Utah Olympic Oval

The Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns was built for the 2002 Winter Olympics, where its ice produced a string of speed skating world records. Today it is a training center for athletes and a public skating rink, and it can be rented for corporate events. Few venues give guests a story to tell the way an Olympic ice sheet does.

Fat Fish Media produced Vast Data's 2026 sales kickoff at the Oval, with the general session staged right beside the ice. This guide covers what we learned.

The spaces

• The main hall: the building covers roughly 275,000 square feet, with a 400-meter speed skating oval surrounding two full-size ice sheets and an infield. A full buyout can host very large groups; the Oval's own materials cite events of up to 5,000 people.
• Event space by the ice: smaller areas next to the ice suit receptions and team activities.
• Element Event Center: a ballroom of about 2,400 square feet with an outdoor deck, for dinners, breakouts or a VIP reception of up to about 180 at rounds.
• Activities: skating sessions, curling and athlete appearances can be built into the program, which makes the Oval popular for kickoffs and team events.

Producing on and around the ice

An ice venue is unlike a ballroom or a convention hall, and the production plan has to account for it:

• Temperature: the building is kept cold for the ice. Guests need to know to bring layers, and we plan heaters for staff positions and protect electronics from condensation as gear moves between the truck and the hall.
• Floor: stages, lecterns and seating sit on flooring rather than bare ice, and the venue decides where gear can go. Everything we place is planned with the Oval's operations team.
• Acoustics: a big, hard-surfaced hall echoes. We use directional speakers aimed at the audience rather than the walls, which keeps speech clear.
• Lighting: the white ice reflects light, which can be stunning. We use it, with color and moving lights across the surface, and keep glare out of the audience's eyes and the cameras.
• Power and distance: the hall is large, so we plan power distribution and cable runs to cover long distances between the stage, front of house and any activity areas.

What we produced: Vast Data Sales Kickoff 2026

For Vast Data's 2026 sales kickoff, the general session took place on a staged area beside the ice, with branded lit lecterns, LED screens and a DJ who carried the energy between segments. We built an illuminated, branded platform for photos and arrivals, ran audio, video and lighting from a front-of-house position at the edge of the ice, and supported the skating performances and athlete appearances that made the program feel unlike any other kickoff.

Planning tips

• Put the Olympic story to work. Athlete speakers, the history of the building and time on the ice are what attendees will remember.
• Schedule around the public. The Oval runs public skating and athlete training, so confirm when the building and the ice are yours.
• Plan transport. Kearns is about 20 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, so most groups run buses from their hotels.
• Keep the program tight. A cold room rewards a shorter general session followed by warmer breakouts or a reception.

How we can help

We provide stage, lighting, audio, LED and crew for events in unusual venues, along with show calling and livestreaming for remote teams. See our corporate events for more examples.

Related guides: Mountain America Expo Center and Delta Center.

Frequently asked questions

Can you hold a corporate event at the Utah Olympic Oval?

Yes. The Oval rents spaces for corporate events, from a ballroom for dinners to full buyouts, and can add skating and other activities.

How cold is the venue?

The main hall is kept cold for the ice, so guests should bring layers. We plan heaters for staff positions and protect equipment from condensation.

How far is the Oval from downtown Salt Lake City?

Kearns is about 20 minutes from downtown, so most groups run buses from their hotels.

Planning an event at the Utah Olympic Oval? Tell us the date, headcount and program and we will come back within one business day with a production plan and a line-item quote. We can also walk the space with you before you sign the venue contract.