Park City is weighing the future of its Main Street core. Perhaps the China Bridge garage could be replaced. There could be new lodging options, workforce or otherwise income-restricted housing and other upgrades. The work may occur before the 2034 Winter Olympics. But another destination in the area has far more ambitious plans for its own downtown. The vision recently outlined for the future of Salt Lake City’s core would transform a swath of the capital city into what is being touted as an entertainment, sports, culture and convention district. It would be an extraordinary reimagining of an area that’s already a top draw for people along the Wasatch Front and is critical to the state’s tourism industry. The district would include a 6,000-seat Live Nation concert venue that could host between 80 and 120 concerts each year. The Delta Center’s front door would be reworked. There would be a new hotel, restaurants and a central gathering place. Pedestrian connections would link prime locations like the Delta Center and City Creek Center. The Salt Palace could be redesigned to host several major conventions at once. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall projects the district could draw 5 million visitors each year. Significant projects in Salt Lake City, such as the airport expansion, are often seen as benefiting Park City. The new downtown Salt Lake City concept could also bring a spillover of tourists to the Park City area, considering the sheer number of people expected to visit the district. Park City Chamber/Bureau President and CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff said what’s happening in downtown Salt Lake City is a real win for Utah and for Park City. “When Salt Lake gets stronger, the state gets stronger, and Park City gets stronger. Our two destinations have always worked as a team, and most of our visitors already fly into Salt Lake,” Wesselhoff said in a prepared response to a Park Record inquiry about the potential local impacts of a downtown district. “Someone who comes for a convention at a reimagined Salt Palace, a concert, or a Mammoth game at the Delta Center is suddenly about 40 minutes from our mountains, our trails, and Main Street. Our job is to turn that visit into an extra night or a return trip with the family.” Wesselhoff said the Park City tourism industry can draw on Salt Lake City’s improvements in several ways. As examples, she noted the work that could occur at the Salt Palace, a concert venue and the sports. “There’s so much opportunity here. A modern convention center … more meeting planners looking seriously at Utah, and we want Park City to be their first call for pre and post tours, offsite events, and executive retreats,” she said. “Bigger concerts and sporting events downtown also give our own guests more to enjoy during their stay, especially in our shoulder seasons. And with the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games ahead of us, this kind of investment strengthens the story our whole region gets to tell the world. The key will be making it easy and sustainable to move between the city and the mountains, which is why regional transportation stays such an important conversation for us.” Wesselhoff added the Chamber/Bureau will work closely with Visit Salt Lake to tell one regional story, and that a downtown district in Salt Lake City would complement Park City’s tourism offerings rather than compete with them. “Park City offers something you simply can’t build in an urban downtown. People come here for the snow, the outdoors, and the small town feel of Main Street. An urban entertainment district and a mountain town are two very different experiences, and together they make Utah a more complete destination. The more people who discover Utah, the bigger the pie gets for all of us,” she said. An entertainment, sports, culture and convention district is envisioned in Salt Lake City. The Park City Chamber/Bureau says Park City is strengthened when Salt Lake City improves. Park City leaders only occasionally address topics related to Salt Lake City, such as transportation routes and preparations for the Winter Olympics. In August, Park City Councilor Tana Toly — before the district’s recent unveiling — spoke about rising competition from places within an hour or so drive of Park City. In her comments during the City Council meeting, Toly listed Salt Lake City among the competitors. At the time, she said Salt Lake City is “becoming really cool. It’s actually, like, a fun place to go. There’s great stuff. There’s great restaurants. There’s great bars.” Toly provided a prepared statement regarding the plans for downtown Salt Lake City. “Investment in our capital city and throughout the region is something to celebrate. At the same time, we need to recognize the changes happening around us. Park City has always offered something different, and that’s our strength. Our mountain town character, history, and sense of community are what make this place special, and it all starts with Main Street. We need to keep investing in it and elevating it so it remains the crown jewel of the Wasatch Back,” Toly said. The post Salt Lake City’s downtown plans seen as benefiting Park City’s tourism industry appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less