SALT LAKE CITY – The NBA Development League and Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment announced today that the Idaho Stampede, the NBA D-League team owned and operated by the Utah Jazz, will relocate to Salt Lake City beginning with the 2016-17 season.

The team will be known as the Salt Lake City Stars, paying tribute to the city’s American Basketball Association roots from 1970-76, and to the Utah Starzz, the WNBA team based in Salt Lake City from 1997-2002.  A new logo highlighting the navy and gold color scheme of the Jazz with a nod to the community’s basketball history was also unveiled.

The Salt Lake City Stars will play their home games at Salt Lake Community College, located less than 10 miles from downtown Salt Lake City.  The 5,000-seat Lifetime Activities Center-Bruin Arena previously hosted the Rocky Mountain Revue NBA Summer League.

“The relocation of the Idaho Stampede to Salt Lake City is another exciting example of the increased connectivity between NBA D-League teams and their NBA parent clubs,” said Malcolm Turner, NBA D-League President.  “I want to thank the city of Boise and the fans in the Treasure Valley for their support of the Stampede over the years, and I am excited to watch the Stars shine brightly alongside the Jazz in Salt Lake City.”

“We are thrilled to bring an NBA D-League team to Salt Lake City and in close proximity to the Utah Jazz,” said Steve Starks, president of Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment.  “The Salt Lake City Stars will provide further opportunities to promote the game of basketball, extend the reach of the Jazz and engage with our surrounding communities in new ways.”

Bart Sharp has been named general manager of the new NBA D-League team in Salt Lake City, aligning all business aspects including ticket sales, sponsorships and marketing.  He has worked in the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies since 2010 as a marketing executive for LHMSE, Fanzz Sports Stores and Saxton Horne Communications.

“The relocation of our NBA D-League team to Utah will further align our efforts in player development and basketball operations to support the Jazz,” said Dennis Lindsey, Jazz general manager.  “The close relationship will strengthen our team on the court by providing our younger players a chance to grow in an environment that is consistent with Jazz basketball.  Additionally, it serves as a training ground for all aspects of our organization, from coaches to support personnel.”

Jazz assistant general manager Justin Zanik will coordinate all basketball operations decisions for the Stars as he did for the Stampede.  Zanik joined the organization in 2013 under Lindsey after being involved in all aspects of athlete representation for 15 years.

The Jazz purchased the Boise-based Stampede in March 2015, becoming the eighth NBA team at the time with full control over an NBA D-League team’s business and basketball operations.  Previously, the Jazz and Stampede had entered into a single affiliation agreement for the 2014-15 season.

Four different players have been assigned to the NBA D-League since the Jazz entered a single affiliation in 2014.  Players on the current Jazz roster with NBA D-League experience are Rudy Gobert, Chris Johnson, Shelvin Mack and Tibor Pleiss.  Since player assignments began in 2005, the Jazz have had five different NBA D-League shared affiliates and have placed 11 different players on a total of 30 assignments.

Launched in 2001, the NBA D-League has expanded from an eight-team league to a record 22 teams for the 2016-17 season.  All 19 teams for the 2015-16 season are singly affiliated with an NBA parent club, a first for the NBA D-League, and the three teams joining the NBA D-League for 2016-17 are owned by the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls.

For more information on the Utah Jazz NBA D-League affiliate, please visit www.slcstars.com or follow the team @slcstars on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

About the Utah Jazz

Founded as the 18th member of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1974, and located in Salt Lake City since 1979, the Utah Jazz are committed to excellence as a team and in the community. On the court, the Jazz are the third-winningest team in the NBA over the last 30 years, having won eight division titles and two Western Conference championships along with 14 seasons of 50-plus wins, and are supported by one of the most passionate fan bases in all of sports. Away from the court, the Jazz are very active in the local community and have assisted a multitude of organizations and worthy causes by way of charitable donations, service and grants through Larry H. Miller Charities. The Utah Jazz also operate the Junior Jazz program, the largest and longest-running youth basketball league in the NBA, featuring more than 50,000 players and an additional 13,000 volunteers who take part annually across seven states. For more information on the Utah Jazz, visit www.utahjazz.com.

About the NBA Development League

The NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 19 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2015-16 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. An all-time high 38 percent of all NBA players at the end of the 2014-15 season boasted NBA D-League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. Fans can watch all NBA D-League games on nbadleague.com.

About Salt Lake Community College

Salt Lake Community College is Utah’s largest college with the most diverse student body. It serves more than 60,000 students on 10 campuses and with online classes. All ages. Many interests. Flexible scheduling. With an exceptional range of academic and career-oriented options. A superb faculty—and a faculty-to-student ratio of 1:20—means our students get personal attention from exceptional academic and vocational professionals. With more than 120 areas of study, there’s a lot of room to grow. This is a place that high school graduates can take their first step into higher education and later transfer to a 4-year school. Where students can earn training and skills to take them directly into the workforce. Career professionals sharpen their skills. More information at www.slcc.edu.