Robert Rice Stadium

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.

Rice Stadium
Former namesUte Stadium (1927–1971)
Location451 South 1400 East,
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
 United States
Coordinates40°45′36″N 111°50′56″W
OwnerUniversity of Utah
OperatorUniversity of Utah
Capacity32,500 (1972–1997)
30,000 (1947–1971)
20,000 (1927–1946)
SurfaceSportGrass (1995–1997)
AstroTurf (1972–1994)
Natural grass (1927–1971)
Construction
Broke groundFebruary 1, 1927[1]
OpenedOctober 1, 1927
Closed1997
Construction costUS$133,000
($1.96 million in 2019 dollars[2])
Tenants
Utah Utes (NCAA) (1927–97)

History

After a record crowd came to the Utes' previous home, Cummings Field, to see Utah play Utah State 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.[3]

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.[4] On hand was Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden.[3] Originally, the stadium was built of timber and concrete, with earth-fill.[5]

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 chairback seats. The old grass surface was 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.[5]

For many years, the stadium also doubled as an amphitheater during the summer.[3]

Although it was noted as one of the more intimate venues in college football, it had become somewhat antiquated by the 1980s. By then, very few Division I-A stadiums remained by then that used timber as a major part of its construction.

The stadium, as photographed in 1929, when it was still known as Ute Stadium and prior to any additions.

Pro football

Several pro football preseason games were played at Ute Stadium.

  • August 23, 1947 (AAFC) Brooklyn Dodgers 20-17 Chicago Rockets
  • September 8, 1951 (NFL) Chicago Cardinals 36-21 Los Angeles Rams
  • September 19, 1959 (NFL) New York Giants 17-13 San Francisco 49ers
  • August 16, 1963 (NFL) St. Louis Cardinals 24-22 San Francisco 49ers
  • August 22, 1964 (NFL) Minnesota Vikings 24-21 San Francisco 49ers
  • August 14, 1965 (AFL) Denver Broncos 27-17 Oakland Raiders
  • September 11, 1970 (NFL) Denver Broncos 16-14 Boston Patriots

Replacement

After Salt Lake City was awarded the 2002 Winter Olympics 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
RankDateOpponentResultAttendance
1November 20, 1982BYUL 17–1236,250
2November 17, 1984#3 BYUL 24–1436,110
3September 13, 1986San Diego StateL 37–3035,982
4November 23, 1996#8 BYUL 37–1735,378
5September 24, 1994WyomingW 41–734,607
6November 19, 1988BYUW 57–2834,216
7November 19, 1994#20 BYUW 34–3134,139
8November 22, 1986BYUL 35–2134,128
9August 30, 1997Utah StateL 21–1433,804
10November 17, 1990#5 BYUL 45–2233,515
11November 21, 1992BYUL 31–2233,348
12October 3, 1986Air ForceL 45–3533,281
13October 4, 1985WyomingW 37–2033,248
14September 24, 1988HawaiiL 48–2032,892
15October 29, 1994UTEPW 52–732,620

References
  1. "Stadiums Will Promote Physical Fitness". Deseret News. February 2, 1927. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  2. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  3. Sorensen, Parry. Out with the old, in with the new. Continuum. University of Utah Alumni Association, 1998.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2009-10-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Former info page at official Utes athletic site
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