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How Delta is Expanding its Salt Lake City Hub with This NBA Team

How Delta is Expanding its Salt Lake City Hub with This NBA Team

BY GEORGE MWANGI 07/10/2023 AGO 0 COMMENTS

Delta Air Lines has extended its sponsorship deal with the NBA's Utah Jazz as the team heads into its 50th anniversary next year. On July 1, Delta became the Official Airline of the Utah Jazz and the team's home arena was renamed the Delta Center. Delta already has a large presence in Salt Lake City through the hub it operates at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).

 



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The return of the Delta Center name to the Utah Jazz's stadium is the first time in sports history that a stadium's name has been used more than once. Delta's partnership with the Utah Jazz includes upcoming joint community activations, fan-centric programming, and extensive sponsorship, media, and branding rights at the Delta Center. Furthermore, Delta will become a sponsor of the Junior Jazz program and remain an Official Community Partner of the team.

 

Photo: Jacob Smith | AeroXplorer

 

Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, said: "We're proud to partner with the Utah Jazz to serve a community that 5,000 Delta people call home and more than 26 million customers travel through each year. Through this expanded engagement, we'll have an even stronger presence in Salt Lake City to foster an elevated community experience and cement it as the premier entertainment and leisure destination in the region."

 

Ryan Smith, Chairman of Smith Entertainment Group and Governor of the Utah Jazz, added: "Delta's commitment to Utah, to being a true partner, and to helping provide incredible experiences for all their guests aligns perfectly with our mission to provide exceptional fan experiences to everyone in the Utah Jazz family. Throughout this 50th anniversary season and beyond, Jazz fans will continue to make amazing memories at Delta Center."

 

Photo: Peter Cuthbert | AeroXplorer

 

Salt Lake City serves as Delta's fourth-largest hub with more than 230 daily departures. Delta is continuing to upgrade the airport to expand passenger capacity as its footprint expands. The airline offers domestic flights to a variety of destinations through Delta and its regional subsidiary Delta Connection.

 



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Furthermore, Delta offers nonstop international flights to the following destinations in North America and Europe from Salt Lake City:

 

  • Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
  • Calgary International Airport (YYC)
  • Cancún International Airport (CUN)
  • London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
  • Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
  • Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
  • Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR) in Puerto Villarta, Mexico
  • Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) in Los Cabos, Mexico
  • Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
  • Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

 

Photo: Pablo Armenta | AeroXplorer

 

The agreement between Delta Air Lines and the Utah Jazz was announced in January to prepare for the team's 50th anniversary as an NBA franchise. To celebrate the occasion, the partners will host a special "Welcome Home" celebration at the Delta Center in the fall before the start of the 2023-24 NBA season.

 



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Delta and the Utah Jazz will collaborate on a variety of opportunities to directly engage with fans and establish a connection with passengers flying on Delta-operated flights from Salt Lake City. The opportunities include:

 

  • Providing educational and mentorship opportunities for youth in Salt Lake City through partnering with community organizations such as Junior Achievement of Utah.
  • The "Reverse Flyway" experience that provides select fans in NBA markets outside of Utah with the opportunity to travel on a Delta-operated flight to a game at the Delta Center.

 

Photo: Zachary Metsch | AeroXplorer

 

Fans saw the Delta Center for the first time on July 3, 5, and 6 during the 2023 Salt Lake City Summer League. The original Delta Center name existed for 17 seasons from 1991 to 2006.

 

The rebranding process started in April, with the installation of internal and external Delta Center logos completed in early June. Interior upgrades are currently underway so that Delta Center branding appears in every area of the venue. Among the most important components are the center-hung scoreboard, digital signage, and the basketball court itself.

 



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Finally, the Delta Sky360 Club is currently being redesigned through a design overhaul that will be completed before the 2023-24 NBA season. The invitation-only club on the first floor of the stadium had received upgrades before the 2022-23 season. The broadcast studio on the arena's fifth floor that hosts the team's pre-game, halftime, and post-game shows will also be rebranded Delta Studios.

George Mwangi
Aviation writer based in Washington, DC. Visited 21 countries on thousands of miles of flights.

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