Salt Lake:Official development news thread - Part 2

[Future Mayor]

That is fantastic news regarding both the Gallivan Center and the Utah Theater.

While the Gallivan is just cosmetic changes it will still add to the attractiveness of downtown, it's not like people don't come in hordes to the Twilight Concert series anyway, but now those that attend and actually care about seeing the performers will be able to do so. I attended last week, but really just as a social thing, a place to meet friends and I actually don't even recall any of the music, but it was still a good time. Gallivan is a jewel in the crown of our downtown and these improvements will just make it that much more illustrious.

As for the Utah Theater being turned into a film center all I can do is While I'm guessing Sundance has made no commitments to using the Utah, I don't see why they wouldn't. As Delts said, Park City is busting at the seems and I honestly anticipate the Utah being a site for at least one or two large premiers each year, it is larger than the Egyptian, yet still has a unique historic appeal to it, not to mention that downtown SLC is much more equipped to handle the large crowds associated with these premiers. With CCC and it's high end shopping, Utah Performing Arts Center (2,500 seat theater) on the same block of Main, a high end boutique hotel steps away (Monaco) and a newly renovated Gallivan Center a block down, this will be a prime location for Sundance FF expansion.

SLC will be hitting a critical mass of recently completed renovation, refurbishment and new construction just as the economy recovers. Sounds like it'll be a perfect time to party.

[jedikermit]

I'm not too excited about the Gallivan reboot--I always hoped to see a restaurant on that pad on 200 South. That said, that they built something like that for public gatherings without restrooms is idiotic. So...okay.

I'm very excited about the Utah Theatre...especially after seeing those pics of the interior on this forum about a year back. I'm glad it will be used, hopefully it will be restored as well. That and the "Broadway Theatre" across the street will go a long way toward creating that "Cultural Arts Corridor" they're always talking about.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

I'm not too excited about the Gallivan reboot--I always hoped to see a restaurant on that pad on 200 South. That said, that they built something like that for public gatherings without restrooms is idiotic. So...okay.

I'm very excited about the Utah Theatre...especially after seeing those pics of the interior on this forum about a year back. I'm glad it will be used, hopefully it will be restored as well. That and the "Broadway Theatre" across the street will go a long way toward creating that "Cultural Arts Corridor" they're always talking about.

I had never thought about placing a restaurant there, I'm not really a fan of that idea as I think about it. I think the more amenities that are provided as part of the Gallivan Center and not commercial enterprise the better. Plus if someone is interested in having something to eat while sitting outdoors abutting the Gallivan Center they can always eat at Piastra in the Marriott. I noticed the patio dining when I was there last Thursday. It's a great location for enjoying the sites and sounds of whats going on at The Gallivan Center.

[cololi]

I think the gallivan changes are very functional, not just cosmetic. I do wish the stage was pushed further to the south, but I think it will be an overall good change. the building on 200 South I still don't really like, but at least they pushed it a little further to the east to provide a wider visual corridor into the plaza.

I really hope the Utah Theater is able to be successful. I would much rather go see a show at a place like that versus a mega theater, regardless of what is actually playing. A place for both types of venues is good.

Kudos to the City, particularly the RDA, for making the commitment to these two projects. Both have a huge potential to draw in additional people, money, etc. into SLC.

(mostly just glad that there is something development related to talk about)

[delts145]

Originally Posted by cololi

I really hope the Utah Theater is able to be successful. I would much rather go see a show at a place like that versus a mega theater, regardless of what is actually playing. A place for both types of venues is good.

Kudos to the City, particularly the RDA, for making the commitment to these two projects. Both have a huge potential to draw in additional people, money, etc. into SLC.

(mostly just glad that there is something development related to talk about)

Agreed Cololi, I'm much happier to have the Broadway theater as a separate venue choice from the Utah Theater. Also, the whole concept of The Utah Theater as a multi-functional campus of sorts, while having the rich beauty of it's ornate past restored is as much as we could have ever hoped for. I am overjoyed by this development.

[utahboozer]

Originally Posted by MetroFanatic

I was working on a film set all night on the corner of 300 South & 300 East. We had to set up some lights on top of the coffee shop on that corner and I saw the perfect opportunity to get a panorama of half the (prominent) skyline.

We got the cops called on us, and I must say, it feels good to disappoint them when they come looking for ways to get us in trouble, but we slam permits galore in their faces. Sorry... had to vent... I really dislike cops, especially when they try to bust film sets.


This is the best viewable size. If you want the full quality in-your-face version, it's right here

Good for you, man. That's nice to see. And what an interesting pic.

[Zionide]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

As for the Utah Theater being turned into a film center all I can do is While I'm guessing Sundance has made no commitments to using the Utah, I don't see why they wouldn't. As Delts said, Park City is busting at the seems and I honestly anticipate the Utah being a site for at least one or two large premiers each year, it is larger than the Egyptian, yet still has a unique historic appeal to it, not to mention that downtown SLC is much more equipped to handle the large crowds associated with these premiers. With CCC and it's high end shopping, Utah Performing Arts Center (2,500 seat theater) on the same block of Main, a high end boutique hotel steps away (Monaco) and a newly renovated Gallivan Center a block down, this will be a prime location for Sundance FF expansion.

The Utah Theater update is definitely the best news we've had in SLC for a while, and the three groups involved will do top-notch things there.

That said, don't expect Sundance to do much in regard to SLC. With the shakeups this year at the Institute (Executive Director Ken Brecher being asked to step down, Festival Director Geoff Gilmore leaving), I will bet that Jill Miller--the only Sundance exec with ties to SLC--will be out the door within 12 months.

Sundance isn't looking to expand Salt Lake City screenings or presence anyway. Creating the SLC "Festival Cafe" at the Beehive Tee Room and designating 300 South "Festival Row" in 2006 was the Institute's big Salt Lake push, and it's been only marginally successful.

While it's true Park City is bursting with people, screening attendance---particularly in Salt Lake---is not at capacity. Many of the people in PC are gawkers, unaffiliated media, and ambush marketers; the Institute has no interest in making room for those crowds that are not official ticket holders.

For Festival 2008, the most recent year for which data is compiled, Salt Lake screening capacity is only ~70%. Yes, certain premieres are impossible to get into and there are always a few screenings at the small Broadway screens where wait-listers are turned away, but the majority of SLC screenings end up allowing all wait-listers in AND have seats left over. Why would they add an entire theatre when existing ones aren't full?

Plus, if they add too many more theaters far away from headquarters in PC, without increasing the number of films accepted (unlikely, given the small screening/programming staff at Sundance), the Festival's print trafficking team won't be able to efficiently shuttle the ONE print of each film to each theater on time.

The Institute managed to add one PC theater this year (Temple Theatre) and it almost caused a print traffic implosion---and initial numbers aren't great for that theater's attendance, either. I seriously doubt we'll ever have a new Sundance theater in Salt Lake, unless they drop the Tower, which is unfortunate but very possible.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by Zionide

The Utah Theater update is definitely the best news we've had in SLC for a while, and the three groups involved will do top-notch things there.

That said, don't expect Sundance to do much in regard to SLC. With the shakeups this year at the Institute (Executive Director Ken Brecher being asked to step down, Festival Director Geoff Gilmore leaving), I will bet that Jill Miller--the only Sundance exec with ties to SLC--will be out the door within 12 months.

Sundance isn't looking to expand Salt Lake City screenings or presence anyway. Creating the SLC "Festival Cafe" at the Beehive Tee Room and designating 300 South "Festival Row" in 2006 was the Institute's big Salt Lake push, and it's been only marginally successful.

While it's true Park City is bursting with people, screening attendance---particularly in Salt Lake---is not at capacity. Many of the people in PC are gawkers, unaffiliated media, and ambush marketers; the Institute has no interest in making room for those crowds that are not official ticket holders.

For Festival 2008, the most recent year for which data is compiled, Salt Lake screening capacity is only ~70%. Yes, certain premieres are impossible to get into and there are always a few screenings at the small Broadway screens where wait-listers are turned away, but the majority of SLC screenings end up allowing all wait-listers in AND have seats left over. Why would they add an entire theatre when existing ones aren't full?

Plus, if they add too many more theaters far away from headquarters in PC, without increasing the number of films accepted (unlikely, given the small screening/programming staff at Sundance), the Festival's print trafficking team won't be able to efficiently shuttle the ONE print of each film to each theater on time.

The Institute managed to add one PC theater this year (Temple Theatre) and it almost caused a print traffic implosion---and initial numbers aren't great for that theater's attendance, either. I seriously doubt we'll ever have a new Sundance theater in Salt Lake, unless they drop the Tower, which is unfortunate but very possible.

I don't expect Sundance to expand their SLC offerings, either. I could see them screening films in the Utah Theater, but not any big deal... depending on the configuration/capacity of the theater, it might just replace the Rose Wagner as their film venue on the west side as it's a little closer to the Broadway.

Jill Miller isn't the only one at Sundance with ties to SLC, though. Trevor Groth, the new director of programming is a native of SLC and alumnus of the University of Utah. Ken Brecher and Geoff Gilmore especially didn't give a rat's ass about Utah, so I don't see their leaving as negatively affecting SLC or Utah in terms of Sundance.

[Zionide]

Originally Posted by Stenar

Jill Miller isn't the only one at Sundance with ties to SLC, though. Trevor Groth, the new director of programming is a native of SLC and alumnus of the University of Utah. Ken Brecher and Geoff Gilmore especially didn't give a rat's ass about Utah, so I don't see their leaving as negatively affecting SLC or Utah in terms of Sundance.

That's true; Groth is from Sandy, but we'll have to see if he has as little power (or executes as little power) under John Cooper as Cooper did under Gilmore. My bet is the director of programming position is as neutered as it ever was and will mean squat in terms of Salt Lake development.

There's Sarah Pearce, director of festival operations, too. She's a Utahn and is essentially the final word on theaters. But she's always been extremely focused on Park City, for obvious reasons.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by Zionide

That's true; Groth is from Sandy, but we'll have to see if he has as little power (or executes as little power) under John Cooper as Cooper did under Gilmore. My bet is the director of programming position is as neutered as it ever was and will mean squat in terms of Salt Lake development.

There's Sarah Pearce, director of festival operations, too. She's a Utahn and is essentially the final word on theaters. But she's always been extremely focused on Park City, for obvious reasons.

Well, Geoff was so domineering that Cooper didn't stand a chance, even Nicole Guillemet his co-director didn't stand a chance and was ousted. I think Cooper would run things differently than Geoff.

But with all that said, back to the main point, I agree with you that I don't see Sundance expanding the festival in SLC much in the foreseeable future.

[Justnslcsugarhood.]

So, wasn't there talk about creating a market place downtown a while back. I can't remember whether or not it was open air or indoors but I remember hearing something about it.

[WeST]

How much commitment do you think there is in keeping Sundance in Utah in the long term?

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by WeST

How much commitment do you think there is in keeping Sundance in Utah in the long term?

I don't think there is any question whatsoever of Sundance leaving Utah... but once Redford is dead, things could change, I suppose.

[Zionide]

Originally Posted by Stenar

I don't think there is any question whatsoever of Sundance leaving Utah... but once Redford is dead, things could change, I suppose.

I agree.... Redford really doesn't do anything for the Institute at this point, but he will insist it stay in Park City. Once he's gone though... there's really nothing keeping it here. The staff of the Sundance Beverly Hills office would like nothing more than to stay out of Park City.

[Green Bro]

Well if Sundance were to leave Utah, I could see it going to the following places:
- Aspen
- Sun Valley
- Jackson Hole
- Los Angeles
- Hollwood
- Reno (Lake Tahoe)
- San Francisco
- San Diego
- Santa Barbara

[TonyAnderson]

Personally, I don't think Sundance would relocate to California, since I think part of its attraction is that its not in a typical Hollywood setting.

[RFPCME]

Wow! It's been several months since I have checked in on this thread. Lots of changes. Lots of things still the same:

The Same:

T-Mac is still a genius with a camera!!!!
Delts is still generous with his information!!!!
Cololi is still thoughtful!!!!
Urbanboy is still Urbanboy, which is good because he makes me think!!!!
Future Mayor is still running for office and looking for development dollars!!!!
BYU still thinks its a football school!!!!
And Zionide still has the best moniker in the Mtn. West!!!!

Changes:

Governor Huntsman took it on the lam, which is too bad for the State but great for the Nation.
Tower 1 looks like a tower.
The Utah Theatre (where my parents dragged me to "see" The Sound of Music...one of the worst memories of my childhood) is going to preserved, although I will never set foot in it because it will just well up old feelings of wanting to punch Julie Andrews in the mouth.
Energy development in Utah has slipped off the public landscape (I search every week for new information, but no one seems to care anymore)
The IHC healthcare monopoly is held up as a national model, when it should seen as a state scandal

So it is great to check in with forumers.

Continue the good work.

[RFPCME]

I forgot one very important piece of information in my previous post...

As I was scanning recent posts by others, I ran across Urbanboy's post with his plan for surrounding population enclaves in Salt Lake County with perma-green or perma-frost or whatever it was. When I first looked at the plan (without reading it), the thought that jumped into my mind was: "Urbanboy, you eeeee-jit, you built the damn and flooded the wrong county! You should have done it where it would do all of us a favor--Utah County!!!!"

[urbanboy]

LOL

That is great news about the Utah Theater! Yaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!!!!! Although I have a couple of questions: Will the theater be restored or renovated? Will there be one large auditorium, like the original, or will it stay horizontally divided into two auditoriums?

[WeST]

"The IHC healthcare monopoly is held up as a national model, when it should seen as a state scandal" -RFPCME

Please explain this to me a little more over in the irrelevant thread. This interests me. Thanks.