Project Description

    Beginning in September of 2009, GTS prepared the Business Case for the Utah Performing Arts Center (UPAC), in Salt Lake City, Utah. The UPAC business case is based on the following six areas of community benefits 1) Activate and revitalize Main Street between 1st South and 2nd South; 2) Leverage the economic impact of City Creek Center; 3) Create date availability for entertainment product not currently on the market; 4) Introduce and attract new and broader audiences to the downtown cultural core; 5) Enhance the Salt Lake City and Utah brand as a place to visit, live, work and play and 6) Create educational opportunities and cultural enrichment state wide. GTS along with our specialty consultants, prepared a detailed organizational and financial operating plan to maximize UPAC’s operating success, including an assessment of venues and seating capacity, and provided objective, practical insights and recommendations to enhance the positive impact the proposed facility can have on community vitality, arts and entertainment offerings, and economic development priorities through the introduction of a “cultural core” concept.

    This Vision Plan provided the design and operational policy document and that was instrumental to the project approach to finance and the decision to move forward with the work. The Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency, The Salt Lake City Council and the Salt Lake County Council jointly voted to process with a $120M bond issue in support of this project.