Fans don't seem to care what the name of the building is as long as their team keeps winning.

That seemed to be the overall reaction from Jazz fans to Monday's announcement that the Delta Center is no longer known as the Delta Center, but the EnergySolutions Arena.

''I thought it was just called 'Jazz Central,' '' said fan Dee Norton-Michelsen. "In all seriousness, I don't think anyone will care what it's called as long as the Jazz keep playing the way they are. If they should start losing, [Jazz owner Larry H. Miller] may be in trouble."

For fan Sam Russell, the name change means nothing more than seeing an unfamiliar logo on the familiar building. Until the permanent logos arrive, the exterior "Delta Center" signs have been covered by white banners with the words "EnergySolutions Arena," in green, blue and black lettering.

"It's just business," he said. "Who cares what the name of the arena is? After all Delta is in bankruptcy."

Others viewed the change with a less carefree attitude.

"It's too bad that my daughter will only remember the location of the Jazz games by an association to a nuclear waste company," fan Vicky Kidman said in an e-mail. "I'm sure she'll never remember the name of the building.

"Owners will take money from any source to pay the ridiculously high salaries of the players on the team. I used to go to Jazz games in the Salt Palace, baseball games at Candlestick Park (Monster Park in San Francisco) and football games at Jack Murphy Stadium (Qualcomm in San Diego). Although Mr. Murphy's memory was apparently sold out to a wireless technology company, I'll always remember these old stadiums by their former names."

Having a team play in a building sponsored by a nuclear waste company surely will produce some great nicknames - "the dump," "the landfill" or the "fallout shelter" among them - and EnergySolutions CEO Steve Creamer acknowledged his company might be involved in more than a few jokes.

"We know there will be some humor, and some shots taken," Creamer said.

The nuclear waste business is a contentious one with some believing companies such as EnergySolutions are turning Utah into a dumping ground for low-level radioactive material. Miller is mindful he might face some criticism in addition to jokes, but he made it clear he delved into the world of nuclear waste management and gave EnergySolutions a personal approval before agreeing to the deal.

"Any time you hear the word, 'nuclear,' ears perk up," Miller said. "But before they do that, I'd suggest they find out what they are talking about. I can't write a manual, but I know enough to be totally satisfied in the business they are engaged in here in Utah and around the world. It is a safe business."

Count fan Art Murphy as someone who agrees with Miller's assessment.

Murphy is an environmental engineer who has served as project manager for cleanups of more than 20 Superfund Sites.

"When I tell people I am in the nuclear waste cleanup business, they always act as though I or my company made the mess," he said.

"We are cleaning it up for all of us and future generations. EnergySolutions is not the enemy."

Mark Winget, whose seat was just a few feet from the Jazz bench Monday, was one of the few who hated to see the old moniker go.

"The Delta Center always had a reputation as being one of the loudest arenas in the NBA," he said. "Now we've lost that as our image. I hate it."

lwodraska@sltrib.com