Utah lawmaker asks for $1 billion for an NHL stadium in Salt Lake City
Feb 22, 2024, 2:00 PM | Updated: Feb 28, 2024, 3:32 pm
FILE - Zac Jones of the New York Rangers skates with a stick decorated for "Pride Night" in warm-ups prior to the game against the Washington Capitals, May 3, 2021, in New York City. NHL players will be allowed to use Pride tape this season after all. The league, union and a committee on inclusion agreed Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, to give players the option to represent social causes with stick tape during warmups, practices and games. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP, File)
(Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Listen live: Jeff Caplan has something to say about this Billion Dollar Hockey Arena
SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah lawmaker has proposed a bill to fund a National Hockey League stadium in Salt Lake City.
State Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, sponsors the legislation, SB 272. It would raise Salt Lake City’s sales tax rate from 7.75% to 8.25%, pending the bill’s legislative approval and the approval of the Salt Lake City Council.
Related: Utah lawmakers unanimously pass resolution backing NHL bid
McCay told KSL NewsRadio that the tax increase is expected to generate $1 billion over the next 30 years. That money would go towards the stadium, and potentially some projects around it.
The stadium could also end up being a new home for the Utah Jazz, an NHL team or potentially both of them.
McCay introduced his bill just one day after another Utah lawmaker put forth a bill to help raise at least $900 million for an MLB stadium on Salt Lake City’s westside.
Why build an NHL stadium in Utah?
“This is a generational investment,” McCay said.
McCay spoke with KSL NewsRadio’s Dave and Dujanovic show Thursday about his proposed legislation.
McCay said other metro downtown areas around the country had been seeing people leave for years, including Salt Lake City heading into the 2000s.
However, he noted that some investments helped buck the trend in Utah’s capital city. McCay pointed to the 2002 Winter Olympics and the construction of the City Creek Mall as examples.
“It is hard to not appreciate the fact that we might be shortcutting what some of the biggest downtowns are experiencing,” McCay said. “This place is amazing that we have this much opportunity and we’re trying to decide between the best options… I love those kind of problems.”
A Senate committee will hear the bill on Thursday. If it passes through the committee, the full Senate, House and governor would still need to approve it. That would need to happen by March 1.
Related: Former BYU hockey coach excited for NHL in Utah, but longs for his old team
