SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — The Salt Lake County Council has voted unanimously to approve the sale of 6.5 acres of land from the Salt Palace Convention Center to Ryan Smith and the Smith Entertainment Group (SEG), setting the stage for the development of a new sports and entertainment district. The decision, which was finalized on Tuesday, aims to revitalize the downtown area by demolishing part of the convention center and expanding SEG’s footprint to the east of the Delta Center.
The sale is a crucial part of a broader project that will modernize the Salt Palace Convention Center, reducing its size by nearly one-third. The renovation will involve redesigning half of the convention center, with the other half remaining operational during the construction process. The county anticipates that the entire project will be completed by 2031.
The approval of the sale also includes the creation of a property tax zone for the area, which will help fund the nearly $1.8 billion renovation project. The project is being funded through a combination of tax revenue from both the city and county. Additionally, Salt Lake City recently approved a 0.5 percent citywide sales tax, which is expected to help repay $900 million in bonds sought by SEG to cover construction costs for the project.
“This is a significant step forward in modernizing our convention center and revitalizing our downtown area,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. “We are not just creating more event space but also enhancing the overall infrastructure of our city for the long term.”
The main goal of the renovation is to address the lack of a large ballroom, a critical need for the convention center, which currently has an overabundance of exhibit hall space. The sale of the 6.5 acres will allow SEG to proceed with its plans for a state-of-the-art sports, entertainment, culture, and convention district, which will include a new ballroom that city officials believe is long overdue.
While the development project has generated excitement, it has also raised concerns among local residents. A number of residents voiced their worries during a public meeting about the potential impact on Japantown, a historically significant neighborhood in the area. The county has allocated $5 million for the preservation and protection of Japantown as part of the redevelopment plan.
Lori Wike, a concerned resident who spoke at the meeting, emphasized the importance of transparency in how public tax dollars are being spent. “There is a lot of public money going into this project, and the public needs to understand how it’s being used,” she said.
Business owners in the downtown area, such as Matteo Sogne, owner of Matteo Ristorante Italiano, are cautiously optimistic about the potential for long-term benefits. “While there may be some short-term disruption, I believe this project will ultimately help bring more foot traffic to downtown and make the area more vibrant for years to come,” Sogne said.
The sale and redevelopment project are expected to generate approximately $11 million in new tax revenue annually, which will further support the city’s development efforts. The county also plans to complete the renovations in time for the 2034 Winter Olympics, which Salt Lake City will host.
The sale is slated to close on or before February 16, 2027, marking a significant milestone in the city’s ambitious plans to reshape its downtown area for the future.