For die hard Jazz fans, this is dream news! The last time Salt Lake City hosted the NBA All-Star game was 26 years ago in 1993 when legends John Stockton and Karl Malone stood at center court at the then Delta Center and received the All-Star Game MVP trophy. Many of those same die hards will live to see it happen again. But this time - who knows - maybe Rudy Gobert and Donovon Mitchell will stand at center court in what is now Vivint Smart Home Arena to accept the MVP Award on the world stage?
News just broke today on KSL.com. Here is a snippet from their announcement:
SALT LAKE CITY —On Wednesday, the Utah Jazz and the NBA announced that Salt Lake City will host the 2023 NBA All-Star Game — the 30th anniversary of the first time the Jazz hosted the event.
Jazz owner Gail Miller, NBA commissioner Adam Silver, Gov. Gary R. Herbert, and Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski made the announcement at a joint press conference at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
That recent arena renovation was the key reason why the Jazz were awarded the event. The $125-million project provided the arena with a facelift, including new seats, new vendors, an atrium and a more modern feel.
And it put the Jazz back in the mix to host All-Star weekend again.
It's long been a tradition for the NBA to bring the All-Star festivities to newer arenas in an attempt to show them off to the world. Salt Lake's first All-Star game came following the completion of the Jazz's home arena and the renovation will get the same honor.
In August, Larry H. Miller Group CEO Steve Starks said one of his proudest accomplishments as Jazz president was the arena renovation. It provided a better experience for fans and made it a world-class venue once again. With Wednesday's announcement, it just became an even prouder moment.
But it wasn't just the Jazz that have been pushing for the All-Star game to return to Utah.
In February of 2018, the Jazz officially announced a bid to host All-Star Weekend in either 2022 or 2023. The bid was a statewide affair with the state of Utah, Salt Lake City and county, Utah Sports Commission, Utah Office of Tourism and Visit Salt Lake all joining in under a theme of "Game Elevated."
"On behalf of the state of Utah, we are committed to the hard work of bringing the NBA All-Star Game to Salt Lake City," Herbert said at the time of the bid. "We know this about the Miller family, Utah Jazz organization, and our state — the NBA All-Star Game will be above the rim and the NBA family will fall in love again with the great people of our state."
Regardless of who wins the All-Star Game MVP Award in Salt Lake City in 2023, the big question is will you be there? And which one of our Salt Lake City vacation homes will you stay in near downtown for what is sure to be a monumentous weekend of fun and historic festivities - the biggest party in Utah in 2023. We will release our vacation homes 12 months in advance from the date, so round up all your die hard Jazz fan friends and family, plan ahead, and book your favorite home before anyone else.
