IOC distances itself from NHL, MLB stadiums in Salt Lake City

Officials have made it clear that the IOC does not want Salt Lake City to use the 2034 Winter Olympics as an excuse to build a venue.

International Olympic Committee officials sent a strong message to Salt Lake City officials on Monday: “Go ahead with building an NHL or MLB stadium, but don't use the Olympics as a scapegoat.”

Olympic Games Secretary-General Christophe Duby told reporters that if Salt Lake City is chosen to host the 2034 Winter Olympics, the IOC will consider using such a venue if it exists. . But construction of the facility is not essential to Utah's bid.

“At no time, [the construction of] These venues must be part of the Olympic Games,” Dubi said. “We don't want any of these venues to say, 'Okay, we need to develop MLB, NHL or other causes because they also serve the Olympics.' ” That needs to be made very clear. ”

Late last month, the Utah Legislature approved a bill that would put at least $900 million in tax dollars toward construction of NHL arenas and MLB stadiums if the state is successful in acquiring one or both professional sports franchises.

Both venue projects are loosely tied to the Olympics.

When a group led by Jazz owner Ryan Smith formally submitted a bid to bring an NHL expansion team to Salt Lake City in January, it touted the Olympic ties to both the area's past and future. Lawmakers also connected the need for a new hockey stadium to the impending arrival of the Winter Olympics during consideration of the bill on the Senate floor.

Additionally, Fraser Bullock, president and CEO of the local organizing committee, said last fall that the proposed MLB stadium in the Power District near Utah Fair Park would serve as a medal plaza if built. He told the Tribune that he believed it was possible.

If not, there are many options already available to local committees.

Dubi and Jacqueline Barrett, director of the IOC Future Hosts Commission, spoke to reporters ahead of the commission's planned trip in April to inspect the Utah venue. The Salt Lake City-Utah Games Committee formally submitted its candidacy for the 2034 Olympics to the IOC last week. The 5,000-page tender outlines all planned and potential venues. Block said neither MLB nor NHL stadiums were among the venues.

“The reality is that we have contracts in place with each venue that are probably about 20 pages long,” Block said, adding, “Right now, we have all the specific details that we can actually use to host the Olympics. It's listed,” he said.

Barrett said future host committee officials will rely on that plan when they visit the state next month. After the visit, the Future Hosts Committee will make a final recommendation to the IOC Executive Board. The Executive Board will then decide whether to allow the IOC general membership to vote on accepting Salt Lake City's bid to host the 2034 Winter Olympics. The vote is expected to take place on July 24 or 25, a few days before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Summer Games. If passed, Utah will officially begin the countdown to its second Olympics.

“We are currently discussing the venue proposal submitted by the University of Utah Salt Lake,” Barrett said. “If there's another, better possibility available in the coming years, and maybe even after the election, why not consider it? You'd be foolish not to look at it.”

The IOC has focused on sustainability in recent years, including encouraging potential host countries to use existing structures. One of the reasons Salt Lake City's bid is considered so strong is that it has been able to use all of the same venues since 2002, without having to build a new permanent venue.

Dubi made it clear that this aspect of the bid remains more attractive to the IOC than a stadium built with taxpayer money.

“Let's stop tying investment in these venues to the need for the Olympics,” he said.

“I hope that's clear.”