Major revamp on cards for Delta Center

Article posted by Coliseum, May 7^th, 2025

Image: NHL and Smith Entertainment Group

Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) has launched a scheme to transform Delta Center into a state-of-the-art, dual-sport venue and anchor Utah’s NBA and NHL franchises in downtown Salt Lake City.

NHL.com said the transformation includes the implementation of a revolutionary seating system that maintains close-to-the-action seating for Utah Jazz fans and affords full views from every lower bowl seat for NHL games.

This would preserve Delta Center’s famous game-night atmosphere while bolstering its reputation as the premier destination for concerts and entertainment in the region.

The 20,000-capacity Delta Center is an indoor venue in Salt Lake City, Utah, US. Opened in 1991, the arena is the home of the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Utah Hockey Club of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Delta Center underwent a significant top-to-bottom renovation in 2017 and was modified again in 2024 to accommodate Utah’s new NHL team.

Once the latest works are completed, the building itself will debut a new main entrance and outdoor plaza that provides a vibrant experience for ticket holders and downtown visitors alike.

Ryan and Ashley Smith, co-founders of SEG and owners of Delta Center, said, “Adding an ice rink inside an existing basketball arena is an unthinkable feat given that an ice rink is nearly double the size of a basketball court.

“We are excited for the challenge as we kick off this never-before-done renovation project. This transformation will create the most compelling, welcoming, and exciting experience for hockey fans, while also allowing us to maintain the steep vertical seating for basketball that has made Delta Center such a dynamic venue with its loud atmosphere that energizes our players night after night.”

Innovative riser system

While most arenas that host basketball and hockey are designed to be hockey-first – which puts greater distance between basketball fans and the court – SEG is doing something that has never been done before in a dual-use basketball and hockey arena by creating the first-and-only retractable seating system that accommodates a nearly 12-foot variance in elevation between rink and court endlines to offer optimal sightlines for both the NBA and NHL.

The innovative new system will keep the incredible viewing experience for Jazz fans that they have come to love while optimizing sightlines for NHL fans, with every seat in the lower bowl set to have a complete view of the ice at the start of the 2025-26 season.

The new hockey configuration also adds capacity behind the goals and above and around the event tunnels on the north and south side of the lower bowl and improves access to seating behind the boards.

For basketball, the riser system will consist of 29 rows of retractable seats that extend over 28 feet from the Level 3 concourse down to the court behind each baseline – all designed to ensure the arena maintains its steep slope that will continue to put Jazz fans in incredibly close proximity to the court.

When all renovations are complete, seating capacity for hockey will increase from 11,131 to approximately 17,000 – with every seat in the upper and lower bowls having full views of both goals – and capacity for basketball will increase from 18,206 to nearly 19,000 seats.

SEG contracted with Michigan-based StageRight for this unique and innovative retractable seating system.

Several other modifications taking place in 2025 are aimed at updating building infrastructure and creating new opportunities for entertainment.

In addition to new premium spaces on Level 1, the restroom capacity at Delta Center will increase by 12%, and four new dehumidifiers will be installed to maintain excellent ice conditions in the arena at all times.

This summer, SEG will also begin to construct a 450-stall parking structure, designed by Walter P. Moore, that will be completed in a future phase of construction.

Major interior and exterior construction will continue during future NBA and NHL off-seasons. Plans include adding an east-facing main entrance and plaza that will serve as a gateway to the heart of downtown; redesigning the existing plaza and concourses; and remodeling upper bowl seating to improve sightlines.

SEG brought on three world-renowned groups to help drive the Delta Center transformation project: Utah-based Okland Construction is the general contractor; SCI Architects is the lead design firm; and CAA Icon serves as a strategic advisor.

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