SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 7, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — The Utah Symphony, Smith Entertainment group and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson confirmed on Tuesday that the symphony will be included in plans for a proposed downtown sports, entertainment, culture and convention district.
The statement comes after more than 19,000 people signed a change.org petition established Monday asking fans to “Save Abravanel Hall.”
“With the recent announcement of a National Hockey League team coming to Utah, and the Utah State Legislature authorizing Salt Lake City to increase sales tax to help finance a home for the team, the future of Abravanel Hall, the home of the Utah Symphony could be at stake,” says the petition, created by Jack Clark.
Abravanel Hall has been home to the Utah Symphony since 1979.
“In many ways, it is the center of the performing arts in the state of Utah,” the petition says.
“Besides costing the average Salt Lake City taxpayer $100 a year for 30 years, Ryan Smith’s current plans could force a major renovation or even the destruction of this historic and beautiful building,” the petition notes.
“The Utah Symphony would have no place to play, and the performing arts in Utah could come to a standstill — possibly ending the orchestra as we know it.”
The Save Abravanel Hall petition says the venue, named for longtime Utah Symphony music director Maurice Abravanel, would be eligible for protected status on the National Register of Historic Places in just five years.
“Could the timing of this ‘improvement’ project be intentional by the city and the legislators,” the petition asks. “Now is the time for concerned citizens to petition our local leaders to protect Abravanel Hall and stop the destruction of this irreplaceable gem. Abravanel Hall can still exist with renovations in historic downtown Salt Lake City. Everyone can win if we are willing to compromise and develop the district in a reasonable way that does not affect the livelihood of members of the Utah Symphony or the quality of life in our state.”
Officials’ response
The news release issued Tuesday, listing Salt Lake County Major Jenny Wilson, the Smith Entertainment Group (SEG), and Utah Symphony management as contributors, says all have “met to collaborate on proposed developments that would serve to create a Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention District (SECC) in downtown Salt Lake. The district is envisioned to prioritize each of these four elements while opening an east-west corridor that will improve the connectivity of downtown and increase its vibrancy.
“While much public attention has focused on a new sports arena as part of the downtown revitalization proposal, all parties are aligned in confirming that fine arts and culture will continue to have a strong and vital presence in the downtown core.”
Salt Lake County Mayor Wilson, to whom the petition was addressed, said she, the SEG and Symphony “deeply appreciate the community’s engagement with the future of Maurice Abravanel Hall,” the news release says.
“It is heartening to see the affection that the community holds for this iconic venue, host to a world-renowned orchestra, which is a defining feature of Utah’s cultural identity.”
The revitalization project is “in the earliest stages and no decisions on the future of Abravanel Hall have been made, and the Utah Symphony, Smith Entertainment Group, and the Mayor’s Office are committed to working collaboratively toward the mutual goal of ensuring that Salt Lake City continues to enjoy the highest quality symphony hall that meets the needs of its professional musicians and community.”
The statement stops far short of saying the existing building, with its white oak woodwork, four-story glass wall, gold leaf and red, blown-glass sculpture by glass artist Dale Chihuly — will be preserved.
“For more than a year, the Utah Symphony and Salt Lake County have worked on a comprehensive master plan for renovations to Abravanel Hall aimed at addressing critical needs,” the news release says. “This plan includes ensuring ADA compliance, upgrading both front and back of house facilities, enhancing acoustical quality, technology upgrades, and modernizing the cooling and heating systems. Costs to comprehensively address these long-standing issues are estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
“The Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention District has the potential to accelerate and improve upon the ways in which these long-standing challenges will be addressed, amplify the symphony’s presence in the community, expand access to the arts, provide the best environment for the symphony’s artists to carry out their work, and improve the patron experience in a meaningful way.”
The statement says officials “need to weigh all factors, including the high cost of a renovation alongside the benefits of rebuilding.
“With recognition of the importance of stakeholders and the community joining in on this critical conversation, exploration of a Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention District will continue deliberately and strategically to ensure an extraordinary outcome for downtown Salt Lake City and Utah’s vital arts and culture communities.”
