Concerts, tractor pulls, circuses and other arena events now held in the Salt Palace will be staged in the new Jazz arena when it is built.
And while the Salt Lake County Commission has already told Jazz owner Larry Miller he can bank on having the events, according to Commissioner Bart Barker, a formal agreement spelling out the details is still being prepared by the Salt Lake County attorney's office.The details, said Barker, are being kept secret until the agreement with the Jazz has been announced.
County Attorney David Yocom and three of his top deputies discussed arena proposals with Barker and County Commission Chairman Mike Stewart Thursday at a meeting where reporters were ushered out under the rationale the discussion could be kept confidential because of attorney-client privilege, something not mentioned in Utah's open meetings law.
Barker said after the closed meeting the commission wrote Miller in March saying he could take all of the Salt Palace's arena business when the new arena is finished.
But Miller needs a more formal agreement to satisfy Sumitomo Trust, the Japanese bank financing the $66 million Jazz arena, Barker said.
Revenue from the Salt Palace arena totals about $1 million each year, including the two current contracts with Miller for Jazz basketball and Golden Eagles hockey.
Barker said the agreement to give Miller all of the Salt Palace's current arena business may be announced next week in a deal that will be made regardless of whether the county succeeds in attempts to secure $62 million in financing for a Salt Palace expansion that might include tearing the existing arena down and replacing it with convention exhibit space.
Even without an expansion, Miller will get the Salt Palace arena's business, Barker said.