Downtown Salt Lake City's social scene drives economic growth
Why it matters: A bustling downtown can boost local businesses, attract investment and generate tax revenue to fund city services.
What they're saying: "The social economy is really what's driving the downtown economy," Dee Brewer, Downtown Alliance executive director, told Axios.
Previously, the area was seen as a "vertical office park," but now much of its activity occurs between 6pm and midnight, he said.
Driving the news: Downtown Alliance recently released its 2024 economic benchmark report.
Here are a few highlights:
Visitors
🎫 $4.05 million in tickets to performance venues were sold last year, an 18.4% increase from 2023.
🎭 Days that attracted the most visitors in 2024 corresponded with major conventions, Delta Center events and performances held at Abravenal Hall, and Eccles, Capitol and Rose Wagner theaters.
Workers
💼 The number of worker days jumped 10.5% year over year.
🏢 Just 19% of workers said they worked in the office full-time as of January 2025, while 57% go in three to four days a week, 13% are on-site one to two days per week, and 1% are fully remote.
Residents
👪 The residential population grew 27.5% from 2023, and it's projected to increase an additional 28% by 2030.
🎓 Downtown residents are more likely than Wasatch Front residents to be unmarried, college-educated, between the ages of 20 and 39 and not own a car.
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