The Utah Jazz, Utah Mammoth, and Delta Air Lines are teaming up with the American Red Cross to turn Delta Center into a one-day lifesaving hub on Tuesday, as the nation wrestles with an unusually tight blood supply. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the arena's main concourse and is designed to help refill local hospital shelves after recent winter storms and a heavy flu season knocked out drives and slowed donations.
Drive details and signups
The drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Delta Center main concourse, and organizers are urging donors to book appointments ahead of time to keep things moving. According to ABC4, donors will receive a Utah Jazz pennant flag and a Utah Mammoth luggage tag set while supplies last. Appointments can be made online or by phone using the sponsor code DeltaJazz, although walk-ups may be squeezed in if there is space.
Why donations are urgent
Blood-collection groups say extreme winter weather and a rough flu season have forced the cancellation of drives and dragged down inventories, leaving hospitals under extra pressure. The Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies has called on communities to step up, and Jeremiah Lafranca, executive director of the American Red Cross of Utah Greater Salt Lake chapter, told ABC4, “Right now, the nation is facing a critical blood shortage, and drives like this are coming at exactly the right time.”
How to give
Appointments are strongly encouraged. Donors can schedule through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, at RedCrossBlood.org, or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS and using sponsor code DeltaJazz. The American Red Cross reports that supplies have dropped nearly 35% in the past month and that all blood types are needed, particularly O, A-negative, and B-negative. Donors who give between Jan. 26 and Feb. 28 will receive a $20 e-gift card, according to a Red Cross statement. Donors should bring identification and are encouraged to complete RapidPass before arriving to speed up check-in.
Partners and past efforts
Delta Air Lines has long backed Red Cross blood drives and is a frequent corporate partner in community collections. The Jazz organization and arena operators have opened the Delta Center for similar events in previous seasons to help boost local supplies. Organizers say using a day of fan traffic to collect lifesaving units is a practical way for the community to help hospitals avoid delays in care.
Anyone interested in donating but unsure about eligibility or timing can check the Red Cross donor site or contact the American Red Cross of Utah for guidance. Local leaders say even a modest bump in donations this week could translate into a measurable difference for patients and surgical schedules.
