Utah sportscasters are ecstatic about the addition of 41 new nights of professional hockey entertainment hosted by the Delta Center, which will supplement the 41 existing nights of professional basketball entertainment already available at the venue. They believe that this initiative will provide a significant boost to the city’s downtown core and its citizens, however, other stakeholders, such as news anchors, church leaders, politicians, business leaders, and academics, may come to a different conclusion if they take the time to consider the matter more deeply.
One concern is that the project will necessitate a substantial expenditure of public tax dollars, which will be taken from the paychecks of Utah residents. It may also detract from discretionary time spent on adult continuing education, homework and school-based dance and drama nights for high school students, political organizing for democracy, volunteer time for nonprofits, church social time, and college education savings for young people.
Critics argue that, in a time of crisis for both the state and the nation, it is unwise to further bury our heads in the sand. They believe that the Smith Entertainment Group’s new fandom initiative may not provide the social, educational, and economic benefits that its proponents claim. Instead, they contend that it will simply serve to transfer wealth from Utah working families to a billionaire and draw people away from their families and into restaurants.
The need for a more balanced approach that considers the broader implications of the project is emphasized by these worries. Before making a final decision, it is essential to weigh the possible advantages against the possible drawbacks to ensure that the best interests of all Utahns are served.
