11. Jazz Fans Returning To Vivint Arena
Oct 9, 2021, 10:50 AM | Updated: 1:55 pm
(Photo: Ben Anderson/KSL Sports)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz open their season on October 20, just 11 days from today. With the clock ticking, we look at 50 things for Jazz fans to be excited about leading up to the 2021-22 NBA season. Coming in at number 11, fans returning to Vivint Arena.
Jazz Fans Returning To Vivint Arena
Opening night for the Jazz will look significantly different this season than it did last when the team welcomes 18,000+ fans back to Vivint Arena.
Last year, only 1,500 fans were in attendance for the team games before gradually building to full capacity by the second round of the playoffs.
This year, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be greeted by a full arena as the Jazz look to defend last season’s best record in the NBA. Last season the Jazz proved to have the best home-court advantage in the NBA winning 31 of their 36 games in Salt Lake City, including a franchise-record 24 game unbeaten streak.
Our countdown of the top 50 reasons to be excited for the 2021-22 @utahjazz season. #TakeNote https://t.co/X45AS6m2de
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 8, 2021
In the league’s annual GM survey, NBA front office members recognized the team’s home court edge, voting the Jazz as having the best home-court advantage.
The Jazz overwhelmingly got the nod from GMs earning 47 percent of the vote, more than doubling the recognition the Nuggets got for playing in Denver.
But while the team has lifted constraints on the number of fans who can attend games, there are still restrictions in place for those wanting to see the Jazz in person.
Last month, the team announced that fans wanting to attend Jazz home games would be required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the game.
“As a community gathering place, we have a responsibility to protect our guests by putting health and safety standards in place,” said Jim Olson, president of Vivint Arena and the Utah Jazz said in a release by the team.
“The delta variant is a threat to the sports and entertainment industry and our community at large. We ask Jazz fans to get vaccinated to help stop the surge. We stand united with health care professionals on the importance of vaccinations. We believe this is the path forward to shut down this pandemic.”
With the regular season less than two weeks away, watching Jazz fans fill Vivint Arena once again is certainly one of the top 50 storylines heading into opening night.