- Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith commented on the Charlie Kirk murder at a sports summit.
- Live Nation Entertainment president Michael Rapino talked about security and safety.
- Smith Entertainment Group and Live Nation plan to build a concert venue in Salt Lake City.
Smith Entertainment Group founder Ryan Smith commented on the murder of Charlie Kirk at a sports conference CNBC put on this week.
CNBC’s “Squawk Box” co-anchor Andrew Ross Sorkin asked Smith about the fatal shooting during a session of the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
“I just pray and hope that we can use this as something that brings us closer together. I think that’s what sports and entertainment does. We’ll talk more about that but there’s a dark cloud kind of hanging over a lot of things and a lot of people hopefully can use this to wake up a little bit,” Smith said, according to an excerpt from unofficial transcripts of the event CNBC released Thursday.
The invitation-only gathering brought together industry leaders, visionaries and rising stars to explore the dynamic intersection of business, sports, music and entertainment, per CNBC.
Smith, who owns the Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth, joined Live Nation Entertainment president and CEO Michael Rapino on a panel titled “Center Stage: Shaping the Future of Live Events.” Sorkin moderated the discussion.
Kirk was fatally shot Sept. 10 while speaking at an outdoor amphitheater at Utah Valley University. Tyler James Robinson, 22, of Washington County, Utah, was charged with aggravated murder in connection with Kirk’s death.
Sunday thoughts
On the Sunday before the shooting, Smith posted on X a quote from the President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: “Imagine how different our world could be if more of us were peacemakers — building bridges of understanding rather than walls of prejudice — especially with those who may see the world differently than we do.”
Smith posts a scripture or religious quote on X every Sunday with the hashtag #SundayThought.
This past Sunday he posted Jesus in the New Testament saying, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Concert security and safety
During the panel discussion, Sorkin asked Rapino about security at large events and how Live Nation can keep people safe. Live Nation is the world’s largest promoter of live entertainment.
Rapino said there’s “no doubt” safety and security measures are changing.
“On a global basis, our businesses now, the stadium shows, the festivals, the level of security detail and the thinking through it from the old days of — I mean the Rolling Stones had the Hells Angels as their security at one of their festivals in 1970 right? So the world has changed," he said.
Concerts, he said, are still that “one place no matter what you bring to that table that day, you unite around that one shared experience” where “different people from every side of (the) aisle (are) having a great moment.”
Smith Entertainment Group and Live Nation announced a joint venture last month to build a 6,000-seat indoor music venue as part of a planned sports, entertainment, culture and convention district in downtown Salt Lake City. The arena expects to host 200 events a year, including 80 to 100 concerts as well as corporate, conference and community events, according to SEG.
At the CNBC summit, Smith said he’s “bullish” on live events.
“I don’t think they’re going away,” he said. “I think it’s just going to get more and more and, you know, I never thought when we were going into sports, we were also going into the music industry because touring was where everything was going to become.”