Leadership Message from Jim Olson, President, Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment –
The last six months have been a highly unusual time for the sports and entertainment industry, which has shuttered its facilities, put its teams in bubbles, and postponed games and concerts for the sake of public health in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
It has also been a remarkable time of persistence and resiliency in keeping sports and entertainment as a contributor to our communities and quality of life. We found ways to bring movies (and popcorn buckets) back to the Megaplex Theatres, engage fans with digital videoboards at Utah Jazz games, conduct virtual youth basketball clinics, and hold food and blood drives at our venues to help those in need.
Even down to the final shot of the 2019-20 Utah Jazz season, we showed grit as the season unfolded like no other. While defined by the COVID-19 postponement and bubble restart, we will not forget advancing to the NBA playoffs for the fourth straight year, the All-Star performances of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, and the sellout of every home game at Vivint Arena.
Our postseason theme of “We Are With You” reflected the togetherness of our team and fans and the way the Utah Jazz can unify our community. Our sports and entertainment businesses are not considered as essential as our health care providers, first responders and other front-line workers, but certainly contribute to our well-being.
We aspire to make our communities better because we are here. The joys of summer nights at Smith’s Ballpark for baseball games, watching blockbuster movies at Megaplex Theatres, or listening to Scott Garrard and Hans Olsen debate college football on The Zone Sports Network is part of the fabric of our daily lives.
We seek new ways to make a difference in our society. In light of the national reckoning on social justice, the Jazz launched a civic engagement effort to provide information on state voter registration deadlines and joined the non-partisan Rally The Vote coalition of 40 professional sports teams and leagues.
Vivint Arena and select Megaplex Theatres will serve as polling stations for the Nov. 3 general elections to provide greater voter access. All eligible Jazz players have confirmed their personal voter registration. The Larry H. Miller Group of Companies has also enacted a policy that provides employees, who are scheduled to work on Election Day, paid time off to vote, in person, in both primary and general state and federal elections.
To our employees and the community at large, our sports and entertainment properties have missed you, and we are grateful for your patience and resolve as we navigate these uncharted waters together. We have many long-time employees who are essential to our operations and ingrained in our buildings like brick and mortar.
We look forward to again working with our colleagues in person instead of remotely on Zoom. We are as hopeful as you to gather again to cheer for the Jazz or attend a concert or enjoy a movie. We will continue to work with the leagues and public health officials to determine the best path forward. Your support and commitment to the future have been unwavering, and our organization is sincerely thankful.