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SALT LAKE CITY — Vivint Arena is now the sixth-oldest arena in the NBA. But instead of building a completely new structure, the Miller family believes that the best course of action is for the arena to undergo major renovations.
"We’ve had experts actually come in here and look at it and say, ‘This is a great building.’ The bones are very good," Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment president Steve Starks told KSL last year. "And so how do we take those healthy bones and just improve upon it?”
It appears plans are beginning to come together on those improvements. The Salt Lake Tribune reported Thursday that "major renovations" are coming for Vivint Arena with a price tag totalling over $100 million.
While LHM senior vice president of communications Frank Zang wouldn't confirm that cost for KSL Friday, saying "the scope of the project is still to be finalized," he did confirm that the company is working with ICON Venue Group and SCI Architects in "conducting a comprehensive review" of what needs to be done to the arena.
The arena has already undergone major improvements. The most visible one is the new high-definition LED screens, installed in 2013, which cost roughly $15 million. Zang also pointed out that they're installing a new basketball court this offseason, which is said to have a higher-quality wood and sharper color paint than the previous edition. Of course, the new court will also include the new brand design of the Jazz, revealed last week.
The Tribune's report indicated that the Jazz hope to "increase premium seating, upgrade and expand concession and merchandising, improve traffic flow for fans inside and reduce the building's environmental footprint."
"We believe it's important to return Vivint Smart Home Arena to its first-class status within the NBA," Zang said Friday. "The presence of a downtown arena has contributed to the economic vitality of the region. ... We certainly want that role to continue for years and years to come."
