Miller Co. names America First Credit Union as new Bees ballpark sponsor, unveils Downtown Daybreak project
At a Thursday dual groundbreaking ceremony for the new Salt Lake Bees ballpark and an expansive new, multiuse development from the Larry H. Miller Company, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox lauded the collaborative effort and vision represented by the South Jordan projects.
“At a time when our nation is filling up with arsonists, we are in a room full of architects,” Cox told a crowd of several hundred gathered for the event. “People who build. People who understand. People who want to leave a place better than they found it.”
Cox joined Miller Co. officials, state legislators and baseball executives to turn the first shovels of dirt for the 200-acre mixed-use project, Downtown Daybreak, that will include the Bees ballpark, a new Megaplex Cinema-Entertainment Center and an array of fresh office, retail and residential development.
Miller Co. CEO Steve Starks announced America First Credit Union as the exclusive naming rights partner for the ballpark and nearby sports and entertainment plaza.
The new ballpark, located along Mountain View Corridor and adjacent to a planned new UTA Red Line TRAX station, will seat 7,500 and become the new home for the Los Angeles Angels’ Triple-A affiliate Bees. The park is slated to open in 2025.
The first phase of the project, which includes the new privately funded ballpark for the Bees, will be built between Mountain View Corridor and Grandville Avenue / Lake Avenue and Big Sur Drive, according to the Miller Co.
“What is emerging here is an urban center that is truly central to where the majority of growth is occurring,” Brad Holmes, president of Larry H. Miller Real Estate, said in a press release. “Downtown Daybreak is expansive and combines the full spectrum of business and year-round entertainment, culture and connectivity, as well as a wide range of housing options.”
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Starks said the project will directly support 9,000 new jobs, add some 4,700 new residences, 500 of which will fall into the very affordable category and include 16 acres of open space and a network of new trail connections.
South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey said the new project was a model of post-mining land use for property that was previously owned by Rio Tinto Kennecott and would bring new entertainment and recreation options to the area as well as “housing for every stage of life.”
“The City of South Jordan is proud to welcome Downtown Daybreak to the fastest-growing area within Salt Lake County,” Ramsey said in a press statement. “This mixed-use urban center is a regional destination for families, jobs, housing, sports and entertainment, dining and retail, and outdoor recreation. We are excited to welcome our community and friends to join the experience.”
Miller Co. owner and philanthropist Gail Miller recounted her and her late husband Larry Miller’s long-running connection with softball and baseball and, beside owning the Bees, her company is also leading out on the effort to bring a Major League Baseball franchise to Salt Lake City.
“Our kids were raised at ballparks,” Miller said.
The new Megaplex Cinema-Entertainment Center will feature premium format auditoriums, luxury bowling with laneside dining, a variety of food and beverage options, Swig soft drinks and snacks, private event and party space and more.
“The state of Utah and Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres are leading the nation back to the movies,” Michelle Smith, president of Larry H. Miller Sports + Entertainment, said in a press release. “We know our guests and families seek quality experiences that include new entertainment options like luxury bowling and arcade, luxury seating, dine-in box seats and elevated food and beverage choices.
“We are excited to bring this new cinema-entertainment center to Downtown Daybreak, Salt Lake County’s newest regional destination.”
Los Angeles Angels chairman Dennis Kuhl said the Bees were one of the best minor league operations in the league and celebrated the success the club has had in Utah.
“We have a lot of confidence in this organization,” Kuhl said. “The way it is run is top-notch.”
Cox had his own plaudits for the Bees and the game of baseball which he said has the power to bridge divides and create a common-ground gathering space.
“Baseball brings us together and gives us a different identity,” Cox said. “When we gather together at a baseball game we’re no longer Republicans or Democrats. We’re not MAGA or woke or anything else. We’re Bees fans, right? We’re Utahns.”
