Utah News

PAYSON, Utah (ABC4) — It was a case that rattled Utah County: the murder of a former Brigham Young University professor.

Homicide, hostages, and a “whodunit” case causing heartache. It’s why many — including attorney Greg Skordas — remember a day from over 15 years ago quite clearly.

“I’ve practiced law for 43 years and every case is different, but this one was very unusual,” Skordas said. “It appeared that we were going to trial, and this person came forward and said, ‘They’ve charged the wrong people.’”

To fully understand, we need to go back to Payson, Nov. 16, 2009. 70-year-old retired BYU professor Kay Mortensen was at his home for the evening when police got a call from his daughter-in-law, Pamela.

“We came out to visit my husband’s father and….we were held hostage,” she told dispatchers that night in 2009.

Pam and her husband — Kay’s son, Roger — said they went to visit their father when intruders tied them up. Eventually, they say, the intruders left.

When police arrived, they found Kay in his home, dead in a bathtub, with his throat slashed.

Police didn’t believe Roger and Pam’s story.

“We believe the evidence will show that Pamela and Roger were participants in this murder,” lead investigators said at the time.

Despite maintaining their innocence, Roger and Pam were booked in the Utah County Jail for the murder of their father.  Skordas was an attorney representing them.

“We knew they were both going to be on trial for a murder case we believed they didn’t commit, but we had no choice but to prepare for trial,” he reflected.

Roger and Pam were in jail for about 4 months when a woman came forward, saying her ex-husband, Martin Bond, and his accomplice, Benjamin Rettig, were the real ones responsible.

That changed everything. Pam was released from jail in December 2010, and Roger was released a bit later. Skordas said their lives didn’t look the same.

“These two went through hell,” he said. “They were facing spending the rest of their lives in the Utah State Penitentiary for a crime they didn’t commit, and they were the only two besides the real murderers who knew they didn’t commit the crime.”

Martin Bond and Benjamin Rettig were ultimately convicted of the kidnapping and killing of Kay Mortensen, as well as tying up Roger and Pam. It’s believed the pair wanted some of Kay’s guns he stored in his home.

Investigators said Rettig held a gun to Kay’s head while Bond slit his throat. Both went to prison. Neither has publicly spoken since the conviction — at least, not until now.

Convicted killer speaks

ABC4 News met with Martin Bond at the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison.

Bond wore a white inmate uniform and appeared calm.

To comply with the Utah Department of Corrections media policy, ABC4 couldn’t explicitly ask Bond about his crime and why he did it, but rather his life in prison since and his feelings now.

‘I was very angry at a lot of people for a long time, and then I kind of realized that I didn’t have anybody to be angry at but myself,” Bond said.

He described his actions as his “single biggest regret in [his] entire life.”

When asked about Roger and Pam Mortensen, Bond apologized.

“I’m really sorry they got tangled up in it as bad as they did, and that it caused such a rift in their family. I know a lot of people didn’t trust them after that,” he said. “I’m really sorry they had to find out what it’s like to be incarcerated. I mean, that’s a hardship most people don’t really experience.”

Bond also discussed what he’s learned during more than a decade spent in incarceration.

“How to better myself. It’s been a really important thing to me to help keep me focused and motivated,” he said. “If you feel like you’re advancing in some regard, you still feel like you have purpose. Without that, you might as well give up.”

Bond is sentenced to life without parole in prison. He was found guilty of several crimes, including aggravated murder and aggravated kidnapping.

Rettig is sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for aggravated murder. His parole hearing is scheduled for 2035.

Pamela and Roger Mortensen sued Utah County in 2011, saying the ordeal hurt their relationships and finances. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in 2012. The pair turned down a request for an interview, but Pam said their experience permanently altered their trust in the criminal justice system.

The Utah County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment. They said investigators who were involved in the case do not want to relive the investigation. Current deputies do not feel it is appropriate for them to comment further.

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Utah’s next Olympics may still be years away, but Salt Lake tourism is already benefiting.

Hosting the 2034 Winter Games is a big part of what differentiates Utah’s capital city and surrounding communities from their competitors for tourists and conventioneers, said Kaitlin Eskelson, Visit Salt Lake’s CEO and president.

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“I think we’re at the precipice of major growth in terms of just bringing the spotlight and the world stage to Salt Lake,” Eskelson told the Deseret News during Wednesday’s fourth annual Sports Tourism Summit, held at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium.

“It’s all about the lead-up and kind of that global notoriety or the recognition that will really position Salt Lake,” she said. “We’re really leveraging that from the standpoint of our international leisure travelers. Even our convention delegates are very interested in the story.”

Olympic athletes who live and train in Utah, including bobsledder Kaysha Love and speedskater Ethan Cepuran, are often part of the pitch the agency uses to promote Salt Lake County as a destination, Eskelson said.

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Sometimes, those charged with evaluating Salt Lake as a convention location get a tour of one of the venues from the 2002 Winter Games that are set to be reused in 2034. At the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, for example, they’d even get a chance to try the sport of curling.

Utah’s Olympic legacy also attract sports tourists, including young athletes and their families who plan vacations around amateur competitions. Sports-related visits are said to account for about a third of tourism revenues, with close to 500,000 people spending around $194 million.

“In our world, yes, sports is a huge differentiator,” Eskelson said, citing a “sentiment study” of how Salt Lake is perceived that showed about two-thirds of the people questioned don’t have either a positive or a negative impression.

“They just don’t know, which is really interesting. It gives us this opportunity to define who we are” between now and the 2034 Games, she said, with the Olympics the “little spark” that sets Salt Lake apart from other tourist and convention cities.

Once the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles are over, allowing Utah’s Olympic organizers to begin marketing the 2034 Winter Games, Eskelson anticipates the start of a “huge acceleration” in tourism.

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“This city is going to look very different right before and then immediately thereafter the Olympics,” she said, thanks to a big buildup, including downtown Salt Lake City’s new sports, entertainment, culture and convention zone east of the Delta Center.

“We can leverage that infrastructure,” Eskelson said. “It’s kind of that rising tide.”

Other Utah communities, of course, are also counting on a boost from another Olympics.

At a panel discussion on building venues to drive tourism spending during Wednesday’s summit, West Valley City’s economic development director, Jonathan Springmeyer, said his city is looking forward to once again hosting Olympic competition at the Maverik Center.

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This time around, the city-owned arena will be the site of figure skating and short-track speedskating rather than hockey. The switch from 2002 comes now that the Delta Center is home to the Utah Mammoth, the state’s first National Hockey League team.

“When our city leaders wanted to get in on the Olympic Games experience in the mid-’90s and made the decision to build the Maverik Center, it was a pretty bold move,” Springmeyer said, adding there have been some challenges.

“But the opportunities have been great,” he said, including as the longtime home of the Utah Grizzlies, a minor league hockey team that’s relocating to New Jersey and a site for high-level gymnastics competitions.

Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski said her city, where the Utah Mammoth recently opened a massive new practice facility at The Shops at South Town mall, is already planning for the Olympics.

“We’re thinking ahead for experiences and place-making,” she said.

America is reeling from another devastating act of political violence. In September, one of the country’s most prominent conservative activists was assassinated while addressing students on a college campus in Utah. In June, the former House speaker of Minnesota and her husband were murdered in their suburban home.

Headlines about political violence have started to feel devastatingly familiar: the governor of Pennsylvania was the target of a recent arson attack, and President Donald Trump has survived more than one attempt on his life. “That’s the problem with political violence,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox at a press conference two weeks ago. “It metastasizes.”

We can’t let this become normal. Freedom of expression and association are fundamental values in our democracy, and we must hold them close during these difficult times.

In moments like these, we naturally look for answers, accountability, and justice. As mothers, our first thoughts go to our children. We are keenly aware of what our kids are seeing—viral news, social media feeds, indelible images. Our kids are watching us, too, and how we react in the face of violence. We can’t always control what young people witness, but we can control how we respond and the lessons we seek to impart.

Like the law enforcement officers who persisted through overnight manhunts to track down the killers of Charlie Kirk and Melissa Hortman, we have agency over what happens next. To pursue accountability and justice in the aftermath of violence, we must maintain an unwavering commitment to truth and the rule of law. And as parents, even if we don’t have all the answers, we must try our best to pass on values like honesty, kindness, and living with open, curious minds and hearts.

Our shocked responses to political violence often fail to live up to those ideals. In the case of Kirk’s killer, for example, speculations have run rampant about his motives and identity, and public officials and newspapers have had to retract false claims. It is natural and understandable to want to point fingers, but trading accusations and blame accomplishes nothing except generating more vitriol and fear.

We also have a choice about the stories we tell. Despite what you might be hearing in the news, the best data show that Americans’ support for political violence is not rising. In fact, Americans overwhelmingly oppose political violence and think it’s a problem.

There is a lot of talk to the contrary—claims that our country is at a tipping point and that Americans increasingly endorse political violence. These kinds of sensationalist claims are not only false, but dangerous. When people hear that the opposing party wants violence, they are more likely to support it themselves. Whereas, if we present the facts—for example, that less than 2 percent of the population condones extreme partisan violence—we can help lower the temperature.

There is no question that we are living in deeply divided times. Polarization in today’s America fills the airwaves and impacts people’s relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. As first spouses, we have both witnessed and experienced the kind of political contempt that has sadly permeated our culture. But on opposite sides of the country, in states led by governors of opposing parties, we are committed as public servants to fostering greater empathy and trust in our communities. 

We can choose to find our way back to common ground. That means finding ways to express our beliefs even when we have different views. In our homes, we can teach our children to engage in conversations with people they disagree with. In our schools, workplaces, and other institutions, we can become better listeners and cultivate curiosity so that we build stronger and more trusting communities. In our politics, we can foster open dialogue and a more collaborative spirit. 

Our response to the wrenching events and dangerous rhetoric we are experiencing right now is to stand united across party lines and reject political violence in our democracy. 

Now is a time to listen more, oppose hate, and foster connection as we seek peace together. Our children are watching, and they will inherit the country we choose to build.

Abby Cox is the first lady of Utah. Joanna Lydgate is first partner of Massachusetts and cofounder and CEO of the States United Democracy Center.

The views expressed in this article are the writers’ own.

The Utah Legislature sent a message on Monday.

After begrudgingly following a judge’s orders to redraw Utah congressional maps, Republican lawmakers promised the state’s redistricting saga was far from over.

Members of the GOP majority doubled down on plans to appeal a lawsuit challenging their reforms to a 2018 ballot initiative all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Their response highlights an escalating conflict between the branches of Utah’s government: Who should have the final authority to translate voters’ preferences into law — legislators, or the courts?

“It is a fundamental disagreement as to how our republic form of government functions,” said state Sen. Brady Brammer in an interview with the Deseret News.

Democrats have accused their colleagues in the majority of ignoring the will of the people by finding workarounds to Proposition 4, or the Better Boundaries initiative.

Republicans, meanwhile, have framed a series of unfavorable rulings as acts of judicial activism exerting improper authority over elected representatives.

In 2024, the Utah Supreme Court ruled that the Legislature cannot transform or toss out ballot initiatives that aim to alter the structure of government.

Last month, 3rd District Judge Dianna Gibson said the Legislature had done just that, and ordered lawmakers to create new congressional maps on a truncated timeline.

Lawmakers lambasted the judgment while doing their best to comply. Gibson now has until Nov. 10 to green-light the Legislature’s proposals or pick an alternative.

If Gibson goes with another map not approved by the Legislature, Republican lawmakers have signaled they would treat it as a clear violation of the state constitution.

But regardless of Gibson’s decision, lawmakers intend to ask Utah’s Supreme Court to change its mind, or they will settle the debate at the highest court in the land.

“What we’re seeing right now is a unique, and probably a historic, tug-of-war between two different branches of government,” Sen. Stephanie Pitcher told the Deseret News.

Did the courts overreach?

The loudest message heard during Monday’s special legislative session was Republican lawmakers exclaiming that they should not have to be there in the first place.

Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, called the court-ordered process a “joke.” House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, said it was something “all citizens should be concerned about.”

At the center of the controversy is the belief that the Utah Constitution gives exclusive authority over redistricting to the Legislature, according to Brammer, R-Pleasant Grove.

By creating a new category of “super laws” related to some ballot initiatives, the Utah Supreme Court increased judicial interference in the legislative process, Brammer said.

This tips the scale of checks-and-balances in the court’s favor, Brammer said, exemplified by Gibson’s “order” for the Legislature to “enact” a new congressional plan.

The judge later replaced this language, in a Saturday morning amendment, saying her court “failed to recognize the separation of powers” and “overstepped its authority.”

Bill Duncan, the Law & Religious Freedom Fellow at Sutherland Institute, said Republican legislators are right to protest the court leveraging its influence this way.

“I think it’s clear that the court can’t have authority to enforce the intent of voters, which is really going to be an entirely subjective question,” Duncan told the Deseret News.

Duncan expects before the 2026 midterm elections that lawmakers will bring the Prop 4 lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court — which has a precedent of leaving redistricting decisions up to the legislative branch.

State Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, said the details of legislation should be left to elected officials, not nonprofit groups claiming to speak on behalf of the people.

In 2020, and again in 2025, the Legislature did its best to incorporate feedback from constituents and Democratic colleagues to compose new maps, Pierucci said.

On Monday, the Legislature passed a bill specifying three tests to be used to ensure nonpartisan redistricting, which contained two filters proposed by Democratic lawmakers.

All redistricting processes, including an independent commission, are political, so Brammer’s bill demonstrates the Legislature’s desire to remove as much subjectivity as possible, Pierucci said.

Did lawmakers dismiss voters?

When Utah Democrats are presented with these arguments, they mostly hear sour grapes — conservative lawmakers offended by any check on their power.

Utah’s GOP-led Legislature should stop accusing the courts of malfeasance, Pitcher said, and should start reflecting on whether overhauling the 2018 initiative that Utah voters passed actually overstepped their authority.

The actions of her colleagues in recent days showed they are still uninterested in honoring the spirit of Prop 4, which discourages purposefully dividing the Democratic vote in Salt Lake County, according to Pitcher, D-Millcreek.

Rep. Doug Owens, D-Millcreek, called the special session “a partisan exercise” because he thought his colleagues ignored the best tests of partisan fairness which usually produced a map with one competitive district.

Owens, who also served on the redistricting committee, clarified he was not pushing for a pick-up opportunity for Democrats, but he said that “a neutral process inevitably yields that.”

The map approved by the Legislature on Monday solidified two seats — District 1 and District 4 — as deeply Republican, while making Districts 2 and 3 more competitive.

Elizabeth Rasmussen, the executive director of Better Boundaries, told the Deseret News the Legislature’s actions on Monday “locked in some of the worst measures of fairness to be used in a state like ours.”

The approved map continues to disproportionately benefit Republicans — evidenced by the fact it was endorsed by the state GOP — and once again ignores the signal voters sent by passing Prop 4, Rasmussen said.

Courts are not attempting to take away the Legislature’s authority, according to Rasmussen, they are trying to ensure the Legislature “follows the law” as found in Prop 4, which will allow for “a representative Utah.”

“I don’t think any sole organization or person should have power,” Rasmussen said. “But as we have checks and balances to ensure it doesn’t become a political process, I think we can come to a great middle ground here.”

Should ballot initiatives be left alone?

At the bottom of Utah’s redistricting debate is whether ballot initiatives should be treated as untouchable when they change government structure, or whether they always require the guiding hand of legislators.

In this case, Pitcher said, a ballot initiative was the last resort for voters who wanted a check on lawmakers who could potentially “game the system” in Utah by making legislative boundaries less competitive.

Letting voters make policy when they feel ignored is “one of the fundamental tenets of democracy,” Pitcher said, adding that it is doubly offensive for the Legislature to then use taxpayer dollars to fight successful initiatives.

Pitcher and Owens agreed that recent rhetoric on judges, and a bill passed Monday allowing the governor to appoint the chief justice, threaten to distract judges from their job of interpreting the constitution.

But Brammer said this is exactly the problem: some judges appear to have gotten away from simply stating what the law is, and have begun stretching their interpretations to the point where they are making policy from the bench.

One reason the Legislature must remain free to alter ballot initiatives, Brammer said, is that all legislation requires multiple drafts, legal tests and future amendments, which might not be allowed under the new legal regime.

The worry, according to Duncan, is that if some ballot initiatives have protected status, then special interest groups will be able to co-opt the initiative process and create laws that courts can enforce however they please.

“It’s not that the initiative process itself is ineffective,” Duncan said, “but that the use of initiatives by the courts undermines a more foundational principle, which is the principle of separation of powers.”

On this date two years ago, Salt Lake City having an NHL team was nothing but a pipe dream. On this date last year, the Utah Hockey Club played its first regular-season game.

The team only had a few months to get the plane off the ground in the first place — and it didn’t slow down when the puck dropped.

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Here’s what the Mammoth, as an organization, has accomplished so far.

What did the Utah Mammoth accomplish in their first year?

Sold out every game

The limited-view seats at the Delta Center aren’t counted as part of the official capacity. With that qualification, the team sold out every game in Year 1 — 11,131 seats each night.

Of course, some of that is due to the “shiny new toy” factor, but the sellouts seemed to continue in their two preseason games in Salt Lake City (most teams don’t even come close to selling out in the preseason).

Named the team

It became clear to the public over the past year why Smith Entertainment Group opted not to name the team off the bat (or should I say off the faceoff?).

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The trademark process seemed to be anything but smooth sailing. Even now that they own the “Utah Mammoth” trademark, legal issues are ongoing. They simply didn’t have enough time to figure that out completely before beginning their first season, which was why they used the “Utah Hockey Club” moniker temporarily.

While asking for fan input wasn’t a unique way to name the team, the technology they utilized was. It certainly helps when the owner is the founder of a survey company.

Released new jerseys (twice)

When the first Utah Hockey Club jerseys became available, Utah broke the NHL record for most in-arena, single-day sales.

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After naming the team, they dropped another set of jerseys. The team hasn’t released stats regarding any records this time, but there was a line forming outside the Delta Center at about 4 a.m. the day they went on sale, so you know they moved a lot of product.

Constructed a state-of-the-art practice facility

It took SEG 13 months to turn a Macy’s store into a two-rink NHL practice facility.

The building is still not completely finished, but certainly meets NHL standards — and exceeds them in many ways. Several players have called it the nicest facility in the league, including Nate Schmidt, who comes to the team from another team in the running, the Florida Panthers.

Retrofitted the Delta Center for hockey

An NHL-size rink is more than three-and-a-half times the size of an NBA court. Squeezing ice into the basketball-suited Delta Center was always going to be a challenge, but SEG has been innovative enough to find a permanent solution.

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Of course, the renovation is still a work in progress. Much of the upper bowl still has limited-view seats, but that will be solved over the next two offseasons.

This summer, they essentially turned two walls into more than 1,100 seats. Every seat in the lower bowl now has full views, and they accomplished it in five months.

Cultivated a loyal fan base

Hockey fans existed in the state of Utah long before the NHL arrived, but they were much fewer than they are now.

Lots of the credit certainly belongs to the people. Ryan Smith loves to say “Utah shows up,” and in this context, he was right.

Credit is also due to SEG. It has integrated the team into the community through seemingly weekly events, including many grassroots hockey programs and public availabilities with the players.

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Stayed in the playoff race until the end of the season

The team’s goal for last year was to play meaningful games in the final months of the regular season. Whether they made the playoffs or not was secondary.

They did exactly that, being officially eliminated a few games before the season ended. The idea was to get the young guys some experience playing in high-pressure situations so that when they do eventually make it, they’ll be used to it.

What’s left for the Utah Mammoth to accomplish?

Make the playoffs (and eventually win the Stanley Cup)

On the ice, there’s still a lot to be done. Making the playoffs is the organization’s stated goal this season. In future years, the bar will be even higher.

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No matter how good a team is, it’s never guaranteed to win the Stanley Cup — but the Mammoth have put themselves in a good position to achieve it in the future. If things work out the way they’d like, they’ll have a solid five to 10 years of Cup contention.

Reveal a mascot?

Jazz Bear served as “Hockey Bear” last season, but most fans are hoping to see an updated mascot now that there’s a team name.

In an announcement made on Wednesday, the Mammoth told fans to be in their seats early for the Oct. 15 home opener “to witness a special surprise moment and pregame entertainment.” Could that include a mascot reveal?

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Sustain success over a long period of time

It’s still early in the franchise’s existence. Having all this success within the community is a great first step, but it doesn’t mean much if it wanes over the next decade or two, causing them the same fate as the Arizona Coyotes and the first iteration of the Winnipeg Jets.

Things are going in the right direction. People are taking a liking to hockey, and young kids are a central focus for the team. It’s not unlikely that Utah could eventually become like its neighbor, Colorado, which has enjoyed decades of success and produced many NHL players.

You probably wouldn’t expect to run into the makers of off-road wheelchairs, air leak testers and premium barbecue in one place but a new competition has rounded up those companies, and over a dozen more, to answer one question: What is the coolest thing made in Utah?

Working from a list of nominations, the Utah Manufacturers Association has pared the selections to 16 products manufactured in the state and is inviting Utahns and people around the world to cast their vote for the “Coolest Thing Made In Utah” competition.

Hosted by the UMA and presented by DBD Investment Bank, the competition is designed to celebrate Utah’s dynamic manufacturing industry, which includes over 3,000 companies that employ more than 150,000 Utahns, according to the organizers.

Voting for the top products is open now through 11:59 p.m. MDT Thursday, Oct. 9. UMA marketing and communications manager Jenn Sparks said supporters can cast their votes for their favorite product at manufacturingutah.com.

Sparks said the effort is a fun way to highlight the state’s manufacturing community and raise awareness of the wide variety of products that are “native Utahns.”

“A lot of people will be surprised by what’s being made right here in their own backyards,” Sparks said.

The tournament will run, over successive rounds, throughout October until only two companies are left standing. The 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Utah winner will be announced on Nov. 7 at the UMA Annual Awards Gala, where finalists will also be invited to celebrate.

The sweet sixteen

These Utah manufacturers and their products are the final 16 contenders:

• Made-in-America ladders — Little Giant Ladder Systems

• Insulated panel — Nucor Insulated Panel Group

• Zaxis air leak testers — Zaxis

• Huggies Snug & Dry diapers — Kimberly Clark

• Smith Imprint 3D collection — Smith Optics

• Xodine iodine — Cedar Bear Naturales, Inc.

• Oxtail Softball — Les BBQ

• Barnes Reserve — Barnes Bullets

• Silencers/suppressors for firearms — SilencerCo

• SAE high accuracy wing de-fastening robots for the F-16 fighter jet — SAE Inc

• Extreme Motus off-road wheelchair — Extreme Motus

• AI camera manufacturing station — MomentTrack

• High-performance premium carbon fiber bikes and components — ENVE

• Pre-engineered metal buildings — CO Building Systems

• Nova Spin — TORUS

• Pyrite chandelier — HAMMERTON

The Utah Manufacturers Association has been advocating on behalf of the state’s manufacturing sector since 1905. The organization currently has over 1,200 members statewide. According to its charter, the UMA works to bring businesses, educators, government, and community leaders together to champion the growth and success of Utah’s manufacturing sector.

Outdoor Retailer is leaving Salt Lake City once again, but for another outdoorsy state this time around.

Organizers of North America’s largest outdoor gear show announced late last week that they’ll hold their next show in Minneapolis, ending a three-year stint in Salt Lake City that began in 2023 after the show moved to Denver in 2018 over politics.

Next year’s show, planned for Aug. 19-21, 2026, will feature a new “Leadership Village” that will “guide an inspired team of brand leaders, designers, sustainability experts, athletes and emerging voices to shape the next chapter of the show,” according to Emerald Expositions’ Sports and Outdoor Division, which oversees the annual event.

“Moving Outdoor Retailer to Minnesota creates a fresh stage for collaboration, creativity and the outdoor community to thrive together,” said Randolph Briley, director of Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership, in a statement. “This step underscores the strength of our outdoor economy, driving billions in impact, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and inspiring people to get outside.”

It wasn’t immediately clear why Outdoor Retailer pulled out of Utah again, but the two sides were nearing the end of an agreement reached in 2022. Leaders of Outdoor Retailer and Visit Salt Lake — Salt Lake County’s tourism wing — confirmed to KSL.com in June that they were negotiating over a potential extension in Utah, but nothing was set in stone at the time.

Both sides were hopeful despite uncertainty with the Salt Palace Convention Center looming. Utah lawmakers approved a $1.8 billion funding mechanism for a rebuild of the convention center earlier this year, adding to plans of a “sports, entertainment, culture and convention district” in and around the Delta Center that Smith Entertainment Group unveiled in 2024 as it brought the NHL to Utah.

Salt Lake County officials announced last month that they had secured a pair of firms to oversee the redesign of the building, as well as a pair of construction management and consulting firms to assist with other logistics. Partial demolition of the Salt Palace’s massive exhibit hall is expected to begin as early as 2027, following the county’s sale of 6.5 acres of land to Smith Entertainment Group for a little more than $55 million in April.

In a statement to KSL.com, Visit Salt Lake president and CEO Kaitlin Eskelson said she wishes Outdoor Retailer “continued success in their next chapter” as the county prepares for the Salt Palace’s next chapter.

“While Outdoor Retailer has evolved post-pandemic, Salt Lake remains focused on opportunities that align with our strengths and vision for the future,” she said. “Our significant investments in the downtown convention district, including a transformational reimagining of the Salt Palace Convention Center, will create new opportunities and ensure Salt Lake is positioned to host world-class events for decades to come. We are excited to write the next chapter in the global convention and tourism economy.”

Outdoor Retailer first moved to Salt Lake City in the 1990s, blossoming in Utah’s capital city before its tumultuous departure. Officials announced in 2017 that they’d move the show out of Utah after meeting with then-Gov. Gary Herbert and various companies over concerns the companies had with Utah’s stance on public lands, such as a push to shrink Bears Ears National Monument.

The show ultimately ended up in Denver but returned to Utah after five years. While state and local officials called its return a “huge win” at the time, it never attracted the same numbers it once did. Approximately 300 brands from dozens of countries attended the show this summer, as compared to the 1,600 exhibitors who came to Utah’s capital city in 2015.

Some of that was tied to big-name brands like Patagonia, REI and The North Face following through on threats to boycott the show if it returned to the Beehive State. Budget uncertainties tied to tariffs and lagging numbers in trade shows since the COVID-19 pandemic may have also factored into the fewer participants, Sean Smith, director of Outdoor Retailer, said in June.

Salt Lake City is “disappointed” by Outdoor Retailer’s decision to relocate again, but its “commitment to outdoor recreation and public lands will remain,” said Andrew Wittenberg, a spokesman for the city. Like Eskelson, he said the city is focused on major renovations to its convention district, which could draw Outdoor Retailer or related events back to Utah in the future.

“As work begins on our new sports, entertainment, culture and convention district, we know the convention landscape will continue to evolve,” he said. “However, these changes are setting the stage for even more opportunity, and we look forward to working with Emerald Expositions on future events.”