Downtown Salt Lake City's social scene drives economic growth

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.

What's next: The anticipated Salt Lake Temple open house is expected to draw 3-5 million visitors over six months in 2027 and projected to generate $322 million in downtown spending.