Salt Lake City pushes MLB stadium plan

Article posted by Coliseum, February 20^th, 2024

Image: The Power District & Larry H. Miller Company

Efforts to bring a Major League Baseball (MLB) team to Salt Lake City in Utah, US, are ramping up.

The Larry H. Miller Company is heading plans to land an expansion franchise for the city. Big League Utah, a group of prominent business leaders, politicians and former professional athletes, is backing the plan which would see an MLB ballpark built in the Power District.

LHM Company and the Miller family have unveiled renderings, videos and statewide support for a transformational investment and catalytic development in Utah’s capital city.

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Lawmakers in the state last week passed a resolution 68-2 recognizing Utah as an “amazing” state for sports and an “ideal” geographic destination for baseball expansion.

Image: The Power District & Larry H. Miller Company

Rep. Sandra Hollins, D-Salt Lake City, the resolution’s House sponsor, said, “The state of Utah is also poised to host a major league baseball team because Utah has a strong base of sports fans with the Utah Jazz and the Real Salt Lake, which could indicate people will be highly receptive to the arrival of a new professional sports team,”

“Utah is also the crossroads to the West, the best spot for an expansion team.”

The proposed 100-acre stadium site on North Temple is near the Fairpark neighborhood, which has struggled economically but has started to undergo something of a transformation. Lawmakers and community members say a ballpark could be a catalyst for further revitalization.

Salt Lake City is competing against several other cities, including Nashville, Portland and Montreal, for what would likely be two expansion teams. MLB has not given a timeline for considering adding clubs to the 30-team league.

The Miller Group said the Power District is the ideal location for a potential MLB ballpark.

Image: The Power District & Larry H. Miller Company

The Power District, a nearly 100-acre site adjacent to the Utah State Fairpark and the Jordan River, features unprecedented transportation access ideally located between the Salt Lake City International Airport and downtown. The project will serve as an economic and cultural catalyst for the state and the westside community.

Steve Starks, CEO of the LHM Company, said, “We are passionate about this once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in our capital city.

“This project will serve as a vibrant extension of and gateway to downtown Salt Lake, complements the mission of the State Fairpark, and brings the Jordan River to life. The Power District will be a gathering place for Utah’s families to live, work, play and enjoy the best views in Major League Baseball.

“The Power District is an investment in human capital and will bring infrastructure and economic and educational development opportunities to the area. Our family is committed to this project and is humbled by the rallying of community support around this initiative. We are invested in this area because we believe in creating enriching experiences.”

Image: The Power District & Larry H. Miller Company

Meanwhile, the Miller Company made a pitch for the Oakland A’s to make Utah their interim home when their lease expires at the Oakland Coliseum after the 2024 season. The team plans to move to Las Vegas but a yet-to-built stadium isn’t scheduled to open there until 2028.

Big League Utah recently paid for seven billboards in the Salt Lake area saying, “Utah Wants the A’s.”

Construction of a big league stadium, which would be part of a larger mixed-use sports and entertainment development, could cost upwards of $1 billion.

The planned, multi-function, mixed-use development will feature abundant green space and trails, a beautified Jordan River walk, innovative residential options, majestic views, a focus on local dining and retail, and a potential Major League ballpark. It will be walkable, bikeable, and transit connected.

Larry Mullenax, executive director of the Utah State Fairpark, said, “The partnership between the Power District and the Utah State Fairpark will create economic development and allow investment in Fairpark infrastructure. This development continues the State Fairpark’s position as a self-sustaining state asset.”

Development at the Power District is scheduled to begin in late 2024 with the construction of the new headquarters for Rocky Mountain Power.

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