Jon M. Huntsman Center

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Jon M. Huntsman Center
Utah gymnastics meet.jpg
Red Rocks gymnastics meet in 2008
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Salt Lake City
Location in the United States
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Salt Lake City
Location in Utah
Former namesSpecial Events Center
(1969–1987) [1]
Address1825 E. South Campus Dr.
Location University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Coordinates 40°45′43″N111°50′20″W / 40.762°N 111.839°W / 40.762; -111.839
OwnerUniversity of Utah
OperatorUniversity of Utah
Capacity 15,000
Record attendance16,019   (March 6, 2015; gymnastics vs. Michigan)
SurfaceMulti-surface
Construction
Broke ground1967
OpenedNovember 30, 1969;
54 years ago (1969-11-30) [2]
Construction cost $10.392 million
($86.3 million in 2024 [3] )
ArchitectBruce H. Jensen
Tenants
Utah Utes (NCAA Division I)
(men's & women's basketball,
women's gymnastics
and women's volleyball)
2006 NCAA tournament: Boston College vs. Pacific Boston College Eagles vs. University of the Pacific Tigers, First Round, NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, Huntsman Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (114271292) (cropped).jpg
2006 NCAA tournament: Boston College vs. Pacific
Exterior in 2009 Uofu huntsmancenter.jpg
Exterior in 2009

The Jon M. Huntsman Center is a 15,000-seat indoor arena in the western United States, on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. It is the home of the Utah Utes of the Pac-12 Conference, the primary venue for basketball and gymnastics.

Contents

History

Opened 54 years ago in late 1969 as the Special Events Center, [2] it succeeded Nielsen Fieldhouse as the campus' primary indoor arena. [2] It was renamed in 1987 in honor of chemicals entrepreneur and philanthropist Jon M. Huntsman (1937–2018), father of Utah's former governor Jon Huntsman, Jr.

From its opening until the completion of the Delta Center in 1991, the Huntsman Center was one of Salt Lake City's premier sports and entertainment venues (along with the Salt Palace (1969–1993), the home of the Utah Stars (ABA) and Utah Jazz (NBA)).

Architecturally, it was once known for its steel cloud, which hung from the arena's silver dome interior. The steel cloud held the arena's center court scoreboard, sound and lighting systems. The scoreboard was upgraded in the 1980s with the addition of state-of-the-art rear projection video screens. The rear projection system was upgraded in 1995, and replaced in 2006 by four LED video screens. In 2014, the arena was renovated again. The $6 million project removed the steel cloud, as well as added a new floor, LED lights, sound system, drapes, and two grand entrances to house a Hall of Fame and Legacy Hall.

On May 12, 1973, The Jackson 5 performed at the center. [4]

The facility hosted the 1989 Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament.

In addition to athletics and concerts, the arena has hosted many academic and intellectual events over the years, such as a public lecture by renowned British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking in 1995, which was reported to be the largest live audience that Hawking had ever addressed at that time. [5]

The facility hosted two games of the Utah Jazz Summer League in 2016 due to a concert at Vivint Arena. In 2017, the Utah Jazz Summer League moved to the Huntsman Center for all six games & four teams due to Vivint Arena undergoing renovations.

The 15,000-seat multi-purpose arena is home to the University of Utah's "Runnin' Utes" basketball teams (men's and women's), "Red Rocks" women's gymnastics team and women's volleyball team. It also hosts concerts, mostly second-tier acts; most premier concerts have been hosted at Vivint Arena (Delta Center).

Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011 and the Huntsman Center became the largest arena in the conference.

The elevation at street level is approximately 4,780 feet (1,455 m) above sea level, second-highest in the Pac-12.

NCAA tournament

The Huntsman Center hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament 12 times (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006). It hosted the West Regional Final twice (1971, 1981) and one Final Four (1979). Due to the frequency of hosting first- and second-round games, the Huntsman Center is third all-time in NCAA Tournament games hosted, with 81.

Since 2010, NCAA tournament games in the city have been played at Delta Center, home of the NBA's Utah Jazz. Other venues for past NCAA games in the state include the Marriott Center in Provo and the Dee Events Center in Ogden.

1979 Final Four

The arena hosted the 1979 Final Four in late March, featuring the start of the rivalry between all-time greats Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. [6] Magic's Michigan State team defeated Bird's previously unbeaten Indiana State in the final on March 26, [7] [8] [9] which remains the most-watched college basketball game in history. Many observers consider the Magic-Bird rivalry established here and carried into the NBA when both entered the league that fall to be a major factor in the league's 1980s renaissance.

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010–11 Utah Utes men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2010–11 Utah Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah. They played their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States and were a member of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 13–18, 6–10 in Mountain West play and lost in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Mountain West Conference men's basketball tournament to San Diego State. On March 12, 2011, the University of Utah fired head coach Jim Boylen after consecutive losing seasons. Starting in July 2011, they will be leaving the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12. Their leading scorer Will Clyburn was granted a scholarship release at the end of the season and subsequently transferred to Iowa State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012–13 Utah Utes men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2012–13 Utah Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah during the 2012–13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They play their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, and were a member of the Pac-12 Conference. They were led by their second year head coach Larry Krystkowiak. They finished the season 15–18, 5–13 in Pac-12 play to finish in tenth place. They advanced to the semifinals of the Pac-12 tournament where they lost to Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 Utah Utes men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2013–14 Utah Runnin' Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They played their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah and were a member of the Pac-12 Conference. The Utes were led by their third year head coach Larry Krystkowiak. Their last game was played in the first round of the NIT, where they lost to the Saint Mary's Gaels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 Utah Utes women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2013–14 Utah Utes women's basketball team will represent the University of Utah during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They will play their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah and are a member of the Pac-12 Conference. The Utes are led by their fourth year head coach Anthony Levrets. They finished with a record of 12–19 overall, 4–14 in Pac-12 play for an eleventh-place finish. They lost in the quarterfinals in the 2014 Pac-12 Conference women's basketball tournament to Oregon State.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 Utah Utes men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2014–15 Utah Runnin' Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They played their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah as members of the Pac-12 Conference. The Utes were led by fourth year head coach Larry Krystkowiak. They finished the season 26–9, 13–5 in Pac-12 play to finish in a tie for second place. They advanced to the semifinals of the Pac-12 tournament where they lost to Oregon. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Stephen F. Austin in the second round and Georgetown in the third round to advance to the Sweet Sixteen where they lost to Duke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 Utah Utes women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2014–15 Utah Utes women's basketball team will represent the University of Utah during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They will play their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah and were a member of the Pac-12 Conference. The Utes were led by their fifth year head coach Anthony Levrets. They finished the season 9–21, 3–15 in Pac-12 play to finish in a tie for eleventh place. They lost in the first round of the Pac-12 women's tournament to Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 Utah Utes men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2015–16 Utah Runnin' Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They played their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City as members of the Pac-12 Conference. The Utes were led by fifth year head coach Larry Krystkowiak. They the season 27–9, 13-5 in Pac-12 play to finish in second place. They defeated USC and California to advance to the championship game of the Pac-12 tournament where they lost to Oregon. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Fresno State in the first round to advance to the second round where they lost to Gonzaga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 Utah Utes women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2015–16 Utah Utes women's basketball team will represent the University of Utah during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Utes, were led by their first year head coach Lynne Roberts. They will play their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah and were a member of the Pac-12 Conference. They finished the season 18–15, 8–10 in Pac-12 play to finish in seventh place. They lost in the first round of the Pac-12 women's tournament to California. They were invited to the Women's National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Montana State and Gonzaga in the first and second rounds before losing to Pac-12 member Oregon in the third round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016–17 Utah Utes men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2016–17 Utah Runnin' Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by sixth-year head coach Larry Krystkowiak. They played their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah as members of the Pac-12 Conference. They finished the season 20–12, 11–7 in Pac-12 play to finish in fourth place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament to California. They received an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Boise State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–18 Utah Utes men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2017–18 Utah Runnin' Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by seventh-year head coach Larry Krystkowiak. They played their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah as members of the Pac-12 Conference. They finished the season 23–12, 11–7 in Pac-12 play to finish in a three-way tie for third place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament to Oregon. They were invited to the National Invitation Tournament where they defeated UC Davis, LSU, Saint Mary's, and Western Kentucky to advance to the championship game where they lost to Penn State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018–19 Utah Utes men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2018–19 Utah Runnin' Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team, led by eighth-year head coach Larry Krystkowiak, played their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah as members of the Pac-12 Conference. They finished the season 17–14, 11–7 in Pac-12 play to finish in third place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament to Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019–20 Utah Utes men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2019–20 Utah Runnin' Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by ninth-year head coach Larry Krystkowiak. They played their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah as members of the Pac-12 Conference. They finished the season 16–15, 7–11 in Pac-12 play to finish in a three-way tie for eighth place. They lost in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament to Oregon State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020–21 Utah Utes men's basketball team</span>

The 2020–21 Utah Runnin' Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team is led by tenth-year head coach Larry Krystkowiak. They played their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah as members of the Pac-12 Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–22 Utah Utes men's basketball team</span>

The 2021–22 Utah Runnin' Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by first-year head coach Craig Smith. They played their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah as members of the Pac-12 Conference. The Utes finished the season 11–20, 4–16 in Pac-12 play to finish in 11th place. They lost in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament to Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 Utah Utes men's basketball team</span>

The 2022–23 Utah Runnin' Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by second-year head coach Craig Smith. They played their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah as members of the Pac-12 Conference. The Utes finished the season 17–14, 10–10 in Pac-12 play to finish in 7th place. They lost in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament to Stanford.

References

  1. ↑ "Attendance and Sites". 2014 Men's Final Four Records Book (PDF). Indianapolis, IN: NCAA Publications. 2014. p. 138. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Scott, Ron (December 2, 1969). "No dust, less noise for Utes". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. B1.
  3. ↑ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  4. ↑ Cadman, Chris. Michael Jackson: The Maestro. Pg. 668
  5. ↑ "Deseret News: Hawking Gives 9,000 a Cosmic Thrill". 18 July 1995. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  6. ↑ Keith, Ron (April 2, 1979). "They caged the Bird". Sports Illustrated. p. 16.
  7. ↑ "'Magic act' gives MSU NCAA title". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). March 27, 1979. p. A1.
  8. ↑ Ewer, Bill (March 27, 1979). "Magic keeps a promise and MSU reaches NCAA title goal". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. 4B.
  9. ↑ "Michigan State grounds Bird - wins title". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 27, 1979. p. 17.
Preceded by NCAA Men's Division I
Basketball tournament
Finals Venue
1979 		Succeeded by
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