'The Eccles Theater is poised to elevate an already thriving cultural scene and bring additional activity and vibrancy to our city in both new arts opportunities and economic enhancement,' Becker said. 'Eccles Theater is destined to become a cherished place in our community,' he said.Īside from the arts and cultural opportunities of the new venue, construction of the theater is expected to employ hundreds of construction and craft employees this summer, add to the tax base and create hundreds of jobs. Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker said Thursday's announcement was another sign of progress in a city that is recognized nationally for job creation, innovation and livability. 'I believe, once again, that the best is yet to come,' he said. Delta Air Lines also gave a donation that will be recognized through the theater's main performance hall naming.Įccles said his Uncle George and Aunt 'Lolie' would be proud of the facility. The theater also has the support of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a $2 million grant from the Larry H.

and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation gifted $15 million to the new theater that is a joint venture between Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County. Main was made possible with financial contributions and grants totaling '27 million Yankee dollars,' Eccles said. That's why I wore my Olympic tie today,' Eccles said. 'This is the biggest thing to hit downtown since the 2002 Winter Olympics. The planned opening of the state-of-the-art theater is fall 2016. While dignitaries unveiled the 2017 booking and gave the public its first glimpse of the new theater's branding from the top of a nearby parking terrace, construction workers were hard at work on the 2,500-seat performance hall. 'I got a little carried away there,' he mused. and Doré Eccles Theater's logo and the booking of 'The Lion King' in spring 2017 with his own song and dance Thursday.Įccles, whose family foundation is the major contributor to the Broadway-style theater under construction in downtown Salt Lake City, broke into a verse of 'The Wells Fargo Wagon' from 'The Music Man' and started to tell a joke about a blind mule. SALT LAKE CITY - Spence Eccles celebrated the unveiling of the George S.

Download the lion king at eccles