Jon M. Huntsman Center
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Jon M. Huntsman Center (formerly known as the Special Events Center) is a 15,000-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. The arena opened in 1969 and is named after chemicals entrepreneur and billionaire philanthropist Jon M. Huntsman, father of Utah's current governor Jon Huntsman, Jr.. From its opening until the completion of the EnergySolutions Arena (formerly Delta Center) in 1991, it was Salt Lake City's premier sports and entertainment venue. Architecturally, it is known for its steel cloud, which hangs from the arena's silver dome interior. The steel cloud holds the arena's center court scoreboard, sound and lighting systems. The scoreboard was upgraded in the 1980s with the additional of state-of-the-art rear projection video screens. The rear projection system was upgraded in 1995.
The arena hosted the 1979 Final Four, featuring the first round of the rivalry between all-time greats Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Magic's Michigan State team defeated Bird's then-unbeaten Indiana State in the final, which remains the most-watched college basketball game in history. Many observers consider the Magic-Bird rivalry established here and carried into the NBA when both entered the league that fall to be a major factor in the league's 1980s renaissance.
The facility hosted the 1989 Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament.
Today the 15,000-seat arena is still home to the Utah Utes basketball and Red Rocks gymnastics teams. It also hosts concerts, although many have been second-tier events since EnergySolutions Arena opened.
The Huntsman Center has hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament 12 times (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2006). It has twice hosted the West Regional Final (1971, 1981) and one Final Four in 1979. Due to the frequency of hosting first and second round games, the Huntsman Center is second all-time in NCAA Tournament games hosted with 75.
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| Current Basketball Arenas in the Mountain West Conference |
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| Arena-Auditorium (Wyoming) • Clune Arena (Air Force) • Cox Arena (San Diego State) • Cox Pavilion (UNLV women) • Daniel-Meyer Coliseum (TCU) • Huntsman Center (Utah) • Marriott Center (BYU) • Moby Arena (Colorado State) •The Pit (New Mexico) • Thomas & Mack Center (UNLV men) |
