NHL expected to bring new customers to downtown Salt Lake City businesses
Apr 24, 2024, 5:00 AM
The Delta Center ice prior to Ryan Smith, co-founder and chairman of Smith Entertainment Group, Ashley Smith, co-founder of Smith Entertainment Group, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman gathering in Salt Lake City to announce that the NHL would be coming to Utah on Friday, April 18, 2024. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — With a new National Hockey League team coming to town, the downtown economy is expecting a boost in profits.
Salt Lake City Downtown Alliance Executive Director Dee Brewer said businesses in Salt Lake City are excited to have more entertainment opportunities bringing customers into the central business district.
“What the addition of hockey means is another 41 nights of entertainment,” Brewer said. “Probably upwards of another 500,000 or 600,000 customer days or visits downtown next year.”
Brewer went on to say the importance of the Delta Center to the downtown economy cannot be overstated.
‘We looked at the top visitation days downtown last year and 76% of those top 25 days had events at the Delta Center,” Brewer stated.
He said it is not just about professional sports, but concerts, shows, and other forms of entertainment as well. However, the NHL has fans that do not necessarily crossover with Jazz fans, so there is the potential for a lot of new customers.
Brewer also says they anticipate this will attract more hospitality businesses to area, including hotels, bars, and restaurants.
Read more:
- League approves new NHL team in Utah, owned by Ryan, Ashley Smith
- Delta Center to host NHL welcome party, traffic impacts expected
