Rice-Eccles Stadium

Rice-Eccles Stadium is football stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. The stadium was originaly built in 1927, and is the home stadium of the Utah Utes. The 2002 Winter Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies where held at the stadium.

Related Topics:
Football - Stadium - Salt Lake City, Utah - 1927 - Utah - 2002 Winter Olympics

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Ute Stadium opened on October 1, 1927 with a Utah victory over Colorado Mines, 40-6, and was dedicated on October 22 against Colorado. The seating capacity was 20,000. An additional 10,000 seats where added to the north end in 1947. Bob Rice gave $1 million USD to the university to renovate the stadium in 1972. Additional seating was added to the south end of the stadium, new locker rooms, the playing surface was lowered, the track was removed, and a new press box was added. This brought the capacity to 32,500.

Related Topics:
October 1 - 1927 - October 22 - Colorado - 1947 - USD - 1972

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The stadium underwent a fifty-million-dollar renovation beginning May 1997 and was completed September 1998. Ten million dollars of the renovation was donated by Spencer Eccles, through the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundations. The rest of the funds were raised from private donations, bonds, and the Salt Lake Olympic Committee. Most of the stadium was demolished for the renevation. Only the south end stands remained before a brand new facility was built in place of the old structure. The university deceided to add the Eccles name to the stadium along with the Rice family name to recognize the contributions of both the old and new facilities.

Related Topics:
May - 1997 - September - 1998 - Salt Lake Olympic Committee

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As of 2005, Rice-Eccles Stadium is also the home of the Major League Soccer franchise Real Salt Lake. It has yet to be determined how much longer the team will play at Rice-Eccles before their own home venue is constructed.

Related Topics:
As of 2005 - Major League Soccer - Real Salt Lake

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