A newly public bill on Utah's Capitol Hill would make it easier for cities or counties to use tax money to help build new sports stadiums, apparently anticipating Utah hosting the 2034 Winter Olympics.
Under SB333 from Sen. Jerry Stevenson, cities or counties can submit a proposal to the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity to create a "major sporting event venue zone."
If that new zone is approved, local governments can tap into several different revenue streams, including property taxes, sales and use taxes and hotel taxes. Those funds can be used for constructing a new sporting venue or demolishing an existing stadium. The new funding can also go toward building or improving infrastructure around the venue.
The bill allows smaller counties that host at least three major sporting events to implement a resort tax.
