Utah is the Future of America’s Pastime
Big League Utah, a broad-based community coalition, believes Utah is the “Future of America’s Pastime.” Like baseball’s brightest stars, Utah is a 5-tool player for its growth, economy, location, sports culture, and quality of life. The coalition has targeted a shovel-ready site for a new MLB ballpark at the 100-acre Rocky Mountain Power District in Salt Lake City.
Utah is a 5-tool player
- Utah is a Top-30 media market.
- Utah is consistently in the top 3 for NBA local TV ratings.
- Utah outperforms other like markets in both ticketing and sponsorship revenue.
- Utah is #1 for job growth.
- Historically low unemployment.
- Business-friendly state.
- Highest median income of potential MLB expansion markets.
- The highest rate of unicorn probability in the country.
- Utah/SLC is centrally located and a natural crossroads for team travel across the U.S., especially the Western U.S.
- Largest Delta Air Lines hub in the Western U.S. Salt Lake City is the most convenient market.
- Airport proximity to the Capital City and key metro areas.
- Newly renovated and expanded SLC International Airport (2020) invites fans from across the Intermountain West.
- visitutah.com
- Utah hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and is a contender for the 2030 or 2034 Games, Two (2) NBA All-Star Games, and Two (2) Triple-A All-star Games.
- Home to the Pac-12 Utah Utes, Big 12 BYU Cougars, Utah Jazz, Real Salt Lake, the Royals and the Monarchs, Salt Lake Bees, Utah Grizzlies, Utah Warriors; the Utah Sports Commission and Ski Utah.
- A family-friendly summer sport for the most family-friendly state offers unmatched recreation opportunities in unparalleled geographic areas.
- Utah is home to 5 national parks and 46 state parks.
- “The Greatest Snow on Earth” provides endless runs at 11 ski resorts along the Wasatch Front.
- Salt Lake City ranked 5th healthiest city in the U.S.
Community Support
Gail Miller and her family company have convened a group of potential investors who are pursuing local ownership of an MLB team. Utah’s business and community leaders are united behind the effort to welcome an MLB expansion team to SLC.
Big League Utah Coalition
Community & Business
- Aaron Andersen – Senior Partner, Cicero
- Scott Anderson – President & CEO, Zions Bank
- Mindy Benson, President, Southern Utah University
- Rob Bishop – Former Utah Congressman
- Fraser Bullock – President & CEO, Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games
- Lew Cramer – CEO, Colliers International
- Brendan Cranna, Chief Sales Officer, Swire Coca-Cola
- Scott Cuthbertson – President & CEO, EDCUtah
- Spencer P Eccles – Eccles Family
- Jay Francis – President & CEO, South Valley Chamber
- Tammy Gallegos, EVP, Chief Strategic Engagement Officer, America First Credit Union
- Kem Gardner – Chairman, Gardner Company
- Natalie Gochnour – Director, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
- Gary Hoogeveen – President & CEO, Rocky Mountain Power
- Brandon Johnson – CEO, Mountainland Supply Company
- Ben McAdams – Former Utah Congressman
- Derek Miller – President & CEO, The Salt Lake Chamber
- Gail Miller – Co-founder & Owner, The Larry H. Miller Company
- M.A. Mortenson Construction
- Larry Mullenax – Executive Director, Utah State Fairpark & Event Center
- Clay Partain – Executive Director, Sports Salt Lake
- Todd Pedersen – Founder, Vivint Smart Home
- Taylor Randall – President, University of Utah
- Jeff Robbins – President & CEO, Utah Sports Commission
- Tagg Romney – Co-founder & Managing Partner, Solamere Capital
- Blake Roney – Founder, Nu Skin Enterprises
- Thayne Shaffer, President & CEO, America First Credit Union
- Sidni Shorter – President & CEO, Utah Black Chamber
- Ashley and Ryan Smith – Owners, Smith Entertainment Group & Utah Jazz
- Steve Starks – CEO, The Larry H. Miller Company
- Vicki Varela – Managing Director, Utah Office of Tourism
- Spencer Zwick – Co-founder, Solamere Capital
- Huntsman Family
- Miller Family
Elected Officials
- Governor Spencer Cox
- Senator Mike Lee
- Senator Mitt Romney
- Congressman John Curtis
- Congressman Blake Moore
- Congressman Burgess Owens
- President Stuart Adams
- Speaker Brad Wilson
- Senator Evan Vickers
- Senator Luz Escamilla
- Senator Don Ipson
- Senator Jake Anderegg
- Senator Lincoln Fillmore
- Senator Scott Sandall
- Representative Mike Schultz
- Representative Angela Romero
- Representative Sandra Hollins
- Representative Candice Pierucci
- Representative Carl Albrecht
- Representative Val Peterson
- Representative Christine Watkins
- Representative Jon Hawkins
- Representative Jordan Teuscher
- Representative Robert Spendlove
- Representative Brian King
- Representative Mike Kohler
- Representative Marsha Judkins
- Representative Cheryl Acton
- Representative Katy Hall
- Representative Cal Musselman
- Representative Casey Snider
- Representative Tyler Clancy
- Representative Anthony Loubet
- Representative Ryan Wilcox
- Mayor Jenny Wilson
- Commissioner Bob Stevenson
- Mayor Erin Mendenhall
- Mayor Dawn Ramsey
- Mayor Trent Staggs
- Mayor Troy Walker
- Mayor Monica Zoltanski
- Council Member At-Large Marci Houseman
- Council Member Victoria Petro
- Council Member Alejandro Puy
- Councilman Andy Pierucci
Sports & Entertainment
- Marc Amicone – President, Salt Lake Bees
- Ty Burrell – Actor
- Dave Checketts – Sports & Media Executive
- Jeremy Guthrie – Former MLB Baseball Pitcher & 2015 World-Series Champion, Kansas City Royals
- Molly Mazzolini – Partner & Director, Infinite Scale
- Dale Murphy – Former MLB Player, Two-Time MVP
- Steve Young – Three-time NFL Super Bowl-Winning Quarterback, Member of College and Pro Football Halls of Fame
Join Us
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Envisioning Our Future
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The coalition favors Salt Lake City.
The best major league venues are closest to their metro areas. Salt Lake City offers a range of options for hotels, dining, entertainment, and arts and culture. It also hosts the majority of our state’s conventions and events.
We believe Utah’s capital city is the most ideal location for a major league ballpark.
Of Utahns who attend professional sporting events when traveling out of state, 54% attended MLB games. We believe many visitors to Utah will also attend MLB games when they come to Salt Lake City.
Utah and Salt Lake City have targeted a shovel-ready site between the Salt Lake International Airport and Downtown Salt Lake City: The Power District.
The Power District includes 100 developable acres of Rocky Mountain Power’s land. The proposed mixed-use development includes a new headquarters for Rocky Mountain Power (groundbreaking Spring 2023) and an opportunity for a major-league stadium, commercial/office, and multi-family housing.
The Power District is conveniently adjacent to Interstate-80 (I-80) and two large surface roads: North Temple Street and Redwood Road.
Public transit (rail and bus) is located on North Temple Street and connects the airport and Downtown Salt Lake City, as well as other metro areas along the Wasatch Front.
Utah wouldn’t be the first MLB market to host an MiLB team successfully. The following teams have Triple-A affiliates within 45 miles of the MLB team:
- Minnesota Twins & St. Paul Saints
- Houston Astros & Sugarland Space Cowboys
- Atlanta Braves & Gwinnett Stripers
- Seattle Mariners & Tacoma Rainiers
- Boston Red Sox & Worcester Red Sox
Given that five current markets host MLB and Triple-A teams less than 45 miles apart, it was apparent an MLB team makes the most sense in the Capital City, where a Triple-A team provides excellent community and family entertainment in an area like Daybreak in South Jordan, Utah.
A Salt Lake City MLB ballpark and a Downtown Daybreak MiLB ballpark provide opportunities to create transit-oriented communities and higher-density mixed-use developments.
Media
Coalition of Utah Leaders Launch Campaign to Bring Major League Baseball to Salt Lake City
Big League Utah Positions Salt Lake City and a Shovel-ready Site as the Ideal Location for the “Future of America’s Pastime”
Rocky Mountain Power Breaks Ground on Phase I of the Power District
SALT LAKE CITY (April 12, 2023) – The Miller family and the Larry H. Miller Company have convened a broad coalition of Utah leaders to position Salt Lake City as an ideal market for Major League Baseball (MLB). Big League Utah, a broad-based community coalition, believes Utah is the “Future of America’s Pastime.” Like baseball’s brightest stars, Utah is a 5-tool player for its growth, economy, location, sports culture, and quality of life. The coalition has targeted a shovel-ready site for a new MLB ballpark at the 100-acre Rocky Mountain Power District on Salt Lake City’s west side.
“We believe in the power of sports to elevate and unify communities,” said Gail Miller, co- founder and owner of the Larry H. Miller Company. “Larry and I risked everything to acquire the Utah Jazz, and it was a tremendous honor to ensure it thrived as a model franchise. We now have an opportunity to welcome Major League Baseball to Utah and invite all Utahns to join us in this effort.”
The coalition includes Utah’s federal, state and local decision-makers, business and community leaders, former MLB baseball players, and potential investors.
“Over the past year, we have enjoyed our ongoing conversation with Major League Baseball and have formally registered our interest in Salt Lake being considered an expansion market,” said Steve Starks, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Company. “We have strong reasons to believe we will be a viable candidate. The response has been universally enthusiastic as we have invited others to join the coalition. Anytime you're in the running to add a professional baseball team to your market, you jump at that opportunity. Baseball becomes synonymous with great cities across this country. It helps form their identity.”
Recent data shows that 82 percent of the sports-going public in Utah believe that Utah should be considered a possible expansion market for professional sports and that Major League Baseball is considered the most family-friendly professional sports option for Utahns surveyed.
“Utah has the strongest economy in the country, is a top 30 media market, and is the fastest- growing state with the youngest population,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “These are the ingredients for a Major League Baseball market. As the Crossroads of the West, Utah has successfully hosted large sporting events, like the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and two NBA All-Star Games and is home to thriving professional and collegiate sports teams. We boast of the Greatest Snow on Earth, five national parks and 46 state parks. We are on the radar and pushing as hard as we can.”
Utah has the highest median income of potential MLB expansion markets and outperforms other like markets in both ticketing and sponsorship revenue. A family-friendly state, Utah is also a leader in youth sports programs, including the Junior Bees, the largest MiLB youth program with 20,000 participants and growing and the Junior Jazz, launched in 1983, is the longest-running junior NBA program.
“Salt Lake City is distinctly ready to be Major League Baseball’s newest home. The infrastructure we already have in place – from our world-class international airport, to our robust public transit system, our hotel and hospitality sectors, and our arts, culture and entertainment community – make us a perfect fit for this evolution,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said. “Our capital city and the residents of North Temple near the Power District are poised for an investment like this, and I welcome the opportunity to keep growing this cultural and economic hub of our great state and region.”
On April 12, Rocky Mountain Power broke ground on Phase 1 of its Power District Project, which includes a new headquarters for the company. A 100-acre mixed-use development, the Power District is projected to transform the area located on the west side of Salt Lake City into a modern, sustainable, and vibrant space for businesses, fans and residents alike.
“The Power District is ideally located between the Salt Lake City International Airport and downtown,” said Gary Hoogeveen, Rocky Mountain Power Chief Executive Officer. “A ballpark within our new development will be uniquely situated near I-80 and North Temple, along UTA’s light rail line, and have stunning views of the city’s skyline and Wasatch mountains.”
Mortenson, led by General Manager Sarah Narjes, who oversaw the construction of Truist Park for the Atlanta Braves, is the general contractor for the first phase of the Power District and has proven expertise in professional sports venue construction. Rocky Mountain Power and Mortenson have partnered with the Larry H. Miller Company and Big League Utah to help attract Major League Baseball to Salt Lake City.
“For nearly seven decades, Mortenson has been shaping skylines across the country while building a reputation as the best and most respected name in sports construction,” said Narjes, construction manager for the Power District. “We understand the high level of skill, knowledge and expertise required to develop and build complex projects. A well-designed and expertly constructed facility can positively influence revenue generation, performance and operations, the fan experience, and create lasting community impact.”
“After playing nearly two decades in the MLB, I know what it takes for a city to successfully host professional baseball. Salt Lake City has it all: a young and growing population, a prime ballpark location, a booming economy, and a dedicated community of supporters,” said Dale Murphy, two-time MVP and former MLB player.
Big League Utah invites baseball fans of all ages to join the effort and to visit www.bigleagueutah.com to learn more.
About Big League Utah
Big League Utah is a broad community coalition led by the Miller family. It consists of Utah’s federal, state and local decision-makers, business and community leaders, former MLB baseball players, and potential investors. Coalition members are united behind the effort to welcome an MLB team to Salt Lake City. For more information, visit www.bigleagueutah.com.
Big League Utah Coalition Members
*Business & Community*
Scott Anderson – President & CEO, Zions Bank
Rob Bishop – Former Utah Congressman
Fraser Bullock – President & CEO, Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games
Lew Cramer – CEO, Colliers International
Spencer P Eccles – Eccles Family
Jay Francis – President & CEO, South Valley Chamber
Kem Gardner – Chairman, Gardner Company
Natalie Gochnour – Director, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
Gary Hoogeveen – President & CEO, Rocky Mountain Power
Derek Miller – President & CEO, The Salt Lake Chamber
Gail Miller – Co-founder & Owner, The Larry H. Miller Company
M.A. Mortenson Construction
Todd Pedersen – Founder, Vivint Smart Home
Taylor Randall – President, University of Utah
Jeff Robbins – President & CEO, Utah Sports Commission
Tagg Romney – Co-founder & Managing Partner, Solamere Capital
Blake Roney – Founder, Nu Skin Enterprises
Sidni Shorter – President & CEO, Utah Black Chamber
Ashley and Ryan Smith – Owners, Smith Entertainment Group & Utah Jazz
Steve Starks – CEO, The Larry H. Miller Company
Vicki Varela – Managing Director, Utah Office of Tourism
Spencer Zwick – Co-founder, Solamere Capital
Hunstman Family
Miller Family
*Elected Officials*
Governor Spencer Cox
Senator Mike Lee
Senator Mitt Romney
Congressman John Curtis
Congressman Blake Moore
Congressman Burgess Owens
President Stuart Adams
Speaker Brad Wilson
Senator Luz Escamilla
Representative Mike Schultz
Representative Angela Romero
Representative Sandra Hollins
Mayor Jenny Wilson
Mayor Erin Mendenhall
Mayor Dawn Ramsey
Council Member Victoria Petro
*Sports & Entertainment*
Marc Amicone – President, Salt Lake Bees
Ty Burrell – Actor
Dave Checketts – Sports & Media Executive
Jeremy Guthrie – Former MLB Baseball Pitcher & 2015 World-Series Champion, Kansas City Royals
Molly Mazzolini – Partner & Director, Infinite Scale
Dale Murphy – Former MLB Player, Two-Time MVP
Steve Young – Three-time NFL Super Bowl-Winning Quarterback, Member of College and Pro Football Halls of Fame
About the Larry H. Miller Company
Headquartered in Sandy, Utah, the Larry H. Miller Company (LHMCO) oversees the Miller family’s portfolio of businesses and investments, including the Salt Lake Bees, Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres, Larry H. Miller Communities, Larry H. Miller Senior Health, and Prestige Financial. LHMCO has recently led several acquisitions, including Daybreak and Destination Homes, while also investing in Lendio, Run Buggy, and Aqua Yield. Most recently, LHMCO acquired a majority stake in Swig, the fast-growing customized drink and treats company. For more information, visit www.lhm.com.
About the Salt Lake Bees
Since 2005, the Miller family has owned the Salt Lake Bees, the Triple-A affiliate for the Los Angeles Angels, and continues to invest in the franchise. LHMCO recently announced it would build a new MiLB ballpark for the team in Daybreak, a master-planned community in South Jordan, Utah. Utah wouldn’t be the first MLB market to host both an MLB and MiLB team. At least five MLB teams have Triple-A affiliates in the same market.
The Millers and LHMCO are advocates for Utah as the State of Sport and continue to support its efforts to attract another Olympic Winter Games, have built leading youth sports programs around baseball and basketball, and secured two NBA All-Star Games. Their mission is to enrich lives. They believe professional sports unify communities and create economic development opportunities. Visit www.milb.com/salt-lake.
About Rocky Mountain Power
Rocky Mountain Power provides safe and reliable electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. The company supplies customers with electricity from a diverse portfolio of generating plants including hydroelectric, thermal, wind, geothermal and solar resources. Rocky Mountain Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity providers in the United States, with two million customers in six western states. For more information, visit www.rockymountainpower.net.
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