SALT LAKE CITY (December 10, 2014) – Miller Sports Properties and the Utah Jazz announced today a five-year partnership agreement with University of Utah Health Care that will result in access to world-class sports medicine and clinical care expertise and the development of collaborative community relations outreach programs.
As the Official Health Care Partner, University of Utah Health Care becomes aligned with Miller Sports Properties and its Utah Jazz NBA franchise and its Salt Lake Bees Minor League Baseball Triple-A affiliate. The partnership also extends to the multiple Miller Sports facilities and media platforms. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
University of Utah Health Care is regarded as one of the country’s top systems with four hospitals, 10 community clinics, and more than 1,200 physicians, offering more than 200 medical specialties. Headquartered on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, it is the Intermountain West’s only academic health care system, combining excellence in patient care, the latest in medical research and teaching leading-edge medicine. For the past five years, UUHC has been ranked among the top 10 academic medical centers in the United States.
“Our teams place tremendous value on this affiliation with University of Utah Health Care because of its nationally regarded system of physicians, services, hospitals and clinics,” said Greg Miller, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. “We share a commitment to fitness, health and wellness. Together I believe we can make impactful and lasting contributions to the quality of life in our community.”
“Miller Sports Properties is an important business leader in our community and the Jazz and the Bees are a key part of the sports entertainment offerings in the region,” said David Entwistle, CEO, University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics. “This partnership is a natural fit because of our experience in providing excellence in sports medicine for our Pac-12 collegiate teams and the athletes at every level we have always cared for. Now we can extend that same expertise and quality of care to our state’s premier professional athletes.”
The partnership between the Utah Jazz and UUHC links the professional basketball team with access to best-in-class physicians with high-performing specialties in areas such as orthopedics and cardiology. The university hospital setting also provides cutting-edge sports medicine science, research advancements and technological innovation.
University of Utah Health Care’s David Petron, M.D., has been named chief medical officer for the Utah Jazz. Petron is an associate professor in the Department of Orthopedics and team physician for the University of Utah athletic teams. He is also a team physician for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard teams, U.S. Speedskating team and is medical director for the Park City Mountain Resort Urgent Care Ski Clinic.
“It became very clear in our meetings with the Jazz management and Miller family that they are committed to excellence and dedicated to winning,” Petron said. “It is exciting for us to be part of this and we look forward to providing the very highest level of care for their athletes by offering our expertise in orthopedics, sports medicine and optimizing athletic performance.”
“We are creating a model partnership that will provide our players with quality care and outstanding resources,” said Randy Rigby, president of the Utah Jazz. “We foresee the capability to create and build Jazz-specific sports medicine areas and equipment in our facilities that will contribute to our effectiveness and efficiency.”
Both UUHC and Miller Sports Properties are teaming up in community programming that includes participation in the signature “Jazz Fit” and “Bee Healthy” health and wellness programs, distribution of Jazz-branded blankets to newborn babies, and hospital appearances by players, Jazz Bear and Jazz dancers. A fitness initiative will also jointly promote walking programs at EnergySolutions Arena and Smith’s Ballpark.
The Tour of Utah men’s professional cycling race, which is organized by Miller Sports Properties, has already partnered with the University of Utah Health Care to produce an annual activity book titled “Mike and the Bike” that promotes childhood health and wellness. A total of 50,000 copies were distributed to elementary schools and other locations throughout the state in 2013 and 2014.