Salt Lake County, UT—The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater is celebrating its 10th Anniversary Season this year. Since opening its doors in 2016, Eccles Theater has transformed into a premier cultural destination, delivering extraordinary live theatrical experiences for patrons across the Intermountain West.
"The Eccles Theater entered our downtown scene as a new character, but 10 years later, it has clearly earned a leading role," said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. "Over the last decade, it has become one of the anchors of our downtown arts and entertainment community—a place people associate with a night out, a special occasion, or seeing a performance they will remember for years."
In its first decade, the Eccles Theater has established itself as a major cultural destination and economic powerhouse on Main Street. The theater has driven over $1.25 billion in economic impact, hosted more than 2,000 events, and drawn 2.7 million visitors downtown, far exceeding initial projections.
Eccles Theater was a $140 million investment, funded in part through a $71 million public-private partnership between Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County, and $33 million in private donations, including a $15 million naming gift from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation. Salt Lake County Arts & Culture operates Eccles Theater.
The building is an architectural jewel in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. Designed by the world-renowned architecture firm Pelli Clarke Pelli, Eccles Theater features a dramatic five-story glass façade that connects the cityscape to the Grand Lobby. In addition, the theater project inspired the surrounding redevelopment of Regent Street into a vibrant, walkable corridor with shops and restaurants.
Beyond its economic vitality and striking architectural presence on Main Street, the theater serves as a powerful creative catalyst for the entire region.
“The Eccles Theater has fundamentally elevated Utah’s arts and culture landscape. It is the premier cultural destination in the State,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. “Being able to host everything from Broadway shows to live entertainment and free public performances is vital in enriching Utah’s vibrant arts community.”
Artistic Impact
The theater’s commitment to artistic excellence and extraordinary experiences is reflected through its world-class programming, dedicated support for local arts organizations, and vibrant visual arts exhibitions. In its first decade, the theater hosted more than 2,000 events and welcomed 2.7 million patrons.
- In its second season, Eccles Theater was the 10th city nationwide to host the blockbuster Hamilton and has since sold out three more runs of the show.
- During the pandemic, it was one of the first theaters in the country to reopen, safely staging The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber for socially distanced audiences, and earning recognition from Lloyd Webber directly.
- The Eccles Theater Regent Street Black Box Residency program offers direct support to three local nonprofit arts organizations, including performance space and scheduling stability, allowing Residents to focus on organizational growth, audience development, and their artistic and creative excellence.
- Visual arts are an integral part of the Eccles Theater experience. The venue features artworks from Salt Lake County Art in Public Places Visual Art Collection, and Salt Lake City Public Art pieces integrated into the Grand Lobby and McCarthey Plaza. Eccles Theater commissions seasonal art installations for the Grand Lobby and maintains a permanent exhibition of historic venue construction photos and a three-story mural in the Regent Street Black Box lobby.
Community Outreach and Investment
Fulfilling its promise of extraordinary experiences for everyone, Eccles Theater creates and presents impactful community events and programs. These initiatives foster connections, build audiences, and provide vital technical training and education.
Arts for All, the theater’s arts accessibility program, distributes free tickets for events in Delta Hall to qualified Salt Lake County residents and has given 12,000 tickets since its launch in 2018.
- Eccles Theater Technical Outreach program provides opportunities for high school and college students to work directly alongside industry professionals, gaining real-world, hands-on experience in technical theater, and with support from IATSE Local 99 and Broadway at the Eccles.
- Eccles Presents is a series of free live performances designed to bring the joy of the performing arts to new audiences. The series features events including Salt Lake Speaks and Voces en Bloom, alongside collaborative events like the Mariachi Festival—presented with The Blocks Arts District and the Consulate of Mexico in Salt Lake City—and Steppin’ on Main, a summer series of free Friday night performances on the Main Street steps, in partnership with The Blocks Arts District.
Economic Impacts
A key to Eccles Theater’s success is its collaborative co-promoter business model with Broadway at the Eccles and Live at the Eccles, which leverages local expertise and national reach. Because these co-promoters live and work locally, they understand the audience intimately and are collectively invested in securing the best entertainment for the community.
- Since 2016, the theater has contributed more than $1.25 billion to the local economy, a remarkable return on the public’s investment. (Based on Broadway League data, the national trade association for the Broadway industry.)
- The venue is significantly invested in local union labor, having paid an estimated $30 million in wages over 10 years.
“Eccles Theater stands as an incredible, ongoing investment in and commitment to Utah's cultural community,” said Angela Vanderwell, Eccles Theater General Manager. “As we look forward to the next ten years and beyond, the theater remains dedicated to bringing people together to share unforgettable experiences and create lasting memories that can only happen live on stage.”
Eccles Theater 10th Season Celebration Events
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater is thrilled to welcome two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster in a special one-night engagement to celebrate the theater’s 10th anniversary season on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. An Evening with Sutton Foster, with musical director Michael Rafter, will be hosted by local favorite Kurt Bestor, a champion of Eccles Theater and a frequent performer in the venue. The event is presented by Eccles Theater in partnership with Live at the Eccles and Zions Bank Broadway at the Eccles. Tickets available at ArtTix.
Elevations of Light, 10th Season Grand Lobby Art Installation created by local artist Chad Farnes and commissioned for the Eccles Theater’s 10th Anniversary Season. Inspired by Salt Lake City’s topography and surrounding mountain peaks, the installation celebrates the light, landscape, and vibrant culture of downtown. On view in the Eccles Grand Lobby through August 2027.
Backstage Theater Tours. Eccles Theater will host a series of backstage community tours throughout the season. Our first tour is on Sunday, October 25, from 10 am – 2 pm. Check the Salt Lake County Arts website for specific tour times and information, and future tour dates.
Media Assets – Venue photos, virtual venue tour, construction timelapse