UTAH
Jazz Spread Holiday Cheer
Players share festive greetings with the community.
The Utah Jazz were home for the holidays. The team not only had 11 home games at Vivint Smart Home Arena in December, but their hometown presence allowed them to participate in multiple community events.
The Jazz players visited room-by-room for photos, giveaways, and conversations with boys and girls spending their holidays at Primary Children’ s Hospitals and Shriners Hospitals for Children in Salt Lake City. The annual surprise visit lifted the spirits of everyone involved.
Jazz Bear helped more than 750 underprivileged youth with the opportunity to go on a holiday shopping spree and purchase items for themselves and their families. The annual Bear Hugs for Kids program featured shopping excursions in Logan, Lehi, and South Salt Lake City. Jazz Bear also hosted youth on a special North Pole Express train ride on the Heber Valley Railroad.
Utah Jazz season ticket members shared the holiday spirit with Jazz and Salt Lake City Stars players at the Winter Bash. The holiday-themed event provided social and interactive experiences with the players. The event also served as a canned food drive for the Utah Food Bank.
New Jazzman George Hill organized his own holiday bash to benefit local military families. The Wish for Our Heroes event in Park City featured a performance by rising country music star Dustin Lynch, dinner, as well as live and silent auctions while granting wishes for deserving military members. ◆
UTAH
Letting in the Sun
Solar panels installed as part of Vivint Smart Home Arena renovation.
The top-to-bottom renovation of Vivint Smart Home Arena has literally begun on the roof with the installation of 2,700 solar panels, becoming one of the largest rooftop solar energy systems among indoor sports venues in the United States.
Covering more than 80,000 square feet on the arena rooftop and generating nearly 700 kilowatts of energy, the panels were provided by Vivint Solar and installed by Hunt Electric. The new system is the equivalent of powering two seasons of Utah
Jazz home games. It is expected to produce enough energy to equal one million pounds of coal or the equivalent of planting 5,000 trees.
“ The installation of a full array of solar panels reflects our desire to implement sustainable practices,” said Jim Olson, president of Vivint Smart Home Arena.“ The overall building transformation will incorporate environmental and energy improvements, enhance the experience for our guests, and return the arena to a first-class venue.” ◆
12 LHM Winning Spirit Jan / Feb 2017