketball games, concerts, and entertaining fans has become a whole new — and very lucrative — experience, which has led to the modernization of most arenas and sports venues all over the world.
Vivint Smart Home Arena, while not the most modern of all buildings, is a prime example of that renowned experience.
We can all agree that, from January to December, Jazz fans have always stood up as some of the most loyal among NBA fans. From the Southeast Corner to every single spot of this beautiful venue, there’s not a spot where you can’t see a Jazz fan rooting for his team regardless of the scoreboard, the rival, or if it’s just another mid-November game at the beginning of the season.
Home to the Utah Jazz of the NBA and the place where thousands of fans have witnessed life-changing moments, we’re going to let you know everything there is to know about this majestic building located in Salt Lake City.
Who owns the Vivint Arena?
As of now, Vivint Arena is owned by businessman Ryan Smith, CEO, and co-founder of Utah-based experience management company Qualtrics. He became the majority owner of the Utah Jazz in 2020. He had to sign a huge check though, as it took $1.66 billion to close the deal with the Miller family.
The NBA unanimously approved the change of ownership but the Millers imposed the condition of keeping a minority stake on the team. Smith had tried to buy the team multiple times in the past and is now also the owner of Vivint Arena and the Jazz’ G-League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars. He also owns Salt Lake Bees, a triple-A Minor League baseball affiliate.
What was the Vivint Arena called like before?
The Jazz stadium was originally called Delta Center. Delta Air Lines, which was a hub at the Salt Lake City airport, had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy one year before their 15-year agreement for naming rights expired.
That led the building from going from Delta Center to EnergySolutions Arena, a name that stood until October 26, 2015. Then, Vivint reached a 10-year agreement to call it Vivint Smart Home Arena, dropping the ‘Smart Home’ in 2020 to call it just Vivint Arena.
There was also a brief period of time in which the venue was named Salt Lake Ice Center. The International Olympic Committee didn’t allow corporate sponsors or companies to name venues, so they had to change it to host games for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
How much did it cost to build Vivint Smart Home Arena?
The pride of downtown Salt Lake City was a bargain if you look at it by today’s standards. It was originally conceived to be a 20,000-seat venue to host Utah Jazz games and also serve as the home of defunct minor league hockey team Salt Lake Golden Eagles.
It broke ground on May 22, 1990, and opened its doors shortly after on October 9, 1991. The investment to get this arena done was just $93 million, which would translate to roughly $177 million in today’s economy. If you compare it to other venues like SoFi Stadium and the $6 billion it cost, you’d have to admit it was the ultimate bargain.
Even so, Utah Jazz announced in September 2016 that they would upgrade the arena. The team spent $125 million and the construction works went from June to the fall of the next year.
It’s also worth noting that this arena endured one of the toughest moments in state history: The Salt Lake City Tornado of August 1999. The roof was severely damaged and it cost nearly $4 million to repair it. Nothing a big check can’t fix.
How many seats are in the Vivint Smart Home arena?
Salt Lake City fans and NBA basketball needed the Utah Jazz to get a decent venue to replace the Salt Palace, and Vivint Arena became the perfect place for that. As of now, it can house up to 18,306 fans for basketball games, including 56 luxury suites and 668 club seats for franchise personnel or staff.
Even though this venue it’s mostly famous for basketball and those who attend any Jazz game or an NBA-related event like the All-Star Game, the Jazz have had to share their home. Throughout history, Vivint Arena has also housed games of the Utah Starzz of the WNBA, the Utah Blaze of the American Football League, the Utah Grizzlies of the IHL, and the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the IHL.
What Is The Basketball Court Named at Vivint Arena?
The Jazz’s basketball court’s name comes from a tragic event and a person who did a lot of things for the team. Following the passing of former Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller, the NBA basketball court was named Larry H. Miller court in his honor. That name still lives up even after Ryan Smith bought the team in 2020. Fans can check out the inscription on the hardwood during every Jazz home game.
Get to the arena
If you’re near the downtown Salt Lake City area or simply want to visit Vivint Arena to buy some tickets, attend a concert, or just can’t figure out how to find it on your map; then don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
This venue is easily accessible even if you don’t own a car. You can take bus lines 2, 200, 205, 454, and 470; take the 750 train, or light rail 701 or 704. For more information, you can also check local guides’ websites and official links to get the full schedules for public transportation.
If you’re on foot and want to attend a Jazz game or any event in this arena, Vivint Arena is just a 4 min walk away from South Temple, 2 mins away from Arena Station, and 7 mins away from North Temple.
More specifically, this beautiful sports venue is located at 301 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City, coordinates 40°46′6″N 111°54′4″W for those who want to get there by using their GPS.
Watching a game at Vivint Arena
If you want to purchase a ticket to watch the Jazz in their arena, you’ll have to abide by the league’s health and safety protocols, as well as all city guidelines imposed at the time of the event. As of September 2021; the NBA announced that the Utah Jazz required fans who intended to join them to present proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the event.
The league put all teams on notice prior to the start of the season, imposing protocols to prevent another stoppage in play. As some of you may remember, Jazz big man Rudy Gobert was the first player in the league to test positive for COVID-19. You can check more information on the team’s official page and download the season schedule.
Also, there are several helpful links on Vivint Arenas’ official website, with information regarding the upcoming events, what can fans bring to the venue, where to purchase tickets, and plenty of useful tips.
What restaurants are in the Vivint Smart Home arena?
This venue is also home to some of the best restaurants in Salt Lake City. So, if you’re attending any event in this iconic building, food or fun won’t be an issue. Also, take note that Vivint Arena features a 100% cashless approach, so you need to bring your card with you if you want to grab a bite:
- Fleming Prime’s Steakhouse
- Benihana
- Cucina Tuscana
- Bambara
- Settebello
- Caffé Molise
- Chile-Tepin
- Red Iguana
Or if you want to get something to eat or drink near the venue before or after the game, you can always check out other popular Salt Lake City spots like:
- Squatters Pub
- Poplar Street Hub
- Bout Time Pub & Grill
- Seabird
- Craft Shops
Can you bring a purse to Vivint Arena?
As we previously mentioned, Vivint Arena is 100% cashless. Fans in attendance can order food and drinks via an app, and bags or purses aren’t allowed as of now. Medical bags and diaper bags are allowed as long as they’re not larger than 14”x14”x6”.
Where to park at Vivint Arena?
When it comes to attending concerts or sports events, parking is always a bit of a headache. Gladly, that’s not the case for this venue. Vivint Arena and the parking are open from January to December. Notably, the parking lot is pretty close to the venue, as it’s located just a couple of blocks away.
The official parking lots include Salt Palace Parking, The Triad Center, Park Palace, Hyatt House, and City Creek Mall. The rates will vary depending on whether you’re attending the nature of the event, whether it’s a concert or a game, with prices usually starting at around $15.
In addition to that, Utah Jazz offers handicap spaces for its fans. Those in need to park their car close to the arena can just head to 301 West S. Temple. The fan will need to bring a valid handicap parking pass and placard and will be set up immediately, depending on availability on the site.
Also, remember to carefully check the date and time of the event you’ll attend, as the gates will open two hours prior to the beginning of games.
Are Utah Jazz games usually at full capacity?
Well, considering we’re talking about a team that saw John Stockton and Karl Malone, it’s pretty safe to say that fans at Salt Lake City are used to watching good basketball. That being said, you have to be aware that buying tickets for Jazz games can become tricky, especially when the playoffs come.
A Jazz game is the most important event in the city every single night they play, as you can tell by their attendance average of 18,306 fans per game to start the 2021-22 NBA season. That’s 100% of Vivint Arena’s capacity.
Jazz fans are some of the loudest in the West, especially during close games. This construction was known as ‘Decibel Center’ by broadcasters and fans alike for how loud it could get, regardless of if it was mid-October and the season was getting started or if it was November, January, or February.
As a matter of fact, they even put up a decibel meter during Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls, with the meter getting reads over 110 decibels. That’s louder than a jet takeoff. Some joke saying that it can be heard all the way to Canada. If you haven’t seen that video, we urge you to check it out.
On a related note, this team has seen multiple upgrades on its personnel over the past couple of years. Donovan Mitchell’s performance is a reason to look forward to the future and Dwyane Wade’s presence on the site can also help them lure more solid free agents in the future and more memorable nights to this iconic venue.
The Jazz had to learn from their past mistakes and apply multiple changes to the way they constructed their roster but it’s safe to say that it has all worked out pretty well. So, if you’re looking to grab a drink or get some food while an visit the most iconic site in downtown Salt Lake City, this venue is the place to go.
