Downtown Salt Lake City isn’t just the geographic center of our capital — it’s the cultural and economic heart of Utah. With millions of visitors annually, billions in public and private investments, and powerful demographic shifts underway, downtown is not only thriving; it’s leading Utah into a better and brighter future.
The 2025 Downtown Economic Benchmark Report, produced by the Downtown Alliance, tells the story behind this momentum. In 2024 alone, downtown saw 20.9 million customer days — a 3.6 percent increase over the prior year, reflecting real and rising engagement:
- 13.1 million visitor days (+1.5 percent) from people drawn to our restaurants, performances, festivals and shops.
- 6.2 million worker days (+10.5 percent) from professionals contributing to the heartbeat of our business community.
- 1.6 million resident days (+27.5 percent) from people choosing downtown as home, embracing the benefits of vibrant urban living.
This activity isn’t just about movement — it’s about confidence in downtown as a destination for innovation, community and long-term growth. Venues sold more than 4 million tickets in 2024, an 18.4 percent year-over-year increase. And a new generation of downtown residents — young and educated — are signaling where the city is headed.
None of this is happening by chance. It’s the result of vision, long-term planning and aligned public-private collaboration. From restored landmarks like Temple Square to major developments like the University of Utah’s downtown expansion, we are building more than infrastructure — we are creating a culture people want to be part of…