The Delta Center Is Back And So Are The Memories

Last week, Vivint Smart Home Arena became the Delta Center again. With the news of the name change, many Utahns have had a flood of memories come forward. Many of those memories are of the Utah Jazz but for me, what came back to me was my first concert experience. 

I love going to concerts and this concert was the catalyst for that.  

I saw the Moody Blues live at the Delta Center in 1994. They were touring around their album A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. The Red Rocks concert, a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Days of Future Passed, was filmed and shown on PBS. The concert was a huge hit and requests came in from every state to have the Moody Blues play with their state orchestra and apparently Utah was one of those states.  

You’re probably wondering why the Moody Blues were my first concert. My parents had just divorced, and music became a bonding experience for my mom and me. Obsessing over music and bands became a coping mechanism for me during an awkward time for the already shy and awkward person I was. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like the divorce was super drama-filled or anything. Things were different and I needed to adjust and figure out how to function in my different little world. 

My mom and I watched the A Night at Red Rocks concert on PBS which led to mom getting us tickets to see the Moody Blues at the Delta Center. It was an electric evening full of atmospheric music and friendly people. I still remember the bass during “The Other Side of Life” feeling like it was filling up my entire chest. It was amazing and led to my mom and I seeing several more concerts together including Sting, The Eagles, Neil Diamond, Paul McCartney, and more.  

Now you know my very first and treasured memory of the Delta Center. I hope that if you don’t already have a memory or two like this, you will soon.