Salt Lake City's Downtown Transformation: What's Coming to the New Sports & Entertainment District?

By Dan Candidi · October 15, 2026

Ryan Smith, Founder, Smith Entertainment Group

Updated October 14, 2026

Downtown Salt Lake City could look completely different in the next several years.

On October 14, Smith Entertainment Group unveiled new renderings showing its vision for a major sports, entertainment, culture, and convention district around the Delta Center.

We're talking new restaurants, shopping, hotels, housing, a major concert venue, and pedestrian-friendly public spaces connecting some of downtown's biggest attractions.

The goal is to complete the transformation ahead of the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Here's what's planned, when construction could start, and what it could mean for people living in Salt Lake City.

What Is Salt Lake City's New Entertainment District?

The official name is the Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention District, often shortened to the SECC District.

It's a major redevelopment planned around the Delta Center—home of the Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth—and the nearby Salt Palace Convention Center.

The idea is simple: create a downtown destination where people come for more than a basketball game, hockey game, or convention.

Imagine meeting friends for dinner, walking through an outdoor plaza, attending a concert, and spending an evening exploring downtown—all within a few blocks.

The October 14 renderings offer a clearer picture of how this could work. These are proposed designs, not finished buildings, and details may change.

7 Major Changes Coming to Downtown Salt Lake City

1. A New Entrance for the Delta Center

The Delta Center is already undergoing major renovations to improve the experience for basketball and hockey fans.

Another change is proposed outside: a redesigned, east-facing entrance that would connect the arena directly with the surrounding entertainment district.

Instead of feeling separate from downtown, the arena could become part of a larger, pedestrian-friendly destination.

2. A New Outdoor Entertainment District

One of the most exciting features is a planned pedestrian walkway, sometimes called a paseo.

The walkway would help connect the Delta Center, the rebuilt Salt Palace, and City Creek.

Plans show gathering spaces with restaurants, shops, public art, and places where people could spend time before and after events.

The goal is to make downtown feel more connected and inviting, even when there's no major game or concert happening.

3. A 6,000-Seat Concert Venue

Smith Entertainment Group is partnering with Live Nation on a new indoor concert venue.

The planned capacity is approximately 6,000 people, filling a gap between smaller local venues and a full-sized arena.

Developers estimate the venue could host 80 to 120 concerts each year. Those numbers are projections, not confirmed bookings.

For Utah music fans, this could mean more touring artists and more entertainment options in the Salt Lake Valley.

4. A Rebuilt Salt Palace Convention Center

The Salt Palace Convention Center is also slated for a major makeover.

Plans include updated exhibit halls, flexible meeting rooms, and two ballrooms, potentially allowing the facility to host multiple large conventions at once.

The rebuilt convention center is expected to play an important role in the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

However, construction will bring disruption. County plans call for the Salt Palace to close for approximately three years beginning in fall 2027.

5. New Hotels, Housing, Shopping, and Restaurants

The district isn't only about sports and concerts.

Newly released plans also include:

Residential development
A hotel
Restaurants and retail shops
Office space
Outdoor gathering areas

The exact number of homes, businesses, and commercial tenants hasn't been finalized publicly.

Ryan Smith has also sought feedback from Utah residents about which local restaurants and shops they'd like to see in the district.

6. Preserving Culture and Revitalizing Japantown

The redevelopment includes plans to improve historic Japantown along 100 South.

An approximately 400-foot stretch of loading docks is expected to be replaced with retail, offices, streetscape improvements, and murals.

Abravanel Hall is expected to remain, with renovations planned. A new building for the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art also appears in the district plans.

Preserving the area's cultural identity will be an important part of the conversation as plans move forward.

7. A Downtown Built for the 2034 Olympics

Utah is preparing to welcome the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games back to Salt Lake City in 2034.

The development is targeting completion before the Games.

If everything proceeds as planned, visitors could find a renovated arena, modern convention facilities, additional entertainment venues, and more pedestrian-friendly public spaces.

When Will Construction Start?

Initial demolition is expected in early 2027, with portions of the Salt Palace potentially being demolished as early as February or March. Other construction will proceed in phases.

Renovations within the Delta Center have their own schedule. The broader entertainment district is targeting completion before the 2034 Winter Games.

Some elements, including the potential transformation of 300 West, are separate transportation projects with details yet to be finalized.

Construction dates and final designs can change.

How Much Will the Project Cost?

The downtown transformation combines private investment with public financing.

Smith Entertainment Group has described plans for approximately $3 billion in private investment downtown.

Separately, Salt Lake City approved a 0.5-percentage-point sales tax increase in 2024. Officials projected this would generate approximately $1.2 billion over 30 years. The agreement allows up to $900 million in public financing for the arena and district.

These are different funding figures and shouldn't be added together as if they were one final construction budget.

The city agreement also addresses public benefits, including affordable housing, public art, and other community priorities.

What Could This Mean for Salt Lake City Real Estate?

Large redevelopment projects can change the way people experience a neighborhood.

More restaurants, entertainment, jobs, and housing choices could make downtown attractive to people who want a walkable lifestyle.

But that doesn't automatically mean nearby home prices will rise.

Several factors will matter:

How much new housing actually gets built
Parking and transportation improvements
Construction disruptions
Housing affordability
Demand for downtown living

For homebuyers and real estate investors, the key is understanding the development's potential without assuming future appreciation is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will the new entertainment district be located?

The district will be centered around the Delta Center and Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City, with planned pedestrian connections toward City Creek.

When will the downtown redevelopment be finished?

Initial demolition is expected to begin in 2027. The broader district is targeting completion before the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Will the Salt Palace Convention Center close?

Yes. Current plans call for a closure of approximately three years beginning in fall 2027 while the convention center is rebuilt.

Will there be new apartments or condos downtown?

The renderings include residential development, but the final number of units, housing types, and prices haven't been announced.

Is everything shown in the renderings approved and guaranteed?

No. The renderings communicate the proposed vision. Timelines, layouts, tenants, and specific buildings may change as development and permitting proceed.

A New Chapter for Downtown Salt Lake City

Whether you're a Jazz fan, Mammoth fan, live-music lover, or someone who enjoys exploring Salt Lake City, this is a development worth watching.

There are still important details to finalize, but the new renderings offer a compelling look at what downtown could become.

If you're thinking about buying, selling, or investing in Salt Lake City, understanding projects like this is one piece of the bigger real estate picture.

Interested in Salt Lake City neighborhoods and local real estate opportunities? Reach out to me—I'd be happy to help.