Rice–Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City

Rice–Eccles Stadium, nestled on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City, is more than just a college football stadium; it's a landmark with a storied Olympic past and a bright future. Originally opened in 1927 as Ute Stadium, it has evolved significantly over nearly a century. Today, it stands as the home field for the Utah Utes football team, now part of the Big 12 Conference.

The stadium gained global attention when it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Anticipating a similar role for the 2034 Winter Olympics, Rice–Eccles has retained its status as a premier event space. Rising 4,637 feet above sea level and overlooking Salt Lake City from its elevated FieldTurf field, it’s become a staple of local and international sports events.

When Salt Lake City secured the 2002 Winter Olympics, the university knew the original 1927 stadium wouldn’t meet Olympic standards. So, thanks to a $10 million gift from the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, the stadium underwent a major overhaul in 1997, with Robert L. Rice’s name retained alongside George Eccles’s, marking it Rice–Eccles Stadium. Demolition began right after the final home game of the 1997 season, and a new, modern stadium emerged in just under a year, ready for the 1998 season with a seating capacity of 45,017.

Beyond football, Rice–Eccles Stadium preserves a piece of Olympic history with the iconic cauldron from the 2002 Winter Games, refurbished and relocated to a plaza just outside the stadium’s southwest corner. The once-included Olympic museum and memorabilia are gone, but the cauldron remains, a gleaming reminder of Salt Lake City's Olympic legacy.