Utah Jazz Allowing Full Capacity in Vivint Arena With Second Round
Jun 3, 2021, 5:41 PM | Updated: 8:13 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – You can almost feel the electricity in the air.
Especially coming from Vivint SmartHome Arena in downtown Salt Lake City.
“I’m a life-long Jazz fan,” said Josh Cann. “I’m excited. We haven’t been a one seed since ’97 or ’98.”
Since the Jazz are still in the playoffs after beating Memphis Wednesday night to advance, Josh Cann wanted new gear.
(KSL TV)
“I’m kind of a retro looking shirt,” he said while shopping inside the team store at the arena.
With the next game, there will also be a retro look inside the arena.
It’s something that hasn’t been seen in more than a year.
“Yeah, we’re to bring full capacity to Vivint Arena as the Jazz advance to the second round,” said Frank Zang, who is the Vice President of Communications for the Utah Jazz.
For the first time this season, 18,000-plus fans will be allowed inside Vivint.
Vivint Arena in downtown Salt Lake City (Stuart Johnson, KSL TV)
“You know, we’ve missed our fans throughout the season,” said Zang. “So, it’s been really great to have them back. And even though we’ve had these incremental steps to increase capacity, to be able to be the first team in the NBA to go full capacity is a great accomplishment for everyone involved.”
It might not be Stockton to Malone great, few things in the NBA are, but a packed arena gives the team a great home court advantage.
“It does make a difference to how the players emotionally feel and are motivated,” said Zang. “There truly is a homecourt advantage with the playoffs and with our team as well, so it’s an important factor that figures in.”
Outside Vivint Arena in downtown Salt Lake City (Stuart Johnson, KSL TV)
Getting back to normal feels like Utah has already won a championship.
Just think of how electric Utah would be if the Jazz bring home the Championship.
It could happen.
“Well, I think after such a rough year and everything, with Covid, it would really give everybody a boost and help morale of the whole state,” said Brent Jeppesen, who lives in Logan and was shopping at the team store with his family.
Masks will still be required inside the arena, so things will still look a little different.
However, a packed house cheering crowd for the Jazz in a playoff game will sound like good old days.
Back when Michael Jordan definitely pushed off.
