Delta Air Lines, the US-based international carrier, will take back the naming rights to the home arena of basketball’s Utah Jazz later this year after striking a multi-year agreement with the NBA franchise.
The new deal will see the arena reassume its Delta Center name on July 1, up until when it will continue to be known as Vivint Arena under the existing sponsorship.
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It is 18 years since Delta last held the rights to the Jazz’s arena, which was named Delta Center when it opened in 1991 until 2005 when the carrier filed for bankruptcy, ending its 15-year contract.
Since then, the arena has been through three name changes. It was renamed EnergySolutions Arena under a 10-year deal with nuclear waste processor EnergySolutions from 2006 to 2015 before becoming Vivint Smart Home Arena from 2015 to 2020 as part of a 10-year deal with home security system provider Vivint.
For the past two years, the facility has been known as Vivint Arena.
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Jazz majority owner Ryan Smith said: “I have so many amazing memories of the Delta Center as a kid, and I know that countless people throughout Utah and beyond had similar experiences creating core memories there, whether watching the Olympics & Paralympic Winter Games, the NBA Finals, concert, and other incredible events.
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By GlobalData“We are excited to partner with Ed Bastian and the entire Delta team to not only bring back the arena’s original name but also leverage the amazing work Delta is doing to provide incredible experiences for the people of our state and help show the world how amazing Utah is.”
As part of the agreement, Delta will also serve as the official airline of the Jazz, adding to its current role as an official community partner of the team. The carrier will gain several sponsorship and branding rights including media, hospitality, and employee engagement extensions.
Delta chief executive Ed Bastain said: “Today we celebrate a new chapter in the longstanding history between Delta, the Utah Jazz, and the Salt Lake City community.
“The homecoming of the Delta Center represents a continued investment and dedication to Salt Lake City, and together we will provide a leading sports and entertainment experience to the city and Jazz fans worldwide.”
The announcement comes after Delta signed a lease extension with Salt Lake City International Airport to keep the carrier’s hub in Utah until at least 2044, with an option to extend by another 10 years.
Last year, the carrier was named the official airline and travel partner of the US’ National Women’s Soccer League.
Vivint, meanwhile, has renegotiated its agreement with Jazz, with its naming rights deal due to expire in 2025.
Under its new agreement, which has been extended to 2030, Vivint will retain the rights to its courtside suit, as well as in-game promotions, advertising package, and digital ads placed on the court during broadcasts.
The arena is due to host the NBA All-Star Weekend on February 17 to 19.
