Two bills passed by the Utah Legislature this year providing billions of dollars in public funding and support for stadium projects, both with ambitions to bring professional sports teams to Utah's capital city. Ta. Of course, these bills were not without controversy.
People far from the capital did not like to see state-level taxpayer funds benefit only some areas of the state. One of the concessions local lawmakers got from the MLB bill, which imposed a new tax on rental cars, was that professional baseball teams would eventually be named “Utah” instead of “Salt Lake.”
On the other hand, the “NHL bill” has no such obligation, and Salt Lake City alone has a 0.50% sales tax for 30 years to help Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) upgrade the Delta Center and surrounding facilities. Permits a percentage increase. Red light district. The Salt Lake City Council has until September to agree to the agreement, but there are a few opportunities to request amendments to the agreement.
Ryan Smith, on the other hand, has already decided he wants a different “Utah” name, presumably because he's not from Salt Lake. But given that this $900 million actually comes from people who live, work, and visit Salt Lake City, rather than from the entire state, Congress is particularly motivated to select “Salt Lake” for SEG. I think it should be requested. Give it a name instead.
Matthew Givens
Malay
