The Jon M. Huntsman Center could be headed for a major overhaul.
On Monday, the University of Utah said it has started “a process to explore the possibility of a major renovation of the Jon M. Huntsman Center,” with Populous and VCBO Architecture tapped to handle a “comprehensive feasibility study” on what that future might look like.
That study will dig into more than just design ideas. Utah said it will also look at “structural integrity, seismic resiliency and the infrastructure necessary to support future generations of student-athletes, fans and community events.”
Fans are being pulled into the process, too. Utah plans to survey supporters by email this week to collect feedback as the school weighs its options.
“We are excited to begin this collaborative process with our campus partners to envision what the future can look like for our fans and our sports programs that compete in the Huntsman Center,” said Utah athletic director Mark Harlan in a statement.
He added, “We chose Populous and VCBO Architecture to conduct this feasibility study so we can really get a deeper understanding of the possibilities and opportunities that a major arena renovation would deliver, and we want to hear from those who are so important to that experience - our fans and supporters," he continued. “Whether this process leads to a moderate renovation, a transformational renovation, or a partial rebuild, it is vital that we have their input and feedback to inform the design and gameday experience they desire, and Populous and VCBO are uniquely equipped as leaders in this space.”
Harlan had already laid out some possibilities in a February board of trustees meeting. One of them was a “renovation-plus” plan that could shrink the arena’s capacity to around 9,000 seats from its current 15,000 while creating a “state-of-the-art arena in its current footprint,” according to a slide deck from that meeting.
That same presentation also pointed to potential added revenue through more premium seating. It also listed other events the building could host beyond Utah Athletics, including concerts, comedy shows, expos, conventions and more.
The Huntsman Center’s location also matters in the bigger picture. It sits in the middle of Utah’s “College Town Magic” concept, the university’s effort to shift away from its commuter-school identity and build a campus where more students live on site.
Utah has already been adding student housing in recent years, including residential buildings directly east of the Huntsman Center.
“There’s a need for us to maybe downsize a little bit based on data that we found, create more premium (spaces), but an athletic director’s dream is to be in the middle of that student area where students can just come into games and flood into it,” Harlan said in February.
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