Smith Entertainment Group unveiled detailed plans Thursday, October 22, 2026, for a new downtown Salt Lake City entertainment district and a major overhaul of the Salt Palace Convention Center. The project, which includes a new 6,000-seat concert venue and a pedestrian walkway connecting major landmarks, is supported by approximately $1.2 billion in taxpayer funds.
New District Features and Amenities
The project was first detailed in a release from Smith Entertainment Group on October 14, 2026, which outlined the scope of the entertainment district and the Salt Palace rebuild. The development aims to connect the Delta Center and the Salt Palace Convention Center through a new walkway and paseo designed to serve as a central gathering place for families and visitors.
Ryan Smith, the owner of the Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth, released a video detailing the upcoming project. The plans include a new eastern facade and entrance for the Delta Center, alongside a large hotel, multiple retail locations, office space, and residential elements. The proposed paseo is expected to feature a statue of a mammoth and a large Jazz logo.
Venue and Streetscape Changes
A key component of the new district is a 6,000-seat concert venue being developed in cooperation with SEG and Live Nation, a partnership announced last year. Smith noted that the new venue is expected to host between 80 and 120 concerts per year.
The redevelopment will also impact existing streetscapes. Smith stated that the 400 feet of loading docks currently located on Japantown Street, which is 100 South, will be removed. These areas are slated to be replaced with retail space, office space, streetscapes, and murals to enhance the experience on 100 South.
Economic and Urban Impact
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall stated in a video that the new district is intended to break down the barrier created by the Salt Palace, which previously separated the City Creek area from the rest of downtown. Mendenhall noted that the new pedestrian connection from City Creek to the Delta Center is intended to bring energy and vibrancy to the urban core.
According to Mendenhall, Delta Center events alone currently generate over $970 million annually. The addition of the new Live Nation concert venue and various retail locations is expected to bolster those economic figures in the coming years.
Olympic and Convention Goals
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson described the Salt Palace renovations as a "once-in-a-generation chance to reimagine" the convention center. The goal of the overhaul is to allow the building to host multiple major conventions simultaneously, positioning it as a premier destination for national and international conventions.
Wilson added that the renovated Salt Palace will serve as a central hub for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, acting as an operations, hospitality, and event center for the Games. Construction for the entire district is expected to be completed before the 2034 Olympics, though the sources did not specify an exact start date for construction.
Uncertainties in Development Plans
While the plans released on October 22, 2026, provide more specificity than previous conceptual renderings, several details remain unconfirmed. The specific number of residential units, the total office square footage, and the exact heights of the buildings were not specified in the recent details.
One rendering depicts a 13-floor residential building on the northeast corner of the block, and another shows a hotel at the northwest corner of the block just east of the Delta Center, though the height of the hotel remains unconfirmed. Additionally, the impact on existing streets remains unclear. Renderings show 200 West, which is currently buried under the Salt Palace, being brought back to at-grade, and a site plan for 300 West shows space for ramps that may be intended for added parking.
Zoning and Additional Renovations
All parcels included in the entertainment district are currently zoned as Downtown Secondary Central Business District (D-4), which includes a 600-foot cap on building height. Under this zoning, any buildings taller than 200 feet must undergo a design review with Salt Lake City.
Other planned improvements include renovations to Abravenel Hall to update its back-of-house facilities for musicians and patrons, as well as the addition of a new art museum within the district.
