Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
- A Utah lawmaker is proposing changes to allow multiple stadiums in Salt Lake City's Fairpark.
- The bill lowers minimum stadium capacity and modifies tax provisions for infrastructure maintenance.
- If passed, the bill could expand Fairpark's growing sports presence.
SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City's Fairpark neighborhood already has major league aspirations, but it could be home to more than just Major League Baseball should Utah land a team.
The lawmaker behind a bill that created the Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District is now seeking changes that could open the door for more than one sports stadium.
SB336, introduced by Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, this week, seeks to modify last year's legislation. Most of the changes, he said on Wednesday, aim to correct "technical fixes" from the initial bill. That includes a minimum 0.015% property tax for "operations and maintenance" of public infrastructure within the district.
However, Sandall, who also serves as chairman of the district board, is aware that stadium provisions are getting plenty of interest, too.
More than one stadium?
The bill would change the language from "a qualified stadium" to "one or more" qualified stadiums" along with changes to allow for "parking structures or facilities, lighting facilities, plazas, or open space associated with a qualified stadium" for a team that's part of a professional sports league.
There are a few other curious adjustments. It lowers the minimum stadium capacity from 30,000 to 18,000. It also clarifies language to remove a provision that limits the "combined average annual payroll for the major league sports teams in the league" to be a minimum of $100 million.
Other provisions wouldn't change, like the amount a qualified stadium developer could receive from the state. The state would provide half of the cost to develop and build a stadium, up to as much as $900 million in benefits, but the state would effectively own the stadium. The team owner would also have to agree to stay there for at least 30 years or repay the cost of any remaining outstanding balance or the difference paid by the state.
When asked by KSL, Sandall explained that last year's measure focused solely on baseball, which may have pigeonholed opportunities in the new district.
"By doing that, it basically preempted any other smaller stadium or stadiums to be in the complex," he said. "We just said, 'OK look, we're going to back up a second.' If there's something else that comes up in the future that would require or suggest a smaller stadium, we should probably allow that and contemplate that in there as well."
Who could it be now?
The senator didn't say what other leagues could move in, but the bill language could offer clues. The minimum seating is close to both America First Field and Delta Center, homes of the Utah Royals, Real Salt Lake, Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club. Of those, three have average annual payrolls under $100 million at the moment.
Utah lawmakers passed a bill last year to help facilitate growth around the Delta Center before Smith Entertainment Group, owner of the Jazz and Hockey Club, secured the NHL franchise. While Smith and Salt Lake City reached a deal on helping to pay for Delta Center remodeling and other parts of the downtown plan, their agreement is still dependent on a lease agreement with Salt Lake County for blocks east of the arena by mid-2025.
The county is still looking at ways to finance downtown changes. During her 2023 State of the City address, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall also hinted that an NHL team could have some presence in the new Power District, where an MLB stadium is now planned to go. Of course, that was before MLB plans or downtown revitalization plans were revealed.
It's also possible the measure could draw other leagues, too. The fast-growing WNBA has expanded to new cities and could someday return to Utah.
Sandall was also present at an X Games press conference earlier this month, where organizers announced plans to hold a three-day event at Fairpark in June. The event is expected to draw 100,000 attendees, and he said at the time that he'd like to make X Games a regular occurrence. X Games is also exploring a new league model that could bring teams to Utah.
Whatever the case may be, Sandall made it clear he'd like to see Fairpark's sports footprint grow.
"We want this area in here to be known for sport," he said at the time. "We're going to call it the Power District — and maybe we should call it the 'Power Sports District' — but we're going to have some fun here."
The next steps
SB336 still has some ways to go, though.
The Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee will discuss the bill on Thursday as it begins its legislative process.
Barring a veto, it will go into effect in May should it pass the Senate and House of Representatives by the end of March 7.
