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Maverik Center — a hotbed of sports activity

Mar 06, 2019 02:28PM ● By Greg James

The Maverik Center in West Valley City recently hosted the All-Star Monster Truck Tour. (Greg James/City Journals)

By Greg James | [email protected] 

West Valley City is home to a universal sports venue. The Maverik Center hosts many types of sporting events for all to enjoy.

The All-Star Monster Truck Tour occupied the space Jan. 25-26 for a spectacular show of horsepower and car-crushing capabilities. Four trucks from Utah showcased their equipment in the two-day event.

“We typically take about six monster trucks for a two-hour show and time frame,” event producer Brain Wagner said. “The trucks are owned and operated by individuals and four of them are from here in Utah.”

Mikael Christensen and Paul Jensen from Ogden, Wally Turner and Ron Duncombe all showcased their abilities in the Maverik Center show. 

The trucks are recognizable for their fans. They run nationally and in several shows locally. 

In the Maverik Center the driving style of the trucks requires the drivers to use the brakes and gas efficiently. 

“The drivers love seeing the fans so close. They enjoy having the fans waving and asking for autographs. At an arena like this one they get the full experience. They enjoy the pit parties and all of that stuff,” Wagner said.

The Maverik Center ice was removed and 900 yards of dirt was moved in to make for the exhibition surface. It took a crew nine hours to replace the surface and install the obstacles. The same dirt is used for rodeos and the upcoming Arenacross event Feb 22-23.

“We get some great crowds for the dirty four events,” Maverik Center Director of Marketing Dave Hutton said. “There is the monster trucks, the Days of ’47 bulls and broncs, a Spanish rodeo and Arenacross that will use this same facility and dirt.”

Utah Grizzlies hockey, graduations, concerts and corporate events have been hosted by the events center.

“We have done all kinds of things,” Hutton said.

The Maverik Center is scheduled to host the Pac 12 gymnastics championship March 23 and have recently announced that “The Basketball Tournament” will host its Salt Lake Regionals July 25-27. 

TBT is a 64-team single elimination tournament for a grand prize of $2 million. The games are televised on ESPN. This is the sixth year of the tournament. Former BYU guard Jimmer Fredette participated last season. 

“I would like to say how excited I am that TBT will be in Salt Lake this year,” Fredette said in a press release. “TBT is definitely gonna be a can’t miss event this summer.”

Overseas Elite has won the tournament for four years straight and is 25-0 all-time, taking home approximately $7 million in prize money. The tournament is open to anyone 18 years and older. In 2018, more than 60 players with NBA experience participated in the tournament. Applications are being accepted beginning March 1.

“This is a multi-purpose facility,” Hutton said. “We are excited about the possibility of the Olympics returning and we have kept the fire burning with hockey here. We are ready to go when the time comes.”

The Grizzlies currently stand in second place in the Western Conference of the ECHL. They are scheduled to host the Maine Mariners Feb. 27 and March 1-2.