Intimacy.
It's an unlikely description of the 20,400-seat Delta Center, unless you can picture Utah Jazz fans dining at small candle-lit tables with a Sony JumbroTron scoreboard overhead.But it's what architects of the Delta Center first mention when asked what's unique about the $93 million arena.
"The key to this is intimacy," said Jeff Fisher, with the local architectural firm FFKR.
And he's not alluding to packing more than 20,000 people into an arena that could almost squeeze into the dome of the Salt Palace - which holds about 13,000.
But what Fisher means is that spectators will get an intimate - read: up close - look at the action no matter where they sit. The secret is designing the entire facility around the 50-by-94-foot basketball floor. It creates a tight, steep arena with no lateral aisles, all intended to bring the floor closer and into better view of the spectators.
By contrast, according to Fisher, the Salt Palace and some other arenas around the country are built around hockey rinks, increasing the distance between the action and the audience. For example, row 48 in the Delta Center would be row 39 in Salt Palace.
Designing the Delta Center around basketball means there will be fewer rows of rinkside seats for hockey. But to make up for it, large screens on the Sony JumboTron scoreboard, which has the resolution of a big screen television set, will allow people on the top row to get an "intimate" look at what's happening on the ice, hardwood or stage.
Architects aren't the only ones with odd adjectives for the Delta Center.
Intensity is how construction contractor Tom Mabey sums up his involvement with the arena.
"It's the intensity at which we had to pursue it," he said. "It was built in such a short time frame it took a tremendous amount of intensity on everyone's part to get it done.
"Nobody doubted it could happen. And we didn't want to stop it from happening."
A facility the size of the Delta Center typically takes 24-30 months to build. But arena owner Larry Miller claims O.C./Sahara Construction's 3,000 workers set a national record. In 15 months and 24 days crews whipped 155,000 cubic yards of concrete, 7.6 million pounds of reinforcing steel, 3 million pounds of structural steel, and 80,300 square feet of glass into what architects have said is a combination of the best from arenas around the country.
The record-setting pace was a strain for Mabey, president of Sahara Construction, which oversaw the fast-track process. But the hard work apparently got him addicted to the place. He bought season tickets to watch the Jazz.
"It will be kind of hard to wean myself from it," he said.
With a six-figure monthly payment, Miller is easily attached to the place too. He's been involved daily with planning and construction of the arena since it first began. Architects and builders credit Miller's involvement with the instant decision making that resulted in the Delta Center's quick completion.
Sitting on the top row of the center while workmen scurry around applying finishing touches, Miller said the single term that best describes the Delta Center is "welcome."
"We want it to become a people magnet," Miller said.
From the sky boxes that accommodate visiting Boy Scout troops to the private suites and front row seats purchased by the city's elite, the arena is made to please, Miller said.
Visiting basketball players will appreciate the 8-foot-high shower heads. And spectators may notice double the number of toilets and sinks in the public restrooms. Miller said the 24 concession stands are designed to complete a transaction in less than 20 seconds.
People can even buy tickets for Delta Air Lines, which occupies the largest number of windows in the ticket sales area.
The general public can tour the arena Friday from noon to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
*****
(Additional information)
GRAPHIC\ TRIVIA
Total Cost: $93 million
Monthly loan interest: $120,000
Parking within two-block radius: 8,000 spaces
Seating capacity: Basketball - 20,400
Hockey - 11,814
Concerts - 22,000
Seating comparison: A seat on row 48 in the Delta Center would be approximately as close to the playing floor as a seat in row 39 in the Salt Palace.
Site: 10 acres
Square feet: 743,000
Arena capacities
Delta Center 20,400
Chicago Stadium 17,399
Madison Square Garden 19,081
LA Sports Arena 16,150
SOUND SYSTEM\ - Cost: $943,000
- 800 perimeter small speakers and 24 large speakers suspended from the ceiling.
- Computer controlled with digital delay to prevent echo.
PRIVATE SUITES
- 56 suites
- Seating for 12-18 people
- $40-95 thousand per year (season tickets to Eagles and Jazz games included)
- Each unit is equipped with a refrigerator, bathroom, wet bar and cable television (television also has replay screen and a stats computer)
SCOREBOARD
- Sony Jumbo Tron (Wt. 2,000 lbs. - excluding frame)
- Screen size: 9.24 ft. x 11.6 ft.
- Viewing distance: 30 ft. (minimum)
- Resolution: 128 horitontal lines, 160 pixels per line
- Operated via fiber optics cable that goes to the Triad Center.
SKY BOXES
- 18 suites
- Capacity of 20 people (*rented to groups)