The Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games (SLC-UT) has identified 13 proposed local venues as part of its Preferred Host bid file for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The plan includes a core of existing venues along with bringing the new events of ski and snowboard big air into the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. With all venues within an hour of the athlete village, it’s the most compact Games layout since 2002.
“Our venue partners represent a modern, sustainable approach to sport,” said SLC-UT President and CEO Fraser Bullock. “They have continued contributing to Utah’s sports legacy with ongoing programs and regular updates. And the ability to bring big air into downtown Salt Lake City will create great memories for athletes and spectators.”
Bullock also noted that there will likely be changes over the next decade. “Ten years is a long time, and event locations will evolve based on ownership changes, new sports, or new venue opportunities,” he said. “Events in the Games have also increased nearly 40% since 2002, so we will have time to evaluate the best placement.”
Since being named America’s Choice by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee in 2018, SLC-UT 2034 leaders have been working continuously with proposed host venues. The IOC named Salt Lake City-Utah its Preferred Host for the 2034 Winter Games in November 2023.
“We salute the commitment of our proposed venues and their respective communities,” said Bullock. “Over the past two decades, they have all remained resolute in their dedication to sport and are an active part of Utah’s sports culture.”
Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation President and CEO Colin Hilton managed the venue partnership program. His organization also oversees public legacy venues, including the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah Olympic Park in Park City, and Soldier Hollow in Midway.
“It is remarkable to see how every venue is still robust and in active use,” he said. “But, most of all, what we’ve seen is great passion on the part of our venues and their surrounding communities to be a part of the Games.”
The plan includes all three Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation venues. It also features resorts, including Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort in Park City, along with Snowbasin near Ogden. Indoor arena facilities include the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Maverik Center in West Valley City, and Peaks Ice Arena in Provo. A single centralized athlete village will be located at the University of Utah, with a new athlete family village nearby. Opening and closing ceremonies are proposed at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
One of the most noteworthy additions is a proposed downtown location for big air, which became an Olympic event in 2018 and is now contested in both skiing and snowboarding. Big air generally takes place on a towering portable scaffold structure, which is flexible in its location. The proposed venue in downtown Salt Lake City is Block 85, the site of the Medals Plaza in 2002. It is located in close proximity to the Delta Center and Salt Palace Convention Center.
“Big air has been a remarkable event that has literally brought the sport to the people,” said Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation COO Calum Clark, who has overseen similar events in downtown Denver’s Civic Park and Boston’s Fenway Park. “Producing big air in the heart of Salt Lake City will be an iconic event destined to leave an indelible mark on the 2034 Winter Games.”
Another new proposed competition venue for 2034 is the Salt Palace Convention Center for Olympic curling and Paralympic wheelchair curling. SLC-UT made the venue selection in concert with World Curling and will feature a temporary curling ice sheet and seating for 6,500 spectators.
“Curling has grown in popularity worldwide, and certainly in America, with Team USA winning gold in 2018,” said Bullock. “The Salt Palace offered a sustainable approach with a temporary facility and the opportunity to expand seating without permanent new construction.”
The nearly 700,000-square-foot Salt Palace venue will also house the Main Media Center, which includes the International Broadcast Center.
SLC-UT 2034 and venue leaders are working actively with respective international sports federations to review venues and discuss specific events in each sport. In addition, discussions continue with each host venue community to help them maximize their local benefit.
“We have had great collaborative discussions with each of our venue partners and their respective communities,” said Hilton. “That spirit of partnership from our resorts, our commercial venues, and our public arenas has been gratifying and is a hallmark of our bid.”
Salt Lake City-Utah is the lone Preferred Host being considered by the International Olympic Committee for 2034. An election is anticipated this July at the 142nd IOC Session in Paris.
PROPOSED OLYMPIC COMPETITION VENUES
Alpine Skiing: Snowbasin, Ogden
Biathlon: Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, Midway
Cross Country Skiing: Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, Midway
Curling: Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City
Figure Skating: Delta Center, Salt Lake City
Freestyle Skiing: Block 85 (downtown), Salt Lake City (big air)
Deer Valley Resort, Park City
Park City Mountain, Park City
Utah Olympic Park, Park City
Ice Hockey: Maverik Center, West Valley City
Peaks Ice Arena, Provo
Nordic Combined: Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, Midway
Utah Olympic Park, Park City
Snowboarding: Block 85 (downtown), Salt Lake City (big air)
Park City Mountain, Park City
Utah Olympic Park, Park City
Speed Skating: Delta Center, Salt Lake City (short track)
Utah Olympic Oval, Kearns (long track)
OTHER PROPOSED OLYMPIC VENUES
Opening and Closing Ceremonies: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City
Olympic Village: University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Olympic Medals Plaza: Block 85 (Downtown), Salt Lake City
Main Media Center: Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City
PARALYMPIC COMPETITION VENUES
Para Alpine Skiing: Snowbasin, Ogden
Para Biathlon: Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, Midway
Para Cross Country Skiing: Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, Midway
Wheelchair Curling: Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City
Para Ice Hockey: Maverik Center, West Valley City
Para Snowboarding: Utah Olympic Park, Park City
OTHER PROPOSED PARALYMPIC VENUES
Opening and Closing Ceremonies: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City
Paralympic Village: University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Paralympic Medals Plaza: Block 85 (Downtown), Salt Lake City
Main Media Center: Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City
