Abravanel Hall to be preserved after Salt Lake County Council signs resolution

SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — The Salt Lake County Council signed a resolution on Tuesday, Oct. 8, to preserve Abravanel Hall after a petition to save the music hall received more than 50,000 signatures.

The passing of the resolution came a week after the Salt Lake City Council voted to approve a 0.5% tax increase to support the funding of Smith Entertainment Group’s proposed downtown revitalization project.

The resolution — a bipartisan effort co-sponsored by Councilmembers Dave Alvord and Jim Bradley — had the goal of ensuring the music hall remained “a centerpiece of Salt Lake City’s cultural landscape for future generations,” the council said in a press release.

The hall was built in 1979, and is known for its “exceptional acoustics and iconic architectural design,” the Salt Lake County Council said.

“Its preservation and the planning for its future are testaments to Salt Lake County’s dedication to fostering the arts and preserving its unique cultural heritage,” the council said.

In May 2024, community members in Salt Lake were concerned about the future of Abravanel Hall after initial talks of a downtown entertainment district emphasizing the Utah Jazz and the NHL in Utah were in the earlier stages.

The community gathered to create and sign a petition — an effort that the council called “successful” when announcing the passed resolution.

“Abravanel Hall is more than just a building. It’s a symbol of our commitment to the arts, to culture, and to the unique identity of Salt Lake County,” co-sponsor Alvord said. “We’re proud to be part of ensuring that future generations can experience its world-class acoustics and architectural beauty.”

The resolution was signed at an event on Tuesday featuring a performance from a Utah Symphony string quartet. Resolution co-sponsor Bradley said seeing the resolution pass was meaningful to him, as he was part of naming the hall after conductor Maurice Abravanel.

“He left a legacy of world-class symphonic music in Utah,” Bradley said of the hall’s namesake. “It is only fitting to his memory that we pass this resolution with a commitment to keep his legacy alive for generations to come.”

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said she will work with the Utah Symphony to develop a renovation plan to preserve the hall for the future — and she said the plan will “include community input and ongoing collaboration.”

“Like so many in the community, we want the symphony to thrive for the next 50 years and beyond,” Wilson said.

The Salt Lake County Council, Smith Entertainment Group, and Salt Lake City are all expected to collaborate to keep Abravanel Hall “a vibrant hub” and make sure it is integrated into the future Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention District.

“We are thrilled that the County Council is committed to preserving the hall so we can continue to make music here for many more years to come,” Utah Symphony violinist and musician representative Karen Wyatt said.

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