It stung Ed Bastian when he made the decision to end Delta Air Lines’ naming rights deal with the Jazz in 2006. Current naming-rights holder Vivint is stepping aside on June 30, and the venue will be rechristened Delta Center on July 1. Smith and Bastian formed a relationship and, at a Jazz-Hawks game at Atlanta's State Farm Arena in November 2021, Bastian told Smith the story of his decision to end the naming rights deal. The Jazz's corporate partnership team, led by Chief Commercial Officer Chris Barney, handled every aspect of the contract and partnership negotiation with Delta from the team’s side. "This was something that was very natural.”Vivint, which took over the venue’s naming rights from EnergySolutions ahead of the 2015 season and had naming rights through 2026, worked with the Jazz and Delta to make the transition.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 14, 2023 23:22 UTC