Utah is waiting to learn if the Winter Olympics will return to the Beehive State. The state last hosted the games in 2002.
The main selling point for the International Olympic Committee as they consider a near-term host — and a potential shortlist of rotating hosts — is that each of Utah’s 10 competitive venues are still in use today.
"The beauty of Utah's approach is that we are looking to use 100% of existing facilities in a proposal to host a future games," said Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation CEO Colin Hilton.
Deer Valley, Park City Mountain and Snowbasin ski areas have all maintained, and updated, their snowmaking systems.
Vivint Arena, formerly known as the (and soon to be again) Delta Center, is home to the Utah Jazz and hosts events like Disney on Ice and NHL preseason games. A $125M overhaul of the facility in 2017 upgraded the spectator seating and added features such as energy-generating solar panels, revamped locker rooms and a 12,000-foot atrium with a plaza that greets guests with a supersized Jazz note as the centerpiece.
While the infrastructure of each host venue remains strong, a potential return to the Olympics isn't without a list of general updates, said Todd Porter, who is general manager at The Olympic Oval in Kearns.
"So a lot of stuff is coming up on its life expectancy, those types of things, you know, motors in different things around the building. And then also just for the sport aspect of it, you know, we don't have a video board here at the facility.”
Porter said he's hesitant to make any major purchases too soon since the earliest that Utah could host the games is 2030.
"So we're trying to be a little cautious and not wasting money either by purchasing something, you know, huge now. But then in two years, as you know, with the technology changing, I may need to purchase something different."
Porter said renovations to the Olympic Oval could cost between $5 and $10 million.
"But, you know, we're still looking to try to keep the costs down without having to build all these new venues. It should be really, really profitable games for sure."
Possible updates at the Peaks Ice Arena in Provo could include improved locker rooms, additional bathroom facilities and extra seating.
"The Peaks arena has two ice sheets,” said Scott Henderson, director at Provo Parks and Recreation. “But looking at our arena rink that was utilized for the 2002 Olympics and adding seating on points indoors. Are the east and west sides and be able to expand our seating to 10,000 instead of closer to 8,000 where we are right now."
The updates could cost an estimated $8 million, but Henderson believes it's worth the investment.
"All of our Olympic venues are still vibrant and used and just require a little bit of an upgrade to match the [IOC’s] new standards. And so it really turns into a great value system and a much more sustainable option."
Utah lawmakers have requested $80 million for any needed renovations to the venues if the state is chosen to host the games. Hilton said he's hopeful to have an idea sometime within the next year if, and when, the games will return.
