The University of Utah Board of Trustees approved a motion to consider a proposal for the construction a new, multi-purpose arena in Salt Lake City on Tuesday morning.
It follows a broader initiative, titled the Campus Physical Development Framework, to expand the university from a commuter institution into a “destination campus” with increased on-campus student hubs, expanded housing and other proposals.
The move would separate the U. into five different districts; an athletics district; a health district; a cultural district; a academic and research district; and, finally, a “College Town Magic” district, which is where the Huntsman Center is currently located.
Utah is looking to move its current arena to provide for more modern residential areas for its growing student base.
“We envision that the district through this area calls for a relocation of this new arena,” Utah president Taylor Randall said in the meeting, “I want to make it clear that we have not decided where the new arena should go, and that we need to study the economics, the location, the parking, the access [for this proposal]. Events will continue at our current Huntsman Center until a new arena is constructed. But one of the large, I think trigger items for making college town magic occur, is actually studying the relocation of the Jon M. Huntsman center.”
In the coming months surveys and studies will be conducted by the university and athletic department to understand the feasibility, cost and location of the proposed new arena.
“In terms of the Huntsman Center, obviously, there’s a lot of things that we’ve been talking about as a team through the last few years,” Utah AD Mark Harlan said of the potential for a new arena. “It’s a historical building that all of us have benefited from so much. But the timing in this, parallel to the path of President Randall’s vision, also aligns with the timing of a building that is, frankly, not as accessible as it needs to be in this day and time.
“We have one service elevator. I can go on and on about some ADA standards that are expected now. So, we’re very excited to look at this possibility, to study this possibility. We have groups that that are on board already looking at possible locations, as the President mentioned, and we’ll report back as we get those findings, but this is a fantastic opportunity for this athletic department to modernize and to move forward in conjunction with this overall plan,” Harlan said. “So we’re excited to be a part of this. We’re excited to work with our fans, who will be surveying for locations and surveying for needs, and really moving our arena sports into this new modern era.”
Locations and a proposed financial investment into the new arena will be presented for approval from Utah’s Board of Trustees in September.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
