The Utah Hockey Club is gearing up for its first season in Salt Lake City, but there’s already a buzz of discontent among fans about the Delta Center’s seating.
Photos and videos are circulating online showing that some upper-level seats have obstructed views of the ice, which is frustrating for those eager to see every play.
The Delta Center, originally built in 1991, was designed for basketball games , not hockey matches. An NBA court measures 94 by 50 feet, while an NHL rink is much larger at 200 by 85 feet. Ryan Smith announced major renovations will start next year to fix this issue and should be done by late 2027.
Challenges with Arena Design:
Interestingly enough, this isn’t the first time a hockey team has faced such challenges in a basketball arena. Back in 1996, when the Phoenix Coyotes moved to Arizona, they played at America West Arena (now Footprint Center), which was made for the Phoenix Suns. This caused many seats to have poor views since they were right above one end of the ice.
Fans might think it’s annoying now but believe these changes will make things better later on. Instead of renovating back then like Smith plans to do now, the Coyotes eventually moved to a new arena in Glendale by late 2003 because their situation wasn’t resolved.
Utah promises a fresh start for this franchise; however, spectators will need patience until all improvements are complete at their multi-purpose venue.
What do you think about waiting so long for good seats?
