Smith Entertainment Group, Salt Lake leaders unveil updated downtown vision

Key Points:

• Smith Entertainment Group plans a mixed-use development east of the Delta Center featuring housing, business spaces, a hotel nearly 250 feet tall, and a new Salt Palace Convention Center, with construction aimed for completion before the 2034 Winter Olympics.
• The project includes a 6,000-seat Live Nation concert venue expected to host 80-120 concerts annually, retail spaces with a focus on local and national brands, and a pedestrian-friendly connection from City Creek to the Delta Center.
• The Salt Palace will undergo partial demolition starting in March 2027, with plans for a taller building featuring two ballrooms, flexible meeting rooms, and new exhibit halls to attract national and international conventions.
• Abravanel Hall will be renovated but largely preserved following efforts to save the historic building, while the district aims to revitalize the surrounding area, including historic Japantown along 100 South.
• The entire district is projected to attract 5 million visitors annually, boosting Salt Lake City's economy, with additional infrastructure projects like a pedestrian plaza over 300 West being considered by the Utah Department of Transportation.