The Sundance Film Festival is leaving Utah — its home for the past four decades — for Boulder, Colorado, starting in 2027, organizers announced Thursday.

Why it matters: Sundance's planned departure from Park City deals a major economic blow to Utah.

• Out-of-state visitors spent $106.4 million during the 2024 festival, which drew over 72,000 in-person attendees, according to an economic impact report.
• Sundance is also a major cultural hub, hosting film screenings and events throughout the year.

What they're saying: "Ultimately, this decision is theirs to make — but I believe it's a mistake, and that one day, they'll realize they left behind not just a place, but their heritage," Gov. Spencer Cox posted Thursday on X.

Catch up quick: Organizers announced last April they were exploring a new permanent location for the independent film festival after 2026.

• Sundance's contract with Park City was about to expire, and organizers had fielded complaints of bumper-to-bumper traffic and skyrocketing lodging costs there.

Follow the money: The Utah legislature set aside $3.5 million to entice the festival to stay.

• But Boulder's bid included a proposed $34 million in refundable tax credits under a measure that was advancing through the Colorado legislature as of Thursday.

Between the lines: Sundance's announcement hints at other assets that may have pushed Boulder ahead — particularly venues and resources that come with a college town where downtown is a 1-mile walk from a major campus.

Zoom in: Organizers specifically praised Boulder's pedestrian-only Pearl Street Mall.

• By contrast, Utah's bid shifted some festival events to Salt Lake, where lawmakers this month targeted city officials with new restrictions on street plans that could reduce vehicle traffic.
• Meanwhile, Park City closed Main Street during the festival for the first time this year — but only after a driver rammed a truck into a crowd during a New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans. About a third of businesses there said they didn't want the street to close in future years.

Friction point: Organizers reportedly balked at a pending ban on pride flags in Utah's public buildings, which lawmakers passed earlier in March.

• Tension around the measure led to mixed messages from Utah officials. Some conservatives urged Sundance to leave, saying the festival clashed with Utah's religious culture.

Sundance sought "welcoming" community

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And with that, the BYU men's basketball season is over.

State of play: The No. 6 Cougars lost handedly last night in the Sweet 16 to No. 2 Alabama 113-88.

• The Crimson Tide knocked down a tournament record 25 three-pointers in the win.

Stunning stat: Alabama guard Mark Sears made 10 threes while BYU as a team only made six while attempting 30.

The big picture: By all other accounts, this Cougars season was a success. After knocking of No. 11 VCU to start the tournament, BYU pulled off a two-point upset against No. 3 Wisconsin.

• Last's night's game was the school's third time in its history making the Sweet 16 and first time since 2011.

🗑️ Residents in Weber and Davis counties could see garbage fees rise after Layton exited the multi-city service district over its new requirement to make recycling mandatory to preserve landfill space. (KSL.com)

• About a third of Layton participates in its voluntary recycling service.

🚉 South Jordan's new downtown TRAX station opened this week near the soon-to-open Bees stadium, connecting fans via the Red Line. (FOX 13)

🩺 The University of Utah has lost funding for its research into health disparities after the Trump administration deemed the project "DEI" and canceled the grant for it. (Salt Lake Tribune)

🍷 A new state liquor store is opening Monday at 1615 S. Foothill Dr. (Building Salt Lake)

Sen. Mike Lee called for the deportation of Prince Harry in a post late Wednesday on X.

What they're saying: "Prince Harry's a direct descendant of King George III," Lee wrote on his "BasedMikeLee" account. "Of course he hates the will of American voters."

• "Let's deport him!" the senator wrote.

Between the lines: Lee reposted a false claim — debunked by X's own AI tool, Grok — that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex criticized Trump's mass deportation efforts and "are ready to leave the U.S."

• Harry told the New York Times in December that he has no plans to leave.

Catch up quick: The Department of Homeland Security last week released heavily-redacted documents discussing Harry's visa in connection with a lawsuit filed by the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank behind Project 2025.

• In his 2023 memoir "Spare," the prince wrote he experimented with drugs. The Heritage Foundation wanted to review Harry's answers to questions about drug use on his visa application when he and his wife Meghan moved to California in 2020.
• The group argued that Harry either disclosed prior drug use and was granted a visa, or he concealed the drug use and was allowed to stay despite conflicting accounts in his book.

Reality check: The documents released last week don't show Harry's answer. Officers with DHS and Customs and Border Protection say the unredacted records show Harry's visa was granted in compliance with normal rules.

• Agents have discretion to admit applicants who admit to prior drug use.

Trump vs. the Sussexes