A Utah lawmaker has introduced legislation that would allow concealed firearms permit holders to bring guns into publicly funded venues such as the Delta Center, where the Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth play home games in Salt Lake City.
If the legislation became law, it would directly conflict with policies in place by the NBA and NHL.
House Bill 452, sponsored by Rep. Candice Pierucci, “prohibits a private entity that receives a certain amount of public funds from restricting a concealed carry permit holder from carrying a concealed firearm on property owned, leased, or operated by the entity in certain circumstances.”
The bill would impact any private venue that has received more than $1 million in public funding. Beyond the Delta Center, other events could also be affected, including home matches for Real Salt Lake of MLS, the Utah State Fair, and even some private hospitals that have received public funding.
“The bill is intended to encourage a thoughtful conversation about whether entities that receive state funding should have the authority to limit constitutional rights, and under what circumstances,” Pierucci, a Republican representing Herriman, wrote in a message to The Athletic. “It aims to foster a constructive dialogue about balancing public safety, individual liberties, and the appropriate use of taxpayer dollars.”
Pierucci said she is working on the bill on behalf of a constituent who was not allowed to bring their gun to games.
“This legislation was prompted by a constituent who sought to exercise their constitutional right to carry a concealed firearm while walking downtown to an event, only to find that right restricted at venues receiving significant state support.”
The NBA explicitly prohibits firearms at all games. NHL arenas have policies prohibiting weapons of any kind.
When asked for a comment, a spokesperson for Smith Entertainment Group, which owns the Jazz and the Mammoth, said, “Smith Entertainment Group will review the proposed legislation to understand the bill and its potential implications.”
Andrew Wittenberg, a spokesperson for Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, told The Athletic, “City events are typically held on city property, where guns are already permitted as we are preempted from prohibiting them by state law.”
The office of Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd did not immediately return a request for comment.
In 2025, Utah enacted a law that allowed concealed carry permit holders to carry guns on the campuses of public universities.