Utah Jazz Owner Makes Special Request to Fans 90 and Older. The Result Was the 'Thrill of a Lifetime' (Exclusive)
Ryan Smith welcomed more than a dozen 90-plus-year-old fans and their loved ones for a heartfelt night of memories, courtside moments and custom jerseys
Utah Jazz senior fans posing with owner Ryan Smith and Ashley Smith during March 23, 2026 game Credit: Utah Jazz NEED TO KNOW More than a dozen Utah Jazz fans aged 90 and older attended a special themed game night Owner Ryan Smith says his grandparents inspired the ongoing tradition One nearly 99-year-old fan called the experience “a thrill of a lifetime” Long before the first basket was scored, grandchildren were gently guiding their 90-year-old loved ones through the buzzing corridors of Salt Lake City’s Delta Center, pausing for photos and quiet moments of awe. What unfolded that night felt less like a routine NBA game and more like a celebration decades in the making. “My grandparents are the reason I became a Jazz fan and the inspiration behind hosting these amazing fans in their nineties,” Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith tells PEOPLE.
Gamegoers witnessed elderly fans beam as they slipped into custom jerseys and took in the arena lights alongside family members. The emotional scenes captured generations reconnecting through a shared love of basketball. Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith and his grandmother Credit: Utah Jazz The gathering marked the third consecutive season Smith has hosted a special night dedicated to fans aged 90 and older.
He first introduced the tradition during the 2023-2024 NBA season as the franchise celebrated its 50th anniversary. This year, more than a dozen guests attended with their chosen plus-ones after their grandchildren responded to Smith’s invitation on X just days earlier. What began as a social media outreach quickly turned into real-life reunions inside the arena.
Each fan received dinner, game tickets and commemorative jerseys honoring their decades of loyalty. Several were also given courtside seats and club-level access, with mobility needs helping determine their vantage point for the matchup. Throughout the night, players, broadcasters and team figures stopped by to greet the longtime supporters.
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