Three days after the Salt Lake City Council gave its blessing to Jazz owner Ryan Smith’s multibillion-dollar, taxpayer-backed sports and entertainment district, one of the project’s most vocal opponents is giving up the fight.
Former Mayor Rocky Anderson, who vowed this week to force a referendum on the sales tax hike that will benefit the downtown district, announced Friday on X, formerly Twitter, that he will no longer pursue a challenge.
“Efforts to pursue a referendum will distract time, effort, energy, and resources from the important work of addressing essential issues facing our city,” Anderson wrote, “and undermine the opportunities for working together with (Smith Entertainment Group) on matters of mutual passion and concern.”
The former mayor added there is “no certainty” a challenge would meet state requirements to appear on the ballot.
“To achieve a cooperative alliance that allows us to work together from this day forward for the benefit of the entire community,” he said, “we will not pursue a referendum.”
In a statement Friday afternoon, Smith Entertainment Group executive Mike Maughan said he held recent conversations with Anderson and other opponents, and added that the organization is committed to ensuring the downtown project has benefits that extend beyond the arena district.
“Through thousands of messages, conversations, meetings and public forums, you have shared your thoughts, feelings, and ideas,” Maughan said. “We have heard you and will continue to listen and engage throughout the project.”
The massive project calls for overhauling the Delta Center and the blocks east of the arena. A sales tax increase in Utah’s capital, authorized Tuesday by council members, will generate $900 million for the project.
About $525 million in those funds will go toward arena renovations, while the rest will be invested into other parts of the district.
For its part, SEG has committed to investing at least $3 billion of its own money into the project.
Editor’s note • This story is available to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting local journalism.
