Utah is the Future of America’s Pastime

Big League Utah, a broad-based community coalition, believes Utah is the “Future of America’s Pastime.” Like baseball’s brightest stars, Utah is a 5-tool player for its growth, economy, location, sports culture, and quality of life. The coalition has targeted a shovel-ready site for a new MLB ballpark at the 100-acre Rocky Mountain Power District in Salt Lake City.

The Larry H. Miller Company, with the support of a broad and diverse coalition of community leaders, is redeveloping approximately 100 acres in the heart of Salt Lake City’s westside. This site, known as the Power District, has been owned by Rocky Mountain Power for decades and features views of the downtown skyline and pristine Wasatch Mountains. The project incorporates several area master plans that have been developed over the years and coalesces a unified vision for the capital city’s westside community.

Watch the video below to learn more or visit thepowerdistrict.com

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Utah is a 5-tool player

  • Utah is a Top-30 media market.
  • Utah is consistently in the top 3 for NBA local TV ratings.
  • Utah outperforms other like markets in both ticketing and sponsorship revenue.
  • Utah is #1 for job growth.
  • Historically low unemployment.
  • Business-friendly state.
  • Highest median income of potential MLB expansion markets.
  • The highest rate of unicorn probability in the country.

  • Utah/SLC is centrally located and a natural crossroads for team travel across the U.S., especially the Western U.S.
  • Largest Delta Air Lines hub in the Western U.S. Salt Lake City is the most convenient market.
  • Airport proximity to the Capital City and key metro areas.
  • Newly renovated and expanded SLC International Airport (2020) invites fans from across the Intermountain West.
  • visitutah.com

 

  • Utah hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic Games (and will host the 2034 Winter Games), Two (2) NBA All-Star Games, and Two (2) Triple-A All-star Games.
  • Home to the Big 12 Conference, Big 12 BYU Cougars, Utah Jazz, Real Salt Lake, the Royals and the Monarchs, Salt Lake Bees, Utah Grizzlies, Utah Warriors; the Utah Sports Commission and Ski Utah.
  • A family-friendly summer sport for the most family-friendly state offers unmatched recreation opportunities in unparalleled geographic areas.
  • Utah is home to 5 national parks and 46 state parks.
  • “The Greatest Snow on Earth” provides endless runs at 11 ski resorts along the Wasatch Front.
  • $12 billion record tourism industry.
  • Salt Lake City ranked 5th healthiest city in the U.S.

The Miller Family and the Larry H. Miller Company have a long history of sports ownership, beginning with Larry and Gail’s acquisition of the Utah Jazz. During their 36 years of stewardship, the family built and renovated an arena, secured two NBA All-Star Games, and led one of the winningest franchises in the league.

Since 2005, the Miller family has owned the Salt Lake Bees, the Triple-A affiliate for the Los Angeles Angels, and continues to invest in the franchise. The Larry H. Miller Company (LHMCO) recently announced it would build a new MiLB ballpark for the team in Daybreak, a master-planned community in South Jordan, Utah. The Millers and LHMCO are advocates for Utah as the State of Sport and continue to support its efforts to attract another Olympic Winter Games, have built leading youth sports programs around baseball and basketball, and secured two NBA All-Star Games. Their mission is to enrich lives. They believe professional sports unify communities and create economic development opportunities.

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The expertise and commitment of the Honorary and Community Advisory Board members will contribute to Big League Utah’s success and will help advance the multi-faceted campaign and focused efforts to bring MLB to Utah.

Honorary Advisory Board

Community Advisory Board

“We know this could be a multi-year effort, but we’re off to a great start. We are honored to have the united support of our community leaders behind us. Like securing the return of the Winter Olympic Games, these big-vision projects don’t happen without close collaboration and teamwork.” – Steve Starks

Community Support

Gail Miller and her family company have convened a group of potential investors who are pursuing local ownership of an MLB team. Utah’s business and community leaders are united behind the effort to welcome an MLB expansion team to SLC.

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Envisioning Our Future

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Conceptual renderings of a stadium.

The coalition favors Salt Lake City.

The best major league venues are closest to their metro areas. Salt Lake City offers a range of options for hotels, dining, entertainment, and arts and culture. It also hosts the majority of our state’s conventions and events.

We believe Utah’s capital city is the most ideal location for a major league ballpark.

Of Utahns who attend professional sporting events when traveling out of state, 54% attended MLB games. We believe many visitors to Utah will also attend MLB games when they come to Salt Lake City.

Utah and Salt Lake City have targeted a shovel-ready site between the Salt Lake International Airport and Downtown Salt Lake City: The Power District.

The Power District includes 100 developable acres of Rocky Mountain Power’s land. The proposed mixed-use development includes a new headquarters for Rocky Mountain Power (groundbreaking Spring 2023) and an opportunity for a major-league stadium, commercial/office, and multi-family housing.

The Power District is conveniently adjacent to Interstate-80 (I-80) and two large surface roads: North Temple Street and Redwood Road.

Public transit (rail and bus) is located on North Temple Street and connects the airport and Downtown Salt Lake City, as well as other metro areas along the Wasatch Front.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has expressed an interest in “getting the industry to 32 teams.” Big League Utah aims to position Salt Lake City and Utah as the ideal expansion market. Given Utah is the fastest-growing state and has the strongest economy in the country, the market is ready to embrace Major League Baseball.

While the coalition is ready now, we anticipate it could be a multi-year initiative.

Utah is ready to welcome Major League Baseball.

Utah wouldn’t be the first MLB market to host an MiLB team successfully. The following teams have Triple-A affiliates within 45 miles of the MLB team:

  • Minnesota Twins & St. Paul Saints
  • Houston Astros & Sugarland Space Cowboys
  • Atlanta Braves & Gwinnett Stripers
  • Seattle Mariners & Tacoma Rainiers
  • Boston Red Sox & Worcester Red Sox

Given that five current markets host MLB and Triple-A teams less than 45 miles apart, it was apparent an MLB team makes the most sense in the Capital City, where a Triple-A team provides excellent community and family entertainment in an area like Daybreak in South Jordan, Utah.

A Salt Lake City MLB ballpark and a Downtown Daybreak MiLB ballpark provide opportunities to create transit-oriented communities and higher-density mixed-use developments.

Media

Coalition of Utah Leaders Launch Campaign to Bring Major League Baseball to Salt Lake City

Big League Utah Positions Salt Lake City and a Shovel-ready Site as the Ideal Location for the “Future of America’s Pastime”

Rocky Mountain Power Breaks Ground on Phase I of the Power District

SALT LAKE CITY (April 12, 2023) – The Miller family and the Larry H. Miller Company have convened a broad coalition of Utah leaders to position Salt Lake City as an ideal market for Major League Baseball (MLB). Big League Utah, a broad-based community coalition, believes Utah is the “Future of America’s Pastime.” Like baseball’s brightest stars, Utah is a 5-tool player for its growth, economy, location, sports culture, and quality of life. The coalition has targeted a shovel-ready site for a new MLB ballpark at the 100-acre Rocky Mountain Power District on Salt Lake City’s west side.

“We believe in the power of sports to elevate and unify communities,” said Gail Miller, co- founder and owner of the Larry H. Miller Company. “Larry and I risked everything to acquire the Utah Jazz, and it was a tremendous honor to ensure it thrived as a model franchise. We now have an opportunity to welcome Major League Baseball to Utah and invite all Utahns to join us in this effort.”

The coalition includes Utah’s federal, state and local decision-makers, business and community leaders, former MLB baseball players, and potential investors.

“Over the past year, we have enjoyed our ongoing conversation with Major League Baseball and have formally registered our interest in Salt Lake being considered an expansion market,” said Steve Starks, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Company. “We have strong reasons to believe we will be a viable candidate. The response has been universally enthusiastic as we have invited others to join the coalition. Anytime you’re in the running to add a professional baseball team to your market, you jump at that opportunity. Baseball becomes synonymous with great cities across this country. It helps form their identity.”

Recent data shows that 82 percent of the sports-going public in Utah believe that Utah should be considered a possible expansion market for professional sports and that Major League Baseball is considered the most family-friendly professional sports option for Utahns surveyed.

“Utah has the strongest economy in the country, is a top 30 media market, and is the fastest- growing state with the youngest population,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “These are the ingredients for a Major League Baseball market. As the Crossroads of the West, Utah has successfully hosted large sporting events, like the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and two NBA All-Star Games and is home to thriving professional and collegiate sports teams. We boast of the Greatest Snow on Earth, five national parks and 46 state parks. We are on the radar and pushing as hard as we can.”

Utah has the highest median income of potential MLB expansion markets and outperforms other like markets in both ticketing and sponsorship revenue. A family-friendly state, Utah is also a leader in youth sports programs, including the Junior Bees, the largest MiLB youth program with 20,000 participants and growing and the Junior Jazz, launched in 1983, is the longest-running junior NBA program.

“Salt Lake City is distinctly ready to be Major League Baseball’s newest home. The infrastructure we already have in place – from our world-class international airport, to our robust public transit system, our hotel and hospitality sectors, and our arts, culture and entertainment community – make us a perfect fit for this evolution,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said. “Our capital city and the residents of North Temple near the Power District are poised for an investment like this, and I welcome the opportunity to keep growing this cultural and economic hub of our great state and region.”

On April 12, Rocky Mountain Power broke ground on Phase 1 of its Power District Project, which includes a new headquarters for the company. A 100-acre mixed-use development, the Power District is projected to transform the area located on the west side of Salt Lake City into a modern, sustainable, and vibrant space for businesses, fans and residents alike.

“The Power District is ideally located between the Salt Lake City International Airport and downtown,” said Gary Hoogeveen, Rocky Mountain Power Chief Executive Officer. “A ballpark within our new development will be uniquely situated near I-80 and North Temple, along UTA’s light rail line, and have stunning views of the city’s skyline and Wasatch mountains.”

Mortenson, led by General Manager Sarah Narjes, who oversaw the construction of Truist Park for the Atlanta Braves, is the general contractor for the first phase of the Power District and has proven expertise in professional sports venue construction. Rocky Mountain Power and Mortenson have partnered with the Larry H. Miller Company and Big League Utah to help attract Major League Baseball to Salt Lake City.

“For nearly seven decades, Mortenson has been shaping skylines across the country while building a reputation as the best and most respected name in sports construction,” said Narjes, construction manager for the Power District. “We understand the high level of skill, knowledge and expertise required to develop and build complex projects. A well-designed and expertly constructed facility can positively influence revenue generation, performance and operations, the fan experience, and create lasting community impact.”

“After playing nearly two decades in the MLB, I know what it takes for a city to successfully host professional baseball. Salt Lake City has it all: a young and growing population, a prime ballpark location, a booming economy, and a dedicated community of supporters,” said Dale Murphy, two-time MVP and former MLB player.

Big League Utah invites baseball fans of all ages to join the effort and to visit www.bigleagueutah.com to learn more.


ABOUT BIG LEAGUE UTAH

Big League Utah is a broad community coalition led by the Miller family. It consists of Utah’s federal, state and local decision-makers, business and community leaders, former MLB baseball players, and potential investors. Coalition members are united behind the effort to welcome an MLB team to Salt Lake City. For more information, visit www.bigleagueutah.com.

BIG LEAGUE UTAH COALITION MEMBERS

*Business & Community*

Scott Anderson – President & CEO, Zions Bank

Rob Bishop – Former Utah Congressman

Fraser Bullock – President & CEO, Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games

Lew Cramer – CEO, Colliers International

Spencer P Eccles – Eccles Family

Jay Francis – President & CEO, South Valley Chamber

Kem Gardner – Chairman, Gardner Company

Natalie Gochnour – Director, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute

Gary Hoogeveen – President & CEO, Rocky Mountain Power

Derek Miller – President & CEO, The Salt Lake Chamber

Gail Miller – Co-founder & Owner, The Larry H. Miller Company

M.A. Mortenson Construction

Todd Pedersen – Founder, Vivint Smart Home

Taylor Randall – President, University of Utah

Jeff Robbins – President & CEO, Utah Sports Commission

Tagg Romney – Co-founder & Managing Partner, Solamere Capital

Blake Roney – Founder, Nu Skin Enterprises

Sidni Shorter – President & CEO, Utah Black Chamber

Ashley and Ryan Smith – Owners, Smith Entertainment Group & Utah Jazz

Steve Starks – CEO, The Larry H. Miller Company

Vicki Varela – Managing Director, Utah Office of Tourism

Spencer Zwick – Co-founder, Solamere Capital

Hunstman Family

Miller Family

*Elected Officials*

Governor Spencer Cox

Senator Mike Lee

Senator Mitt Romney

Congressman John Curtis

Congressman Blake Moore

Congressman Burgess Owens

President Stuart Adams

Speaker Brad Wilson

Senator Luz Escamilla

Representative Mike Schultz

Representative Angela Romero

Representative Sandra Hollins

Mayor Jenny Wilson

Mayor Erin Mendenhall

Mayor Dawn Ramsey

Council Member Victoria Petro

*Sports & Entertainment*

Marc Amicone – President, Salt Lake Bees

Ty Burrell – Actor

Dave Checketts – Sports & Media Executive

Jeremy Guthrie – Former MLB Baseball Pitcher & 2015 World-Series Champion, Kansas City Royals

Molly Mazzolini – Partner & Director, Infinite Scale

Dale Murphy – Former MLB Player, Two-Time MVP

Steve Young – Three-time NFL Super Bowl-Winning Quarterback, Member of College and Pro Football Halls of Fame

ABOUT THE LARRY H. MILLER COMPANY

Headquartered in Sandy, Utah, the Larry H. Miller Company (LHMCO) oversees the Miller family’s portfolio of businesses and investments, including the Salt Lake Bees, Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres, Larry H. Miller Communities, Larry H. Miller Senior Health, and Prestige Financial. LHMCO has recently led several acquisitions, including Daybreak and Destination Homes, while also investing in Lendio, Run Buggy, and Aqua Yield. Most recently, LHMCO acquired a majority stake in Swig, the fast-growing customized drink and treats company. For more information, visit www.lhm.com.

ABOUT THE SALT LAKE BEES

Since 2005, the Miller family has owned the Salt Lake Bees, the Triple-A affiliate for the Los Angeles Angels, and continues to invest in the franchise. LHMCO recently announced it would build a new MiLB ballpark for the team in Daybreak, a master-planned community in South Jordan, Utah. Utah wouldn’t be the first MLB market to host both an MLB and MiLB team. At least five MLB teams have Triple-A affiliates in the same market.

The Millers and LHMCO are advocates for Utah as the State of Sport and continue to support its efforts to attract another Olympic Winter Games, have built leading youth sports programs around baseball and basketball, and secured two NBA All-Star Games. Their mission is to enrich lives. They believe professional sports unify communities and create economic development opportunities. Visit www.milb.com/salt-lake.

ABOUT ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER

Rocky Mountain Power provides safe and reliable electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. The company supplies customers with electricity from a diverse portfolio of generating plants including hydroelectric, thermal, wind, geothermal and solar resources. Rocky Mountain Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity providers in the United States, with two million customers in six western states. For more information, visit www.rockymountainpower.net.

  • “Steve Starks: Updates on getting a MLB team in Utah”, KSL Sports Zone
  • “Do Utahns want a major league baseball team?”, Deseret News

  • “Could a current MLB team relocate to Salt Lake City?”, KSL

  • Gordon Monson: “Bring MLB to Salt Lake, not because of any bias here, simply because it is a major league town.”, Salt Lake Tribune

  • “The Millers’ big pitch: Inside Utah’s push for an MLB expansion team”, Deseret News

  • “Millers launch bid to bring Major League Baseball to Utah”, Salt Lake Tribune
  • “Salt Lake City group joins MLB expansion chase”, ESPN
  • “Swinging for the fences: New Big League Utah coalition aiming to bring MLB to Salt Lake City”, Deseret News
  • “Gail Miller says MLB pursuit completes the circle on her family’s lifelong connection to baseball”, Deseret News
  • “Salt Lake is a major league city, Editorial Board writes. Here’s why it deserves a Major League team.”, Salt Lake Tribune
  • “How does Salt Lake City stack up to Major League Baseball expansion competition?”, KSL
  • “Salt Lake City’s Bid for a Major League Expansion Team Is for Real”, Fan Graphs
  • “Nightengale: Relocating A’s Might Be Better Option Than Expansion Team For Salt Lake City”, KSL
  • “This is the place (for baseball)”, Deseret News
  • “Salt Lake vs. Portland: Who is more likely to lure an MLB team?”, Salt Lake Tribune
  • “MLB: Salt Lake City would be the perfect new home for the A’s”, Woody Paige
  • “Oakland A’s purchase land for new stadium in Las Vegas — a move that could help SLC land an MLB team”, Salt Lake Tribune
  • “Gordon Monson: 20 proposed names for Utah’s Major League Baseball team, if it ever arrives”, Salt Lake Tribune
  • “Opinion: Why no one should count out Utah’s MLB quest”, Deseret News
  • “Utah almost surely won’t be getting the Oakland A’s now. Here’s why”, Deseret News
  • “Salt Lake’s location might give it an edge in MLB expansion”, Axios
  • “How is MLB expansion impacted by the Oakland A’s likely move to Las Vegas?”, The Athletic
  • “Colorado Rockies owner supports an MLB team coming to Utah, and has a name in mind”, Salt Lake Tribune

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