Rice–Eccles Stadium

Rice–Eccles Stadium

File:REStadlogo.jpg
Location	451 South 1400 East, Ste. 600, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
Coordinates	40°45′36″N 111°50′56″W
Owner	University of Utah
Operator	University of Utah
Capacity	45,017
Record attendance	46,768 (Utah vs. Cal, 2003)
Surface	FieldTurf (since 2002)
Construction
Broke ground	1997
Opened	1998
Construction cost	$ 50 million
Tenants
Utah Utes (NCAA) (1998-present) Real Salt Lake (MLS) (2005-2008) XIX Olympic Winter Games (2002)

Rice–Eccles Stadium is an outdoor football stadium on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the home field of the Utah Utes of the Mountain West Conference, who are soon to be part of the Pacific Ten Conference . It served as the main stadium for the 2002 Winter Olympics; the Opening and Closing Ceremonies were held at the stadium, which was temporarily renamed "Rice–Eccles Olympic Stadium."

History

When Salt Lake City was awarded the 2002 Winter Olympics in 1995, it was obvious that Rice Stadium was not suitable to serve as the main stadium. The concrete, timber and earth-fill facility had been built in 1927 and was showing its age.

In 1996 U of U athletic director Chris Hill announced plans to rebuild Rice Stadium with a new facility that would be up to Olympic standards. It was initially expected to take three years to completely overhaul the facility.

However, in 1997, Spencer Eccles, a Utah alumnus and chairman of Utah's biggest bank, First Security Corporation, announced that the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation would donate $10 million toward the project. In recognition of this gift, the U of U won permission from the Eccles family to add George Eccles' name to the stadium alongside that of Robert L. Rice, who had funded the original renovation project to Rice Stadium in 1972. Before it was called Rice Stadium, it was called Ute Stadium. In 1927, Ute Stadium opened with a Utah win over Colorado Mines.

Immediately after the final home game on November 15, fittingly a 31–14 victory over Rice, most of Rice Stadium was demolished for the renovation. Only the south-end stands, built in 1982, remained. The stadium did not miss a football season, as the project was timed not to disrupt the 1997 home schedule. The new stadium was ready less than 10 months later for the 1998 home opener, a 45–22 win over Louisville on September 12. The stadium now seats 45,017 and has a 6 story press box.

In June 2010 the University accepted an invitation to join the Pacific Ten Conference, and are scheduled to begin play in the conference in 2011. It is expected that Rice–Eccles Stadium is to be expanded and the locker room facilities upgraded.

Playing Surface

The playing field at Rice–Eccles Stadium is FieldTurf, a next-generation infilled synthetic turf, which was most recently replaced in 2009. The football field runs in the traditional north-south configuration, and sits at an elevation of 4657 feet (1419 m) above sea level, 330 feet (100 m) above downtown Salt Lake City. Originally, it was lined with SportGrass, a hybrid of natural grass and artificial turf that the university installed in Rice Stadium in 1995. In 2000, a full natural grass surface replaced the SportGrass until the end of the 2001 football season, when it was covered by blacktop for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in February. The original FieldTurf was installed in 2002.

Football Attendance Records

Attendance Records
Rank	Date	Time	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 11, 2003	5:45 pm	California	W 31–24	46,768
2	November 6, 2008	6:00 pm	#11 TCU	W 13–10	45,666
3	November 21, 1998	11:30 am	Brigham Young	L 26–24	45,634
4	October 2, 2008	7:00 pm	Oregon State	W 31–28	45,599
5	September 26, 2009	5:30 pm	Louisville	W 30–14	45,588
6	September 6, 2008	7:00 pm	UNLV	W 42–21	45,587
7	September 2, 2005	6:00 pm	Arizona	W 27–24	45,528
8	September 2, 2004	7:00 pm	Texas A&M	W 41–21	45,419
9	September 3, 2009	7:00 pm	Utah State	W 35–17	45,333
10	November 25, 2006	1:30 pm	#21 Brigham Young	L 33–31	45,330
11	November 20, 2004	5:00 pm	Brigham Young	W 52–21	45,326
12	October 16, 2004	8:00 pm	North Carolina	W 46–16	45,319
13	September 18, 1999	6:00 pm	Utah State	W 38–18	45,224
14	September 30, 2006	1:00 pm	#22 Boise State	L 36–3	45,222
15	November 23, 2002	1:00 pm	Brigham Young	W 13–6	45,167
16	September 27, 2008	6:00 pm	Weber State	W 37–21	45,117
17	November 24, 2000	4:00 pm	Brigham Young	L 34–27	45,064

Major League Soccer

Rice–Eccles Stadium was also the home field of the Major League Soccer franchise Real Salt Lake from 2005 until October 2008, when Rio Tinto Stadium was opened in the suburb of Sandy, south of Salt Lake City.

Olympic Cauldron Park

Immediately south of the stadium is the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Cauldron Park.

Other Events

The Rolling Stones performed at the stadium during their Voodoo Lounge Tour on October 23, 1994.

'N Sync performed at the stadium during their No Strings Attached Tour on June 17, 2000, with Sisqo & P!nk as their opening acts.

U2 were going to open their 3rd leg of the U2 360 Tour at the stadium, but as a result of Bono's surgery procedure, the date has been postponed. A rescheduled date is expected to be announced soon.

External links

• University of Utah - official university site - Rice–Eccles Stadium
• Continuum Winter 1998: History of Utah's football stadiums
• Utah Utes.com - official athletics site - Rice–Eccles Stadium