Big League Utah names community leaders to two advisory boards
Big League Utah, the Salt Lake City-based coalition formed last April to position Utah’s capital city as a Major League Baseball (MLB) expansion market, has announced the creation of honorary and community advisory boards.
“Board members’ expertise and commitment to Utah’s success will help advance the multi-faceted campaign and focused efforts,” Big League Utah said in a release.
Named to the honorary advisory board are Gail Miller, co-founder and owner of the Larry H. Miller Co.; and local elected leaders Gov. Spencer J. Cox; Senate President J. Stuart Adams; House Speaker Mike Schultz; Utah State Senator Luz Escamilla; Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall; Salt Lake City Councilmember Victoria Petro; former Congressman and former Utah House Speaker Rob Bishop; and Point of the Mountain State Land Authority Board Co-Chair and former member of the Utah State House of Representatives Lowry Snow.
The community advisory board includes Steve Miller, chair of the Larry H. Miller Co.; Greg Miller, vice chair of the Larry H. Miller Co.; Steve Starks, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Co.; Scott Anderson, president and CEO of Zions Bank; Dave Checketts, businessman and sports executive; Spencer P. Eccles, co-founder and managing partner of the Cynosure Group; Maria Garciaz, CEO of NeighborWorks Salt Lake; Kem Gardner, CEO of Gardner Cos.; Natalie Gochnour, executive director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute; Gary Hoogeveen, president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Power; David Huntsman, president and COO of the Huntsman Foundation; Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber; Todd Pedersen, founder of Vivint Smart Home and businessman; Thayne Shaffer, president and CEO of America First Credit Union; Sidni Shorter, president and CEO of the Utah Black Chamber; and Spencer Zwick, co-founder and managing partner of Solamere Capital.
“We have an exceptional ownership group, a shovel-ready ballpark site, overwhelming community support in a strong growth market for MLB. We know this could be a multi-year effort, but we’re off to a great start and are encouraged that so many are seeing Salt Lake City as a major league market,” said Starks. “Like securing the return of the Winter Olympic Games, these big-vision projects don’t happen without close collaboration and teamwork — hallmarks of our community.”
The Power District, envisioned by Big League Utah as the site of a new MLB ballpark, is an approximately 100-acre, shovel-ready site in the heart of Salt Lake City’s Westside. The site features views of the downtown skyline and Wasatch Mountains. Big League Utah said it is ideally located between the Salt Lake International Airport and downtown Salt Lake City, is bordered by Interstate 80 and light rail, as well as the Utah State Fairpark and Jordan River.
“Our family knows the impact that sports can have on communities,” said Steve Miller. “We are particularly excited about the impact a Major League Baseball team could have on Salt Lake City’s west side. The Power District is perfectly located as a connector between people, businesses and sports in our capital city. The potential and responsibility to be a catalyst in this community belongs to all of us.”
To support these efforts and if successful in securing an MLB team, Big League Utah also announced its intention to create a team foundation to benefit Westside community priorities.
“Our mission is to enrich lives and create lasting impact,” said Gail Miller. “Larry and I graduated from West High School, and I have deep affection for our friends and neighbors in this community. If we are successful in securing an expansion team, we will use this platform to support organizations and initiatives focused on the west side, its families and local businesses.
“We are grateful that Big League Utah is engaged with our community. We are eager to share our thoughts and experiences, and most of all, we are ready for Major League Baseball,” said Sen. Escamilla.
“Utah has the ingredients for an MLB team, including a ready market, a proven and focused ownership group, a shovel-ready site at the Power District, and a bi-partisan coalition,” said Cox. “Third-party data proves Salt Lake City and the Beehive State can absolutely support a new professional sports team.”
“Salt Lake City is on board to host a Major League Baseball team,” said Mendenhall. “We have a robust history of supporting professional athletics and look forward to strengthening the anchor of sports in the capital city. With this proposal, you could walk out the front doors of the airport, class at the University of Utah or dinner on Main Street, hop on a TRAX train and be to the front doors of a future stadium within minutes.”