Gail Miller: SLC Hosting NBA All-Star Game ‘Is A Tremendous Honor’
Oct 23, 2019, 5:48 PM
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) talks to team owner Gail Miller after the Jazz beat the Dallas Mavericks at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. (Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
(Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz owner said that hosting the 2023 NBA All-Star game “is a tremendous honor” for Salt Lake City.
Miller spoke about the privilege of having the exclusive event come to Utah during a press conference announcing the 2023 host city on Wednesday, October 23.
Miller, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Utah Jazz President Jim Olson, Utah Governor Gary Herbert, Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, CEO of Larry H. Miller Group of Companies Steve Starks, and other influential figures were in attendance for the announcement.
“The return of the NBA All-Star Game to Salt Lake City is a tremendous honor and an opportunity for us to welcome back the NBA family for one of basketball’s biggest events,” said Miller.
Gail Miller, “Today we are honored to welcome the All-Star game back to a Salt Lake City.” pic.twitter.com/aycAwMMC0M
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 23, 2019
Salt Lake City will host the NBA All-Star game for the first time in 30 years during the 2022-23 season. The Miller Family and Vivint Smart Home Arena, then known as the Delta Center, previously hosted the game in 1993.
Gail Miller at the podium now: Says it's amazing how a few simple words can make everyone in #Utah so happy.#TakeNote
— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) October 23, 2019
Former Jazzmen Karl Malone and John Stockton participated in the 1993 event and were honored as co-MVPs of the game. Miller said that the memory of the event still lives on.
“The memory of John Stockton and Karl Malone sharing MVP honors 30 years ago remains strong. We are excited to create new memories for this generation of NBA fans in a place that loves to celebrate basketball,” said Miller.
Miller: "It will be one to remember."#TakeNote
— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) October 23, 2019
The Miller family and the Jazz organization undertook a $125 million renovation of Vivint Smart Home Arena in the summer of 2017 to improve the fan experience, and with hosting another All-Star game in mind.
“The 1993 All-Star game was very exciting for me, for my family, for the fans, and for the whole community,” Miller said.
Silver highlighted among other reasons, the Miller family was one of the primary reasons that Salt Lake City’s bid for the event was selected above others.
I asked NBA commissioner Adam Silver what separated Salt Lake City's 2023 NBA All-Star bid from the rest of the field. #TakeNote #UtahJazz #NBAAllStar2023 #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/RtU2J4aZpg
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) October 23, 2019
