At Delta Center, ‘everything is about experience’
From 90s Night to jersey swaps to ticket giveaways, Ryan and Ashley Smith have found small — and even unorthodox — ways to connect with Jazz and Mammoth fans.
Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz, shakes hands with Sarah Horsley, of Lehi, as the two talk along with Horsley’s grandmother, Venice Bitton, 98, of North Ogden, during “90’s Night,” which celebrates Utah Jazz fans over the age of 90, before an NBA game between the Jazz and Toronto Raptors held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 23, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News Thirty minutes before the Utah Jazz tipped off against the Toronto Raptors on March 23, Ryan Smith entered the Delta Center’s Toyota Club. Dressed in a black hoodie and Smith Entertainment Group-branded hat, the Jazz and Utah Mammoth owner walked over to greet his soon-to-be-99-year-old guest.
Venice Bitton started to stand, but Smith asked her to sit. He sat down next to her, placing his hand on the back of Bitton’s chair. “How are you?
” he asked. The two chatted as Bitton’s granddaughter smiled and watched her grandmother get the Jazz owner’s full attention. “We’re so glad you could come,” Smith told Bitton, who was attending just her third Jazz game.
Venice Bitton, 98, of North Ogden, holds up a jersey made for her during “90’s Night,” which celebrates Utah Jazz fans over the age of 90, before an NBA game between the Jazz and Toronto Raptors held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 23, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News Bitton, of Ogden, Utah, was one of 15 Jazz fans in their 90s invited to the team’s third-annual 90s Night, a tradition recognizing some of the team’s oldest fans. They were treated to a pregame dinner and custom Jazz jerseys.
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