Rice-Eccles Stadium

Rice-Eccles Stadium is at 451 South 1400 East on the University of Utah campus, about two miles east of downtown Salt Lake City and directly above the valley floor. I-15 feeds downtown approaches, I-80 connects the airport and mountain communities, and 400 South/500 South, Foothill Drive, Guardsman Way and Mario Capecchi Drive handle the final campus circulation. Elevation is about 4,650 feet, enough for dry air and rapid temperature swings.

Driving & Parking

• From downtown or I-15
  Take 400 South east toward campus and follow electronic signs before it climbs toward the foothills. Do not wait until 1300 East to choose a lot.
• From I-80
  Foothill Drive serves arrivals from the south and east, while 700 East or downtown exits provide alternatives from the west. Mountain and ski traffic can compound football congestion.
• Permit parking
  Signature and Crimson Club areas closest to the stadium require the correct mobile pass. Download it to the phone wallet before reaching attendants.
• Game-day lots
  Utah has offered public inventory in Lots 27, 32, 39 and 46 at tiered prices. The current map controls availability, and designated tailgate spaces cost more than ordinary parking.
• Lot opening
  Standard football lots open five hours before kickoff; signature and designated tailgate areas may open at 6 a.m. Vehicles left in restricted campus areas remain subject to citation or towing.
• Accessible parking
  The campus map identifies ADA spaces and additional special-access stalls near Lot 44, with a shuttle serving the designated pickup. A valid placard or plate is required.
• Postgame traffic
  500 South, Guardsman Way and campus drives empty in controlled directions. A TRAX park-and-ride usually beats waiting to exit the closest garage.
• Winter conditions
  Late-season snow or ice changes both walking and canyon travel. Wear footwear with traction and allow extra braking distance on the hill east of downtown.

Public Transit

• Ticket as Fare
  A valid Utah football ticket provides free travel on UTA buses, TRAX and FrontRunner on game day. Keep the mobile ticket available for inspection.
• TRAX Red Line
  Stadium station is immediately west of Rice-Eccles. The Red Line connects downtown and continues to park-and-ride opportunities throughout the valley.
• FrontRunner
  Regional trains from Ogden, Davis County and Utah County connect with TRAX. Check the late-evening return schedule before attending a night kickoff.
• Postgame service
  Trains become extremely crowded when the stadium empties. UTA may operate supplemental buses toward Courthouse station; follow platform staff and current event notices.
• Downtown hotels
  Properties near Main Street, Courthouse or Library stations offer the easiest car-free trip and avoid the steep walk from central Salt Lake.
• Bus routes
  Regular UTA routes serve the university and medical campus. Football tickets cover these too, but detours can make TRAX the more predictable option.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Meet away from 500 South
  The stadium frontage and TRAX crossing carry intense pedestrian traffic. Use the game-specific rideshare point or a clearly open campus edge instead of pinning a gate.
• West-campus option
  The area below 1300 East is easier for drivers to reach than Guardsman Way late in the pregame window and provides a manageable uphill walk.
• Postgame strategy
  Ride TRAX several stops toward downtown before requesting, or walk west until traffic controls end. This usually lowers both wait and surge pricing.
• Airport travel
  Do not schedule a tight postgame flight. Salt Lake City International Airport is geographically close, but stadium egress and transfers can consume more than an hour.
• Mountain lodging
  Rides to Park City or canyon hotels are expensive and weather-sensitive. Reserve a private transfer or keep a designated driver rather than assuming app availability.

Utah’s pregame activity fills the east side of the stadium, Guardsman Way and the campus lots. Designated tailgate rows begin early, while the reinstated Ute Walk starts at the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center two and a half hours before kickoff. The Arrival outside Gate L adds food, music and limited giveaway shirts as the team reaches the venue.

Tailgating

• Guardsman Way/Lot 40
  The signature tailgate corridor east of the stadium contains long-running Crimson Club and reserved setups, with direct access to the Ute Walk route.
• Smith’s Ultimate Tailgate
  This organized southwest-area experience provides a central public gathering point and special programming on selected games.
• Ute Village
  The fan zone near Guardsman Way and 500 South hosts sponsor displays, games and event-week activations. Programming changes by opponent.
• Ute Walk
  Two and a half hours before kickoff, players and coaches leave the football center, proceed down Guardsman Way and turn along 500 South toward Gate L.
• The Arrival
  Fans gather outside Gate L for music, food and a close view of the team. The first 75 attendees may receive a game-specific shirt.
• Reserved setup
  Tailgating is allowed only in assigned permit areas. Keep tents, grills and furniture within the footprint and preserve campus sidewalks.
• Dry climate
  Drink water even in cool weather. Shade disappears quickly as the sun moves behind the west tower, and evening temperatures fall sharply after sunset.
• Rivalry timing
  BYU and other marquee dates produce earlier crowds and tighter transit. Reach campus at least four hours before kickoff if the Ute Walk is a priority.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• The Pie Pizzeria Underground
  The landmark at 1320 East 200 South has served enormous, cheese-heavy pizzas beneath the Pharmacy building since 1980. It is walkable to the stadium and packed on game day.
• The Pie Takeout
  The separate 1300 East storefront offers faster pickup when the underground dining room has a long wait. Order well ahead and carry the pizza to an approved tailgate.
• East Liberty Tap House
  This neighborhood gastropub in 9th and 9th serves burgers, salads and local beer, a short ride southwest of campus.
• Squatters Pub Brewery
  Downtown’s longstanding brewpub combines Utah beer with broad pub fare and easy access to TRAX for the ride east.
• Red Rock Brewing
  Another central brewpub with pizza, sandwiches and house beer, useful for groups staying downtown before boarding TRAX.
• Red Iguana
  The famous west-side Mexican restaurant specializes in complex mole sauces. Visit Friday or at an off-hour, then use nearby transit rather than attempting a rushed pregame meal.
• Ruth’s Diner
  Up Emigration Canyon, Ruth’s is a scenic breakfast choice for Mile High biscuits and hearty plates. Drive there early and expect weekend waits.

• The MUSS
  The Mighty Utah Student Section stands throughout the game on the southeast side, wearing coordinated shirts and setting the bowl’s tempo.
• Third Down Jump
  Students and surrounding fans jump in unison when the opponent faces third down, creating both noise and visible motion.
• False Start Tally
  Each opponent false start earns another large “5” displayed along the MUSS railing, claiming the five-yard penalty as a crowd achievement.
• U of U Chop
  When the band plays its percussion cue, fans form a U with their hands and chop it to the beat.
• Flashing the U
  Place both hands together to form the block U, a newer tradition that spread nationally during Utah’s 2008 Sugar Bowl season.
• Moment of Loudness
  Between the third and fourth quarters, fans illuminate their phones and make noise in memory of Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe, who both wore the retired No. 22.
• Red Thunder II
  The cannon returned in 2025 and fires from the northwest field corner, restoring a historic scoring and entrance tradition.
• Postgame fight song
  After every game, players gather before the MUSS and sing “Utah Man/Fan” with the student section.

• Olympic cauldron
  The 2002 Winter Games cauldron and plaza stand south of the stadium, preserving the venue’s global role in the opening and closing ceremonies.
• Mountain panorama
  The Wasatch rises directly east, while the Oquirrh range and Salt Lake Valley fill the western view. Upper-west seats offer the broadest sunset perspective.
• Ken Garff Red Zone
  The 2021 south enclosure added more than 5,600 seats, premium terraces, clubs, suites, locker rooms and a continuous concourse.
• West tower
  A 14-story glass-enclosed structure between elevator towers holds suites, press, clubs and operations above the home sideline.
• 22 memorial identity
  Retired No. 22 symbols and the annual 22 Forever spring game keep Jordan and Lowe’s legacy visible beyond the in-game tribute.
• Rice and Eccles names
  The stadium retains Robert L. Rice’s name from the former venue while honoring the Eccles family’s support for the 1998 replacement.
• Connected concourse
  The south project joined the east and west circulation paths, allowing a full walk and access to views unavailable in the old configuration.

History & Notable Moments

• Current stadium opens (1998)
  Utah defeated Louisville 45–22 before 44,112 on September 12, only months after the former Rice Stadium was largely demolished.
• Olympic ceremonies (2002)
  Temporary seating and massive production overlays transformed Rice-Eccles for the opening and closing of the XIX Olympic Winter Games.
• First unbeaten breakthrough (2004)
  No. 5 Utah routed BYU 52–21, completed an undefeated regular season and became the original BCS-busting program.
• TCU comeback (2008)
  No. 10 Utah rallied late to beat No. 11 TCU 13–10 on the way to another undefeated season and Sugar Bowl triumph.
• Harbaugh debut (2015)
  Utah beat Michigan 24–17 in Jim Harbaugh’s first game as Wolverines coach, drawing national attention to the Utes’ physical style.
• Red Zone debut (2021)
  The enclosed south end hosted its first game as Utah defeated Weber State 40–17.
• Oregon statement (2021)
  No. 23 Utah crushed No. 3 Oregon 38–7 before 52,724 and soon claimed its first Pac-12 championship.
• Attendance record (2024)
  A crowd of 54,383 packed the BYU rivalry game, nearly 3,000 above the listed permanent capacity.

The field runs north–south, with the Utah bench on the west sideline. West-side seats gain afternoon shade first beneath the tower, while the east and north remain exposed longer. The bowl is steep enough that upper sections retain excellent field geometry; altitude, sun and stairs matter more than distance.

• West sideline
  Midfield chairbacks behind the Utes provide the best combination of shade, bench view and traditional home support.
• East sideline
  Direct views of the Utah bench and mountain backdrop come with stronger afternoon sun. The MUSS drives the southern portion’s energy.
• MUSS sections
  The southeast block stands for essentially the entire game. Nearby seats are loud and active, not suited to visitors wanting a calm seated experience.
• North end zone
  More affordable seating faces the enclosed Ken Garff Red Zone and gets a full view of south-board replays and team operations.
• Ken Garff Red Zone
  South suites, loges, ledge seats, rooftop areas and the Premium Terrace offer the newest amenities and a close view of scoring plays.
• Layton Field Club
  Field-level hospitality and an outdoor patio provide premium proximity, indoor comfort and food packages tied to the specific ticket.
• Accessible seating
  Platforms, companion seats and elevators are distributed around the renovated bowl. Confirm the best gate and special-access shuttle before arrival.

Rice-Eccles Stadium is cashless, accepting cards, Apple Pay and Google Wallet. Free stadium Wi-Fi supports ordering through Utah 360, and every stand can accept a mobile order for pickup. The rotating food trucks and local vendors change, so use the app’s current map after entering.

• East Eats
  The east-side food-truck alley supplies the widest rotating local variety and is worth visiting before halftime congestion.
• Mobile pickup
  Stand 32 on the east and Stand 15 on the west are dedicated to app orders, reducing conflict with walk-up lines.
• Gate D grab-and-go
  The west-side touchless market near the main stairs uses automated checkout for bottled drinks and popular packaged snacks.
• Chile Verde
  The Portal 39 stand has served green-chile and Mexican-inspired stadium food alongside the broader football menu.
• Premium Terrace
  Tickets in this south-end product include all-you-can-eat concessions from two dedicated stands; other premium levels have separate inclusions.
• Pepsi refill stations
  Refill dispensers and fountain-drink water valves support both sealed and empty-bottle users throughout the concourse.
• Alcohol
  Beer and other approved drinks are sold at designated locations. Bring valid identification and consult the current game guide for cutoff and product rules.
• Water allowance
  One factory-sealed, non-frozen bottle of one liter or less is permitted, as is one empty non-glass personal bottle of the same capacity.

• One clear bag up to 12 by 18 inches is permitted. Utah’s published football rule does not state a separate depth measurement.
• One non-clear clutch no larger than 6.5 by 4.5 inches may be carried; purses, duffels and other non-clear bags are prohibited.
• Medically necessary and disability-related items are allowed after inspection. Contact stadium guest services in advance for specialized equipment.
• Every main gate has a no-bag express lane. Guests with even an approved clear bag must use standard screening.
• One factory-sealed, non-frozen water bottle of one liter or less is allowed. An empty personal bottle of one liter or less is also permitted, but glass is prohibited.
• Umbrellas, artificial noisemakers, weapons, tobacco products and open flames are prohibited. Dress for rain or snow rather than carrying an umbrella.
• Gates open two hours before kickoff. Tickets are tapped before weapons screening, so download the pass to a phone wallet in advance.
• Re-entry is not permitted once a ticket has been scanned. Confirm any emergency procedure with gate staff before exiting.