Jon M. Huntsman Center
Jon M. Huntsman Center is a basketball arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, home of the Utah Utes (Big 12, NCAA Division I). It opened in 1969, making it 57 years old in 2026 and seats 15,000 for basketball. It ranks 4th of 16 in the Big 12 by capacity.
Its record crowd is 16,019 for gymnastics vs. Michigan (2015).
Arena facts
- Location
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Home of
- Utah Utes
- School
- University of Utah
- Conference
- Big 12
- Opened
- 1969
- Capacity
- 15,000
- Former names
- Special Events Center (1969–1987)
- Record crowd
- 16,019 for gymnastics vs. Michigan (2015)
- Also home to
- Utah Utes women's basketball
Utah Red Rocks gymnastics
Utah Utes women's volleyball - Size rank in D-I
- 28th of 360
Famous games at Jon M. Huntsman Center
- March 24, 1979: Larry Bird's unbeaten Indiana State edged DePaul 76-74 in a Final Four semifinal, while Michigan State routed Penn 101-67.
- March 26, 1979: Magic Johnson's Michigan State beat Bird's Indiana State 75-64 for the NCAA title, still the most-watched college basketball game ever.
- 1981: Utah lost a West Regional semifinal at home to North Carolina 61-56.
- 1981: North Carolina beat Kansas State 82-68 in the West Regional final to reach the Final Four.
Seating & views at Jon M. Huntsman Center
The Huntsman Center seats about 15,000 for basketball, and a 2014 renovation replaced the seats and moved them closer to the floor. For 2026-27, Utah moved both team benches back to the west side and unified the MUSS student section in sections T and U, with the band in section U and a dedicated student entrance at Door 1. Season ticket holders displaced from T and U were offered sections F, G or H.
Parking & tailgating at Jon M. Huntsman Center
On-campus parking near the Huntsman Center is limited, especially on weeknights, though there is a parking structure just east of the arena and paid lots around campus. The easiest route is transit: a Utah game ticket works as a free pass on UTA buses, TRAX and FrontRunner on game day, and the TRAX Red Line's South Campus station sits next to the arena. Rice-Eccles Stadium lots have been used for free parking with shuttles to the game.
Plan your trip to Jon M. Huntsman Center
Arenas near Jon M. Huntsman Center10
- 1NBADelta Center — Utah Jazz same city
- 2G LeagueMaverik Center — Salt Lake City Stars 3 mi
- 3D-IUCCU Center — Utah Valley Wolverines 33 mi
- 4D-IMarriott Center — BYU Cougars 35 mi
- 5D-IDee Events Center — Weber State Wildcats 37 mi
- 6D-ISmith Spectrum — Utah State Aggies 70 mi
- 7D-IICCU Dome — Idaho State Bengals 149 mi
- 8D-IAmerica First Event Center — Southern Utah Thunderbirds 219 mi
- 9D-IBurns Arena — Utah Tech Trailblazers 265 mi
- 10D-IExtraMile Arena — Boise State Broncos 296 mi
Questions about Jon M. Huntsman Center
Where do the Utah Utes play home games?
The Utah Utes play at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
How many people does Jon M. Huntsman Center hold?
Jon M. Huntsman Center seats 15,000 for basketball.
When did Jon M. Huntsman Center open?
Jon M. Huntsman Center opened in 1969.
What is the attendance record at Jon M. Huntsman Center?
The record crowd at Jon M. Huntsman Center is 16,019 for gymnastics vs. Michigan (2015).
What other arenas are near Jon M. Huntsman Center?
Delta Center is also in Salt Lake City. See the full list of nearby arenas on this page.
Facts are for the 2026–27 season. Distances are straight-line miles between city centers. Capacity figures vary by source. See something wrong? Let us know. Is this your arena? Get the “Listed on Hoops Arenas” badge for your website.