Rice Stadium (Utah)
Encyclopedia
Robert Rice Stadium was an outdoor athletic stadium in Salt Lake City
, Utah
, located on the campus of the University of Utah
. Originally opened in 1927 as "Ute Stadium," it was the home of the Utah Utes
football team
. Renamed for Robert L. Rice
in 1972, it was almost completely demolished after the 1997 season to make way for the Utes' current home, Rice–Eccles Stadium, which occupies the same physical footprint.
on Thanksgiving Day 1926, a drive began for a larger and more modern stadium. While the state house
unanimously approved a loan from the state in order to build a new stadium, the state senate adjourned before taking it up. To get around the problem, the U of U formed a stadium trust that issued tax-free bonds for the new stadium. The stadium was also funded in part by selling tickets to two home games for the next 10 years. Total cost came to $133,000.
The stadium, originally named Ute Stadium, opened in 1927 with a seating capacity
of 20,000. The first college football
game was a 40–6 Ute victory over Colorado Mines
on October 1. It was dedicated three weeks later on October 22 with a 20–13 victory over Colorado
. On hand was Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf
of Sweden
. Originally, the stadium was built of timber
and concrete
, with earth-fill.
For 20 years, a giant pile of dirt stood in the north end zone. In 1947, 10,000 seats were added in the north end, turning the stadium into a horseshoe
.
After the 1971 season, health club pioneer Robert L. Rice
donated $1 million towards the stadium's first major facelift: 2,500 seats were added in the south end zone, and the bleachers were replaced with chair seats. The old grass surface was also replaced with AstroTurf
. The dressing rooms were also remodeled, and the running track was removed. The renovated stadium was dedicated in Rice's honor with the start of the 1972 season. In 1982, the field was lowered 9.5 feet, and new seats were built along the sidelines and on the south end. After the 1994 season, the turf was replaced with SportGrass, a natural grass surface grown on top of a layer of artificial turf.
For many years, the stadium also doubled as an amphitheater during the summer.
Although it was noted as one of the more intimate venues in college football
, it had become somewhat antiquated by the 1980s. Very few Division I-A stadiums remained by then that used timber as a major part of its construction.
in 1995 it soon became obvious that Rice Stadium was not adequate to be the main stadium. With this in mind, the athletic department decided to completely overhaul the facility to bring it up to modern standards. After the 1997 season, virtually all of the old stadium was demolished to make way for Rice–Eccles Stadium. All that remains of the old stadium are the bleachers built in the south end zone in 1982.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, located on the campus of the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. Originally opened in 1927 as "Ute Stadium," it was the home of the Utah Utes
Utah Utes
The Utah Utes are the athletics teams of the University of Utah. They are named after the Ute tribe of Native Americans. The men's basketball team is known as the "Runnin' Utes"; the women's basketball team, formerly known as the "Lady Utes," now prefers to be referred to as the "Utes"; and the...
football team
Utah Utes football
The Utah Utes football program is a college football team that currently competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I and represents the University of Utah. The Utah college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Rice–Eccles...
. Renamed for Robert L. Rice
Robert L. Rice
Robert L. Rice was a health club pioneer and a philanthropist. Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah, location of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics, bears his name. Rice donated $1 million dollars in 1972 to renovate the stadium, then known as Ute Stadium...
in 1972, it was almost completely demolished after the 1997 season to make way for the Utes' current home, Rice–Eccles Stadium, which occupies the same physical footprint.
History
After a record crowd came to the Utes' previous home, Cummings Field, to see Utah play Utah StateUtah State Aggies
The Utah State Aggies are the athletics teams of Utah State University. The school fields men's varsity teams in basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and track and field. Women's varsity teams include basketball, cross country, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field,...
on Thanksgiving Day 1926, a drive began for a larger and more modern stadium. While the state house
Utah House of Representatives
The Utah House of Representatives is the lower house of the Utah State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. The House is composed of 75 representatives elected from single member constituent districts. Each district contains an average population of 35,000 people...
unanimously approved a loan from the state in order to build a new stadium, the state senate adjourned before taking it up. To get around the problem, the U of U formed a stadium trust that issued tax-free bonds for the new stadium. The stadium was also funded in part by selling tickets to two home games for the next 10 years. Total cost came to $133,000.
The stadium, originally named Ute Stadium, opened in 1927 with a seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 20,000. The first college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
game was a 40–6 Ute victory over Colorado Mines
Colorado School of Mines
The Colorado School of Mines is a small public teaching and research university devoted to engineering and applied science, with special expertise in the development and stewardship of the Earth's natural resources. Located in Golden, Colorado, CSM was ranked 29th, in America among national...
on October 1. It was dedicated three weeks later on October 22 with a 20–13 victory over Colorado
Colorado Buffaloes football
The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The team is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, having previously been a charter member of the Big 12 Conference. Before joining the Big 12,...
. On hand was Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf
Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden
Gustaf VI Adolf - Oscar Fredrik Wilhelm Olaf Gustaf Adolf - was King of Sweden from October 29, 1950 until his death. His official title was King of Sweden, of the Goths and of the Wends. He was the eldest son of King Gustaf V and his wife Victoria of Baden...
of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Originally, the stadium was built of timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
and concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
, with earth-fill.
For 20 years, a giant pile of dirt stood in the north end zone. In 1947, 10,000 seats were added in the north end, turning the stadium into a horseshoe
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
.
After the 1971 season, health club pioneer Robert L. Rice
Robert L. Rice
Robert L. Rice was a health club pioneer and a philanthropist. Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah, location of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics, bears his name. Rice donated $1 million dollars in 1972 to renovate the stadium, then known as Ute Stadium...
donated $1 million towards the stadium's first major facelift: 2,500 seats were added in the south end zone, and the bleachers were replaced with chair seats. The old grass surface was also replaced with AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
. The dressing rooms were also remodeled, and the running track was removed. The renovated stadium was dedicated in Rice's honor with the start of the 1972 season. In 1982, the field was lowered 9.5 feet, and new seats were built along the sidelines and on the south end. After the 1994 season, the turf was replaced with SportGrass, a natural grass surface grown on top of a layer of artificial turf.
For many years, the stadium also doubled as an amphitheater during the summer.
Although it was noted as one of the more intimate venues in college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
, it had become somewhat antiquated by the 1980s. Very few Division I-A stadiums remained by then that used timber as a major part of its construction.
Replacement
After Salt Lake City was awarded the 2002 Winter Olympics2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in 1995 it soon became obvious that Rice Stadium was not adequate to be the main stadium. With this in mind, the athletic department decided to completely overhaul the facility to bring it up to modern standards. After the 1997 season, virtually all of the old stadium was demolished to make way for Rice–Eccles Stadium. All that remains of the old stadium are the bleachers built in the south end zone in 1982.
Football attendance records
| Attendance Records | |||||
| Rank | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance | |
| 1 | November 20, 1982 | L 17–12 | 36,250 | ||
| 2 | November 17, 1984 | #3 | L 24–14 | 36,110 | |
| 3 | September 13, 1986 | L 37–30 | 35,982 | ||
| 4 | November 23, 1996 | #8 Brigham Young | L 37–17 | 35,378 | |
| 5 | September 24, 1994 | W 41–7 | 34,607 | ||
| 6 | November 19, 1988 | W 57–28 | 34,216 | ||
| 7 | November 19, 1994 | #20 | W 34–31 | 34,139 | |
| 8 | November 22, 1986 | L 35–21 | 34,128 | ||
| 9 | August 30, 1997 | L 21–14 | 33,804 | ||
| 10 | November 17, 1990 | #5 Brigham Young 1990 BYU Cougars football team The 1990 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 1990 college football season. The Cougars offense scored 524 points while the defense allowed 350 points... |
L 45–22 | 33,515 | |
| 11 | November 21, 1992 | Brigham Young 1992 BYU Cougars football team The 1992 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University for the 1992 NCAA Division I-A football season.-Schedule:... |
L 31–22 | 33,348 | |
| 12 | October 3, 1986 | L 45–35 | 33,281 | ||
| 13 | October 4, 1985 | W 37–20 | 33,248 | ||
| 14 | September 24, 1988 | L 48–20 | 32,892 | ||
| 15 | October 29, 1994 | W 52–7 | 32,620 | ||