What comes with a corporate suite at the Delta Center?

This story appears in the October issue of Utah Business. Subscribe.

“I could see player’s facial expressions, hear them talking, and feel almost immersed in the game,” says Nate Bezzant, a customer success manager at Domo, who attended a Utah Jazz game last season in Domo’s courtside box.

“There was a table, couches and a TV. It honestly felt like I was hanging out in a house with my friends,” he says. “I felt grateful to have been chosen to have such a fun experience with a few of my friends that I brought and my co-workers.”

With a promising season ahead for the Utah Jazz and the inaugural Utah Hockey Club season in full swing, the Delta Center is solidifying its position as the premier sports location in Utah. For local companies, it also means an opportunity to provide next-level employee appreciation, business development and client entertainment through a variety of luxury suites and boxes.

From courtside to the top of the upper bowl, 60 suites offer great views of the games, parking passes, and a food and beverage experience. While pricing varies between the suites, Chris Barney, chief commercial officer for the Utah Jazz, assures, “There is something for everybody.”

About 85 percent of the suites are dedicated to lease agreements, but the remaining are sold on a single-event basis. The suites are also available for concerts or other Delta Center events. Companies who purchase a lease have all Delta Center events included in their package.

Work hard, play hard

Delta Center events provide a great opportunity to meet clients and peers in a more intimate environment. Being set off from the crowd facilitates meaningful and memorable interactions.

Jerry Barker, SVP of treasury management at Zions Bank, has been attending Delta Center events in the company’s suite since he began at the bank over 20 years ago.

“It’s really, in my opinion, a very safe environment to have conversations about all kinds of things,” Barker says. “It doesn’t have to be strictly business-related.”

Barney notes that it can be “hard to get people’s time these days,” so when companies are able to invite clients or partners not just to a lunch or dinner but to a basketball game or concert, “You can get an executive or prospective client in a private space with you, food and beverage plus entertainment for two hours. It’s incredibly appealing and a lot easier to get people interested in doing that.”

At the Zions Bank suite, Barker says they’ve seen success in inviting their suite guests to bring a plus one. It can be difficult to ask people to spend more time away from their families, and Barney found that clients wanted to share the experience of going to the Delta Center with their spouses, siblings or friends.

Recruit, retain, reward

Companies also often use suites to show employees appreciation. When seats in the box are available, companies might offer them to employees who have performed well or use a lottery or “first-come-first-served” system to give away spots.

In addition to providing opportunities for current employees to enjoy Delta Center events, Barney noted that companies use their boxes to “recruit prospective employees and showcase company culture.”

Cole Rieben, senior director of marketing at Aptive Environmental, says the company primarily uses its corporate suite for employee retention and recruiting. Since starting to offer the perk, the company has seen “a tangible increase in employee retention,” he says, adding that the suite allows “people in different internal functions and organizations to mingle and possibly collaborate.”

Steve Sonnenberg, co-founder and CEO of Awardco, says that investing in a corporate suite has helped elevate his company’s interactions with clients, prospects, partners and employees.

“While it may be challenging to directly quantify the ROI, we’ve found it to be a valuable addition to our overall strategy for relationship building,” he says. “The connections and experiences forged in this setting often translate into long-term benefits that go beyond immediate financial metrics.”

Sweet corporate suites

In July 2024, the Smith Entertainment Group announced details for the Delta Center renovation to support both the NBA and NHL teams. The project is expected to pick up in April 2025 and be completed in various stages over the next few years, wrapping up in October 2027 for the 2027-28 season for both teams.

“As we look to really convert the Delta Center into a true basketball and hockey building, we’re going to be introducing a lot of really fun, new and exciting products, including new types of boxes and suites,” Barney says.

And when it comes to the Utah Hockey Club, “We’re incredibly excited,” Barney says. “We’ve been blown away by how excited Utah is. There’s been so much interest. There are going to be some incredible opportunities to come out and catch some hockey games. We already have huge waiting lists for people who want tickets, boxes and suites. We’re doing our best to make sure everybody has an opportunity to come out and experience it.”

Companies interested in purchasing single-event suites or wanting more information on leasing can contact the Delta Center.

Pricing for individual Utah Jazz games