What Should Utah Jazz Fans Expect From Renovated Delta Center?
Oct 9, 2025, 3:04 PM | Updated: Oct 10, 2025, 10:16 am
Delta Center mock up of the Utah Jazz for the 2025-26 season (Photo: Utah Jazz)
(Photo: Utah Jazz)
SALT LAKE CITY – Fans returning to Delta Center this season will notice a dramatic transformation to the 35-year-old arena, setting it apart from any other dual-sport venue in the country.
With phase one of a three-part renovation now complete, the arena has been reimagined to deliver a premium experience for both basketball and hockey fans, thanks to a groundbreaking construction effort.
Related: First look at the Utah Mammoth Practice Facility
A Massive Undertaking For Delta Center
The arrival of the Utah Mammoth meant the Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) had to accommodate both the new NHL franchise and the Utah Jazz.
While building a new arena at The Shops At South Town in Sandy might have been simpler, SEG chairman and CEO Ryan Smith chose to keep both teams in downtown Salt Lake City.
“Two years ago, I was told that it couldn’t be done, and we actually couldn’t do it with this canvas that we had without tearing down Delta Center,” Smith said.
#DeltaCenter is being rebuilt for the future.
With a raised arena floor, a new one-of-a-kind riser system in the lower bowl, and progress on a seven-level parking garage, the arena is set to reopen in two days.@OklandConst pic.twitter.com/fwJJSHVv9t
— Delta Center (@deltacenter) September 30, 2025
To make the dual-use concept work, the arena underwent significant demolition.
“What’s been done is we’ve removed 5 million pounds of cement,” Smith explained.
Removing the signature grey cement made room for a unique riser system that expands and retracts the bleachers, optimizing sightlines for both NBA and NHL games.
Due to limited sightlines, the Mammoth could only host about 11,000 fans in their inaugural season—far fewer than the 18,000-plus who attend Jazz games.
“How do you get above 17,000 for both?” Smith asked. “That’s the hard part.”
Innovation Through Constraints
Renovating an existing arena posed challenges, but it also sparked innovative solutions.
“Those constraints are what led to the creativity of the new riser system,” SEG executive Mike Maughan explained.
The riser system boosts capacity for both teams without compromising the fan experience.
Unlike other dual-sport arenas that favor one sport, Delta Center has been redesigned to serve both equally.
The steepness behind the nets at Delta Center. pic.twitter.com/Os1BoRtGKK
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 2, 2025
“This is the first dual-use arena in the big four sports that has an experience like this for both hockey and basketball,” Smith said. “It’s the steepest pitch of any dual-use arena in all of North America.”
The redesign includes restructuring the lower bowl seating behind the baskets—from two sections to four—creating a more enclosed, football stadium-like feel.
Builders also raised the playing surface by two feet, keeping fans on top of the action, a point of pride for Smith.
“The Delta Center is as loud as any place in sports,” Smith added, “and I think it will continue to be that way.”
What’s Next For The Arena?
With phase one complete, construction crews will return in 2026 to begin phases two and three.
“Phase two and phase three are pretty gnarly,” Smith warned.
These next phases will enhance the arena’s aesthetics and functionality, benefiting fans, players, and local businesses.
Upgrades will include revamped entrances for fans and players, improving the experience for visiting teams, and modernizing access for attendees.
Smith also envisions the Delta Center as a daytime hub for downtown businesses.
🛠️ A complete transformation for the fan experience.
The lower bowl is being reimagined to give fans a full view of all the action.@OklandConst pic.twitter.com/HRtlbk4P1p
— Delta Center (@deltacenter) July 10, 2025
“A lot of organizations don’t work downtown,” Smith noted. “Why don’t we open the doors at noon and serve food and allow people to schedule their meetings there?”
For now, the Delta Center aims to offer the best dual-sport experience in North America, preserving the legacy that Jazz fans cherish while welcoming a new generation of basketball and hockey enthusiasts.
“Not evolving is the biggest challenge,” Smith said of the arena, “and I’m glad that we’ve been able to do it in a way where we’ve kept intact the majority of what we absolutely love.”
The Jazz will host their first preseason home game on Monday, October 13. The Mammoth will face the Calgary Flames in their home opener on October 15.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
