Smith Entertainment Group and Live Nation Entertainment have partnered to build a new indoor music venue in downtown Salt Lake City that is expected to host 200 events annually, including 100 concerts. The approximately 6,000 capacity venue is part of SEG’s plans for a sports and entertainment district between Delta Center and the Salt Palace Convention Center (SEG). SEG exec Mike Maughan said that the “demolition of portions of the Salt Palace Convention Center will begin in the first quarter of 2027.” The construction for the venue “will come after that, but SEG didn’t announce a timeline, other than noting the complex will be built in phases.” SEG bought a “chunk of the Salt Palace Convention Center at the end of April,” claiming “12 parcels of land -- including the Salt Palace’s largest exhibit hall, a smaller exhibit hall and a connected parking garage” -- for around $55.4M (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 8/19).
The downtown district will be “built with a combination of private and public funds,” with SEG to put $3B into “redeveloping a three-block area in the city center.” Salt Lake City “approved creation of the district, including raising sales tax in the city to help pay for downtown development.” The Delta Center will “continue to host concerts and other entertainment events for 12,000 to 19,000 attendees” (DESERET NEWS, 8/19).
