Rice Stadium (Utah)
| Former names | Ute Stadium (1927–1971) |
|---|---|
| Location | 451 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112  United States
|
| Coordinates | 40°45′36″N 111°50′56″W / 40.76000°N 111.84889°WCoordinates: 40°45′36″N 111°50′56″W / 40.76000°N 111.84889°W |
| Owner | University of Utah |
| Operator | University of Utah |
| Capacity | 32,500 (1972–1997) 30,000 (1947–1971) 20,000 (1927–1946) |
| Surface | SportGrass (1995–1997) Astroturf (1972–1994) Natural grass (1927–1971) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 1, 1927 |
| Opened | October 1, 1927 |
| Closed | 1997 - (rebuilt) |
| Construction cost |
$133,000 ($1.83 million in 2017 dollars) |
| Tenants | |
| Utah Utes (NCAA) (1927–97) | |
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.
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.
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.
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