Fans, SLC Businesses Excited For Return Of Jazz Home Games

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Utah Jazz opened the 2019-20 NBA season with a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and fans and downtown businesses were excited to welcome the team back to Vivint Smart Home Arena.

“Yeah, we’re pretty excited for opening night,” said Provo resident Brandon Milne. “Think it’s going to be a good season.”

And things are off to a good start after Utah’s 100-95 win Wednesday night.

“I think we got a good chance this year,” said Ben Clark, who lives in Layton and went to the game with his family.

Just a couple blocks away from the arena, The Store at The Gateway had a few more customers than normal picking out snacks and food.

“It’s definitely been busy,” said Laura Palmer, who is an office manager at The Store. “I mean, foot traffic, it’s big for us. This is the first opening night Jazz season that we’ve had experienced here so it’s been really cool.”

And just outside The Store, there’s the bridge.

“Ready? Are you smiling,” said June Knight to her two grandchildren.

There is a big mural of Jazz star Donovan Mitchell on the bridge and it has become a popular spot for fans to take their picture.

“He’s a big basketball fan,” Knight said while pointing to one of her grandkids. “I turned him into a basketball fan. It’s my fault.”

In the minds of her grandchildren, she wins “Grandma of the Year” for getting that picture of them in front of Mitchell’s mural before the game.

“Oh, it’s a blast. It’s a blast. We have so much fun together. I think. Do we? Yeah, we have lots of fun. Yeah,” she said with a laugh as her two grandchildren nodded in approval.

After another successful opening night for the Jazz, fans said it felt nice coming back together again.

“I grew up going to Jazz games,” Clark said with his four kids taking pictures of them in front of the Jazz Note outside Vivint Smart Home Arena. “Best memories I have, and so yeah, passing it on is what I want to do. Making them Jazz fans for life.”