If you’re heading to Salt Lake City to catch a game, you’re looking for the Delta Center. It’s the house that Stockton and Malone built, though it looks a whole lot different these days than it did in the 90s.
Honestly, the "where" part is easy—it’s 301 West South Temple. But the "what" is getting complicated. As of 2026, the Utah Jazz are sharing their home with the NHL’s Utah Mammoth (formerly the Utah Hockey Club), and that partnership has sparked a massive, multi-year renovation that is basically changing the DNA of the building.
The Delta Center: Not Just a Name Change
For a while there, we were all calling it Vivint Arena. Before that, it was EnergySolutions (a name locals mostly mocked). But in 2023, the original 1991 name came back. It felt right.
The arena is the centerpiece of downtown Salt Lake City. You’ve got the mountains to the east and the Salt Palace Convention Center just a couple of blocks away. If you’re flying in, you can literally be at the arena in 15 minutes. It’s one of the most accessible NBA venues in the country.
Sharing the House with Hockey
Ryan Smith, the owner of Smith Entertainment Group (SEG), pulled off something pretty wild by bringing the NHL to Utah. But there was a snag: the Delta Center was built specifically for basketball.
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When you "plop" a hockey rink—which is roughly double the size of a basketball court—into a basketball-first arena, you get bad sightlines. In the 2024-25 season, thousands of seats had obstructed views where you couldn't even see the goals.
To fix this, the building is currently undergoing an "inside-out" transformation. They aren't just painting the walls; they are literally raising the floor.
- The Floor Elevation: They raised the arena floor by 2 feet. This helps the angles so people in the lower bowl can actually see over the hockey boards.
- The Riser System: SEG brought in a company called StageRight to build a custom, first-of-its-kind retractable seating system. It has 29 rows of seats that can move to accommodate the different dimensions of the court versus the ice.
- Capacity Bump: Once all the dust settles in 2027, the capacity for Jazz games will jump to nearly 19,000 seats, up from the old 18,206.
What It’s Like Inside the Arena Right Now
If you haven't been in a couple of years, the first thing you’ll notice is the atrium. It’s 12,000 square feet of glass and light. There’s a massive 14-foot-high J-note statue outside that everyone uses for selfies.
Inside, it’s loud. Really loud.
Utah fans have a reputation for being some of the most "intense" (read: borderline deafening) in the NBA. The arena was designed with steep vertical seating. This keeps the fans close to the action and traps the sound. Even with the new hockey renovations, the architects were obsessed with keeping that "steep" feel for Jazz games. They didn't want to lose that home-court advantage where it feels like the fans are leaning right over the players.
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Food and "The Zone"
The food situation has actually gotten pretty good. They moved away from just standard stadium dogs and brought in local favorites. You can get Cupbop (Korean BBQ in a cup), R&R BBQ, and JDawgs.
They also went completely cash-free. Don’t show up with a wad of bills thinking you’re buying a beer; you’ll need a card or your phone.
The 2026 Transformation Phases
We are currently in the middle of a three-summer renovation plan.
Phase one, which wrapped up for the 2025-26 season, focused on the lower bowl and the ice tech. They installed four new massive dehumidifiers just to keep the ice from melting under the NBA-strength lights.
The next big jump happens in the summer of 2026. You’re going to see a new east-facing entrance and a massive outdoor plaza. The goal is to turn the area into a "sports and entertainment district" similar to L.A. Live or the Deer District in Milwaukee.
Expert Note: If you're looking for the best seats for a Jazz game during this transition, aim for the mid-level sidelines. The new riser system is great, but the corner sightlines in the upper bowl are still being tweaked as they finalize the geometry of the "dual-sport" bowl.
Getting There and Parking
Parking in downtown SLC can be a headache, but it’s manageable if you have a plan.
- UTA Trax: This is the pro move. The "Arena" station is right on the Blue and Green lines. If you're staying anywhere near downtown or even out in the suburbs, take the train. It drops you off right at the front door.
- Park and Walk: There are plenty of lots near the Gateway Mall across the street.
- The New Garage: A new 450-stall parking structure on the southwest corner is slated to fully open in 2026, which should ease some of the congestion.
Why the Location Matters
The Delta Center isn't just a place where the Jazz play; it’s the anchor for the 2034 Winter Olympics.
Salt Lake City was officially named the host for 2034, and the Delta Center (which will be called the Salt Lake Ice Center for the duration of the games) will host figure skating and short-track speed skating. Everything they are doing to the building right now—the luxury suites, the widened concourses, the upgraded locker rooms—is being done with 2034 in mind.
Actionable Tips for Fans
- Download the App: The Jazz + Delta Center app is mandatory now for tickets and even ordering food from your seat.
- Check the Schedule: Because they share the arena with the Mammoth, the schedule is tighter than it used to be. Double-check tip-off times, as "doubleheader" prep days can occasionally shift things.
- Altitude is Real: If you're visiting from out of town, remember Salt Lake is at 4,300 feet. You’ll get winded faster walking up those steep stairs, and that one beer might hit you a little harder than it does at sea level.
The Delta Center is currently a construction zone in the best way possible. It’s evolving from a classic 90s basketball gym into a modern, dual-threat arena that’s going to define Utah sports for the next thirty years. Whether you're there for the Jazz or the Mammoth, just make sure you wear comfortable shoes for those steep rows.
To get the most out of your visit, book your Trax pass in advance through the Transit app to avoid the ticket kiosk lines after the game. If you're driving, use the City Creek parking garage and walk the three blocks—it's usually cheaper and way easier to exit than the lots immediately adjacent to the arena.