It might not be curtains for the Huntsman Center after all.
In March, the University of Utah board of trustees announced a proposal for the construction of a new, multipurpose arena to replace the 56-year-old venue, which hosts Utah basketball, gymnastics and volleyball events.
But, according to Utah athletic director Mark Harlan, the U. might shift its focus to a potential renovation of Utah’s historic arena.
“We’re still trying to look through and say, ‘Do we move it, or do we renovate it?’” Harlan said. “I think this year is the year for us to make some decisions on that.
While standing in the south end zone at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Tuesday, Harlan said potential renovations to that venue could impact what the university chooses to do with the Huntsman Center.
“We can’t just be in this beautiful south end zone and not think of the things that we also need to do for the stadium,” he said. “Every day we’re looking at these things.”
In 2014, the Utah Board of Higher Education conducted a study about potential improvements to the Huntsman Center, which was expected to be completed in three phases. Phases two and three would potentially blow out the walls of the arena’s concourse, add different seating options, and downsize the capacity to about 12,000 seats. Those plans ultimately never materialized.
Utah’s upcoming private equity deal with Otro Capital could also play a part in the process.
“We’re doing a lot of work,” Harlan said. “We’re really looking at the arena. It’s something that, as I’ve said before, is a historical building with enormous history for us, and certainly college basketball and other sports.
“It’s a complicated project in a day where our budget has gone up with revenue share. So we have to factor all of that. Specifically with Otro Capital and certainly Utah Brands & Entertainment, they’ll all be a part of that conversation going forward, and the bonding that we’ll do when we get to that place.”