The University of Utah's Jon M. Huntsman Center could soon be getting a facelift .
Utah announced Monday that it has begun "a process to explore the possibility of a major renovation of the Jon M. Huntsman Center."
The university has chosen Populous and VCBO Architecture, which will conduct a "comprehensive feasibility study" exploring a range of options to modernize the arena.
The study will also assess "structural integrity, seismic resiliency and the infrastructure necessary to support future generations of student-athletes, fans and community events."
As part of the process, Utah fans will be surveyed this week via email so they can give their input.
"We are excited to begin this collaborative process with our campus partners to envision what the future can look like for our fans and our sports programs that compete in the Huntsman Center," said Utah athletic director Mark Harlan in a statement.
"We chose Populous and VCBO Architecture to conduct this feasibility study so we can really get a deeper understanding of the possibilities and opportunities that a major arena renovation would deliver, and we want to hear from those who are so important to that experience — our fans and supporters," he continued. "Whether this process leads to a moderate renovation, a transformational renovation, or a partial rebuild, it is vital that we have their input and feedback to inform the design and gameday experience they desire, and Populous and VCBO are uniquely equipped as leaders in this space."
In a February board of trustees meeting , Harlan presented options for the Huntsman Center, including a "renovation-plus" plan, which could reduce the arena's capacity to around 9,000 seats from the current 15,000 and create a "state-of-the-art arena in its current footprint," according to a slide deck from the meeting.
A renovated Huntsman Center could include more premium seating, which could increase revenue brought in from each event. The slide deck also listed non-Utah Athletics events that could be held at the venue, such as concerts, comedy shows, expos, conventions and more.
In its current location, the Huntsman Center sits in the middle of Utah's "College Town Magic" concept — a plan to transform Utah's current status as a commuter school into a university wherein a significant chunk of students live on campus.
The university has greatly increased the amount of housing available to students in recent years, including constructing residential buildings for students directly to the east of the Huntsman Center.
"There's a need for us to maybe downsize a little bit based on data that we found, create more premium (spaces), but an athletic director's dream is to be in the middle of that student area where students can just come into games and flood into it," Harlan said in February.
University of Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan speaks during a town hall at Rice-Eccles Stadium's in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
