The Utah Jazz D-League team Salt Lake City Stars will play
their home games at Salt Lake Community College’s 5,000-seat Lifetime
Activities Center-Bruin Arena at SLCC’s Taylorsville Redwood Campus, the NBA
Development League and Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment recently
announced.
SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
From November 2016 until April 2017, the Stars will host 24
home games at SLCC. In 2015 the Utah Jazz became the eighth team with full
control over an NBA D-League team with the purchase of the Boise-based Idaho
Stampede. The team’s new name pays tribute to its American Basketball
Association roots in the 1970s when the Utah Stars won the league championship
and to the WNBA team Utah Starzz that played in Salt Lake City from 1997 to 2002.
“As the only
comprehensive community college in the state of Utah, we are happy to be the
venue where communities and families throughout the state can come together to
watch up-and-coming athletes play the game at the highest level,” said SLCC
President Deneece G. Huftalin during a press conference at Vivint Smart Home
Arena. “The excitement of this new team will bring hundreds of fans to one
of our largest campuses, exposing them to the high-quality learning and
relevant workforce training opportunities SLCC offers. And I'm sure the cities
of Taylorsville, Murray, West Valley City and others located just next door
will also experience the energy this team will draw. We couldn't be happier to
be working with the Utah Jazz organization and the Miller family again in yet
another partnership. Salt lake community college is committed to making this
venue a warm, welcoming and exciting place to watch quality basketball and to
sharing this beautiful facility with an even wider fan base.”
SLCC Board of Trustees Chair Gail Miller offers comments.
Launched in 2001,
the NBA D-League has expanded from an eight-team league to a record 22 teams
for the 2016-17 season. All 19 teams for the 2015-16 season are singly
affiliated with an NBA parent club, a first for the NBA D-League. The three
teams joining the NBA D-League for 2016-17 are owned by the Brooklyn Nets,
Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls.
“The relocation of
our D-League team to Utah will further align our efforts in player development
and basketball operations to support the Jazz,” said Dennis Lindsey, Utah Jazz
general manager. “The close relationship will strengthen our team on the court
by providing our younger players a chance to grow in an environment that is consistent
with Jazz basketball. Additionally, it serves as a training ground for all
aspects of our organization, from coaches to support personnel.”
A group portrait after the press conference.
The Salt Lake City Stars will begin play with the 2016-17 season and will host a 24-game home schedule between November and April at Salt Lake Community College. For more information on the Utah Jazz D-League affiliate, please visit www.slcstars.com or follow the team @slcstars on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Fans interested in purchasing Salt Lake City Stars season tickets can visit www.slcstars.com for information or call (801) 355-DUNK.
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