Jon M. Huntsman Center
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2007) |
Former names | Special Events Center (1969–1987)[3] |
---|---|
Location | 1825 East South Campus Drive Salt Lake City, Utah |
Coordinates | 40°45′43″N 111°50′20″W / 40.762°N 111.839°W |
Owner | University of Utah |
Operator | University of Utah |
Capacity | 15,000 |
Record attendance | 16,019 (March 6, 2015; gymnastics vs. Michigan) |
Surface | Multi-surface |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1967 |
Opened | November 30, 1969 [1] |
Construction cost | $10,392,000 ($86.3 million in 2024 [2]) |
Architect | Bruce H. Jensen |
Tenants | |
Utah Utes (NCAA Division I) (men's & women's basketball, women's gymnastics and women's volleyball) |
The Jon M. Huntsman Center is a 15,000-seat indoor arena in the western United States, on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. It is the home of the Utah Utes of the Pac-12 Conference, the primary venue for basketball and gymnastics.
History
Opened 54 years ago in late 1969 as the Special Events Center,[1] it succeeded Nielsen Fieldhouse as the campus' primary indoor arena.[1] It was renamed in 1987 in honor of chemicals entrepreneur and philanthropist Jon M. Huntsman (1937–2018), father of Utah's former governor Jon Huntsman, Jr.
From its opening until the completion of the Vivint Smart Home Arena in 1991 (as "Delta Center"), the Huntsman Center was one of Salt Lake City's premier sports and entertainment venues (along with the Salt Palace (1969–1993), the home of the Utah Stars (ABA) and Utah Jazz (NBA)).
Architecturally, it was once known for its steel cloud, which hung from the arena's silver dome interior. The steel cloud held the arena's center court scoreboard, sound and lighting systems. The scoreboard was upgraded in the 1980s with the addition of state-of-the-art rear projection video screens. The rear projection system was upgraded in 1995, and replaced in 2006 by four LED video screens. In 2014, the arena was renovated again. The $6 million project removed the steel cloud, as well as added a new floor, LED lights, sound system, drapes, and two grand entrances to house a Hall of Fame and Legacy Hall.
The facility hosted the 1989 Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament.
The facility hosted two games of the Utah Jazz Summer League in 2016 due to a concert at Vivint Smart Home Arena. In 2017, the Utah Jazz Summer League moved to the Huntsman Center for all six games & four teams due to the Vivint Smart Home Arena undergoing renovations.
The 15,000-seat multi-purpose arena is home to the University of Utah's "Runnin' Utes" basketball teams (men's and women's), "Red Rocks" women's gymnastics team and women's volleyball team. It also hosts concerts, mostly second-tier acts; most premier concerts have been hosted at Vivint Smart Home Arena (Delta Center).
Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011 and the Huntsman Center became the largest arena in the conference.
The elevation at street level is approximately 4,780 feet (1,455 m) above sea level, second-highest in the Pac-12.
NCAA tournament
The Huntsman Center hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament twelve times (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006). It hosted the West Regional Final twice (1971, 1981) and one Final Four (1979). Due to the frequency of hosting first and second round games, the Huntsman Center is third all-time in NCAA Tournament games hosted, with 81.
Since 2010, NCAA tournament games in the city have been played at Vivint Smart Home Arena, home of the NBA's Utah Jazz. Other venues for past NCAA games in the state include the Marriott Center in Provo and the Dee Events Center in Ogden.
1979 Final Four
The arena hosted the 1979 Final Four, featuring the start of the rivalry between all-time greats Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.[4] Magic's Michigan State team defeated Bird's previously unbeaten Indiana State in the final,[5][6][7] which remains the most-watched college basketball game in history. Many observers consider the Magic-Bird rivalry established here and carried into the NBA when both entered the league that fall to be a major factor in the league's 1980s renaissance.
See also
- Jon Huntsman, Sr.
- Utah Utes
- 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
- List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
References
- ^ a b c Scott, Ron (December 2, 1969). "No dust, less noise for Utes". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. B1.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Attendance and Sites". 2014 Men's Final Four Records Book (pdf). Indianapolis, IN: NCAA Publications. 2014. p. 138. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
- ^ Keith, Ron (April 2, 1979). "They caged the Bird". Sports Illustrated. p. 16.
- ^ "'Magic act' gives MSU NCAA title". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). March 27, 1979. p. A1.
- ^ Ewer, Bill (March 27, 1979). "Magic keeps a promise and MSU reaches NCAA title goal". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. 4B.
- ^ "Michigan State grounds Bird - wins title". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 27, 1979. p. 17.
External links
- Basketball venues in Salt Lake City
- College basketball venues in the United States
- College gymnastics venues in the United States
- Gymnastics venues in the United States
- Indoor arenas in Salt Lake City
- Sports venues in Salt Lake City
- Utah Utes basketball venues
- Event venues established in 1969
- Sports venues completed in 1969
- 1969 establishments in Utah