New $17 million Fairpark stadium opens in time for rodeo

SALT LAKE CITY – A new $17 million stadium at the Utah State Fairpark is set to open in time for this month’s Days of ’47 Rodeo.

The 10,000-seat stadium is designed to give the rodeo a new permanent home and rejuvenate the west-side neighbourhood around the aging fairgrounds, the Deseret News reported (http://bit.ly/2uiv6Y9 ).

The state of Utah gave $10 million for the stadium while The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contributed $3 million. The rest was paid for by city and county governments and private donations.

“This was a really good opportunity to bring the private sector and the public sector … together to continue taking care of this place, which is really important to not only the community on the west side, but also the whole state of Utah,” said state Sen. Luz Escamilla, a Democrat from Salt Lake City. “I truly believe this will help bring more life to the west side.”

The rodeo had been held in recent years at Vivint Smart Home Arena where the NBA’s Utah Jazz play their games.

The new Fairpark stadium is also expected to host motorsports events, concerts, demolition derbies, equestrian events and other rodeos.

It is west of Interstate-15 and on the opposite of much of the city’s top attractions. Larry Mullenax, executive director of the Fairpark, said he’s hopeful new restaurants and shops will open nearby to make the Fairpark more of a destination.

State lawmakers funded the stadium in hopes of creating a nice venue to bring rural Utah residents into the city for rodeos and other activities that involve agriculture, said state Sen. Kevin Van Tassell, a Republican from Vernal.

“It brings the farm and city together,” Van Tassell said.

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Information from: Deseret News, http://www.deseretnews.com