50 Years a Franchise: Jazz release details to celebrate all season long

September 28th, 2023 | by Steve Godfrey

 

The Jazz have a lot planned to celebrate their 50th season with fans.

The year was 1974. 

Working hard, you got $2 an hour for minimum wage, then you would pull up in your new car, which was $4,400 to buy fresh off the lot, to pick up a hot date for a new movie, like Robert Redford’s Great Gatsby, at the theatre for about 1.50 a ticket. After that, maybe you’d enjoy the debut Queen album that just came out, or Elton John’s album, Caribou. 

What you probably weren’t paying attention to, however, was that the New Orleans Jazz had been admitted into the National Basketball Association. 

Flash forward to the now, for the 2023-2024 season as the Utah Jazz embark on their 50th franchise birthday. 

“From New Orleans to Salt Lake City, the Jazz legacy has been built by storied on-court performances, larger-than-life personalities, and incredible fans locally and around the world who continue to cheer us on game after game, decade after decade,” said Jim Olson, president of the Utah Jazz. “We are excited to immerse the community in countless celebrations of both the talented Jazzmen, coaches, and leaders who’ve led our organization over the past 50 years and those who are actively contributing to what will be our legacy for the next 50 years.”

Decade Nights: Save the Dates

In case you missed it, the Utah Jazz announced on Sept. 25 the plans to celebrate this half-century milestone throughout the upcoming season. According to an email sent out to fans, it read,

We invite fans to join us at Delta Center for Decade Nights that will celebrate different eras of Jazz basketball, and you can also catch youth clinics, a classic throwback uniform, never-before seen content, and more celebrations throughout this anniversary season.

Kicking things off, the Jazz will celebrate the 70s when they play against the New Orleans Pelicans on Nov. 27. The 80s night will be Dec. 13 against New York, and the 90s night will be in January versus Denver. The 2000s will be celebrated in February when they play against Charlotte. Finishing it off, the Jazz will celebrate the 2010s in March when they face off against Boston. 

Documentary, Podcast, and Promo Video

One detail many might have missed in the announcement was the plans to release a documentary and a podcast. According to the press release, the documentary will explore the franchise’s storied history and go behind closed doors for an exclusive look at the organization in the present day. They’ll provide an all-access experience to the excitement, controversy, memories, and personalities of the Jazz in the past five decades. The film is set to debut in Spring of 2024, first on the subscription-based streaming service that will deploy this year. 

As for the podcast, The Note: The History of the Utah Jazz, will feature conversations with Jazz greats, like John Stockton, and basketball greats, like Doris Burke and Dan Patrick, on a monthly basis. The first episode will debut the week of Oct. 23 and be available via the Utah Jazz Podcast Network. 

To add to the celebration, the Jazz teamed up with Delta to release a promotional video showcasing the vintage jerseys and floor that will be worn and used throughout the season. Warning: you may feel things.

 

Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams: Partnership to Party

Former dynamic duo Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams of the 2010s also seem to have something in store, as was teased by Boozer on Instagram on Sept. 23. 

With training camps set to begin this weekend, preseason games scheduled for the first of October, and the NBA regular season a month away, there is plenty to be excited for as a basketball fan. If you are a Jazz fan, this release of information to celebrate 50 years only adds more fuel to the fire. Can the games begin yet? 

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