Rice-Eccles Stadium

Rice-Eccles Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium located on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Primarily serving as the home venue for the Utah Utes football program, the facility has also hosted major international events, most notably the ceremonies for the 2002 Winter Olympics. The stadium is named for major donors Robert L. Rice and the Spencer F. and Cleone P. Eccles family and stands as a central hub for campus and community events in the Mountain West region.

History

The stadium was constructed on the site of the former Ute Stadium, which had served the Utah Utes since 1927. Following a significant fundraising campaign led by university president Arthur K. Smith, ground was broken in 1997 with the new facility opening for the 1998 football season. Its early legacy was immediately elevated when Salt Lake City was awarded the 2002 Winter Olympics, designating the new stadium as the centerpiece for the Olympic Stadium and the Olympic cauldron. This period cemented the venue's status beyond collegiate athletics, associating it permanently with a global sporting event overseen by the International Olympic Committee.

Facilities and features

The multi-use facility features a FieldTurf playing surface and a permanent seating capacity of over 51,000, with the south end zone dominated by the massive Kenneth C. Gardner Football Center. This complex houses locker rooms, training facilities, and offices for the Utah Utes football staff. The stadium's most distinctive architectural element is the Olympic Cauldron Park at the south entrance, which preserves the cauldron lit during the 2002 Winter Olympics alongside the Hoberman Arch. The venue also includes numerous premium seating options such as suites and club seats, and its north end features a large video scoreboard.

Events

Beyond its primary role for Utah Utes football, the stadium has a diverse event history. It was the ceremonial heart of the 2002 Winter Olympics, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies witnessed by a global audience. It has also hosted other sports, serving as the temporary home for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer from 2005 to 2008 and for the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football in 2019. The stadium regularly hosts large-scale concerts featuring major artists like The Rolling Stones, U2, and Taylor Swift, and is a frequent site for University of Utah commencement ceremonies.

Renovations and expansion

The stadium has undergone several major expansions to accommodate growing demand. The first, completed in 2002 for the 2002 Winter Olympics, added an upper deck on the south side. A more significant expansion in 2006 enclosed the north end zone with a new structure, adding seating, the Kenny Bell concourse, and premium amenities. The most recent and comprehensive renovation was completed in 2021, which rebuilt the entire south side, adding more premium seating, expanding the Kenneth C. Gardner Football Center, and significantly upgrading fan amenities and infrastructure, ensuring the venue remains competitive within the Pac-12 Conference.

In popular culture

The stadium's distinctive profile and Olympic history have secured it places in various media. It has been featured in video games such as the NCAA Football series. The venue served as a filming location for scenes in the Disney Channel original movie High School Musical 2. Its most enduring cultural image remains the Olympic cauldron, which continues to be a symbol of the 2002 Winter Olympics and is often featured in promotional material for the state of Utah and the University of Utah.

Category:Football venues in Utah Category:University of Utah Category:2002 Winter Olympics venues