The Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) is pleased to announce that the Utah Warriors plan to build a new 10,000-seat multi-sport stadium, which will serve as the permanent home for the Warriors rugby team by 2023. With some assistance from EDCUtah, the organization is conducting a search for a location in the Salt Lake valley and surrounding area.

According to a Utah Warriors press release, the stadium will serve as a venue for the team’s Major League Rugby (MLR) home games and for other professional sports teams that the Warriors ownership group intends to bring to the state of Utah. The planned state-of-the-art facility will also play host to community, high school, concerts and other entertainment-industry events.

“Over the last few seasons, we have built a strong fan base and following for the Warriors in the community—we’ve proven this is a rugby town,” said Kimball Kjar, GM & CEO of the Utah Warriors Rugby team.  “We intend to build a venue that supports Warriors Nation and that can allow other professional sports teams along with high school sports to play in this venue.”

To build the Warriors’ facility, the organization has teamed up with Sports & Entertainment facility construction giant Mortenson. An EDCUtah investor, Mortenson is the No. 1 Sports Facility Builder according to Engineering News-Record. Mortenson has built nearly 200 collegiate and professional-level sports facilities around the country, including the Golden State Warriors’ Chase Center Arena, Nashville SC’s soccer stadium and most recently, the Las Vegas Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium.

“We believe the opportunities in the Utah sports industry are uniquely poised for incredible growth,” said Josh Caldwell, Business Development Executive, spearheading Mortenson’s new Salt Lake City office. "And, we see partnership opportunities with organizations like the Utah Warriors and the MLR, to develop sports facilities in Utah, as an exciting example of an opportunity we are not only uniquely position ed for but also highly invested in for the greater community.”

The Warriors have also formed a Stadium Advisory Committee of business and community leaders. In addition to Mortenson, the committee includes EDCUtah investor Woodbury Corporation.

“From the Utah Jazz, Real Salt Lake, winter World Cup events, and other activities, Utah is as sports-friendly as it is business-friendly. We look forward to supporting the Warriors’ expansive vision,” said Theresa Foxley, president and CEO of EDCUtah. “The stadium the Warriors plan should anchor a lively and business-attracting entertainment district in one of our Wasatch Front communities.”

Details on final site selection are pending, but the Utah Warriors expect to make announcements in the coming months. For more information, visit www.WarriorsRugby.com.

Stephanie Pack, business development manager, is leading this project for EDCUtah.

For more information on this or other projects, contact Colby Cooley, vice president of business development, at 801-323-4250, ccooley@edcutah.org.

‍

‍