Rice-Eccles Stadium expansion
by JazzyUte on Jun 19, 2010 8:43 PM MDT
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PrintThough it does not appear to be a requirement for Pac-10 affiliation, it hasn't stopped Utah from addressing the potential of expansion. In fact, Chris Hill is on the record saying expansion is coming.
Currently, Rice-Eccles Stadium seats about 45,000 fans. That would make it one of the smallest stadiums in the Pac-10. With expansion to 60,000+, the Utes would leap toward the top-half of the conference in that regard.
It's unknown when expansion will happen. However, the stadium was built with the possibility of it down the line if such a requirement was needed. It appears, at the pinnacle of football here at Utah, that moment is now.
Of course, it'll be a few years before anything is done. Hell, we haven't even been in the Pac-10 a week. So they'll have to decide where to expand and how big to make it.
What we do know is that the next logical expansion point for Rice-Eccles Stadium is the south end zone. That was built in the 1980s and the only real link to the old Rice Stadium.
This would fully enclose the stadium.
With that said, we don't know the plans for this phase. So I thought it'd be interesting to look at two potential south end zone expansion possibilities.
This is what Rice-Eccles Stadium looks like currently.
The first is a smaller plan. This would make the south end zone a near-replica of the north end zone. This, in my estimate, would probably sit roughly 15,000-20,000 fans. That would up the capacity anywhere from 60 to 65,000 fans.
RES at roughly 60,000 fans
The next scenario isn't dramatically different. However, it would connect the SEZ with the highest point of the west stands. I'd wager this would up the total number by 20,000-25,000. So the potential numbers here for the entire capacity would be around 70,000 fans.
RES at roughly 70,000 fans
It's possible they decide to expand with the potential of future expansion down the line. I do not believe, though, the initial expansion would up capacity to 70,000. So it's unlikely this scenario is what we see in the coming years.
With that said, the first one is probably a very realistic look at what RES would look like with the SEZ enclosed.
At 65,000, the Utes would have the 6th largest stadium in the conference. But if expansion exceeds 72,000, an unlikely situation at the moment, Utah would have roughly the third largest stadium in the conference.
As of now, though, I think we could settle on 65,000 and a stadium similar to scenario one.
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expansion
I’ve been thinking of stadium expansion non-stop these past few days. Wasn’t an identical media skybox on the east-side in the cards, too? What about the parking garage? Let’s get this done before we start in the Pac-10!!!
Another expansion idea, though unlikely...
It was used during the Olympics to up the capacity to 50,000. But it requires blocking out the Field House with bleachers…
Using Scenario 1:
I’m guessing this would add 5,000 to the capacity, since that’s about what it added in 2002.
So in this scenario, RES is at 60 to 65,000. That could bump capacity to either 65,000 or 70,000.
I also added a second video board, which I think is needed.
Using scenario two:
Nothing different except for the larger SEZ. This would take capacity from around 70,000 and put it at 75,000.
Again, the video board is added.
Too Big
I do not think the community will support a staduim much bigger than 50k. Its sold out 3 or 4 seasons in Utah history. Living in Phoenix, it looks bad to see a 1/2 empty Sun Devil Stadium every week. Better to keep seating low, have it sell out and have high ticket prices than have an empty stadium and you have to give away tickets. Looks good to recruits to have the place packed.
I don't think you can say...
what the community will support based off of that.
Especially given the recent success of the football team and now having a higher level of competition. I think they could sell out a larger stadium. Especially since the # of season ticket holders grows every year and could almost fill the current stadium now on their own. There are going to be a lot more fans that want to come out and see Cal play rather than San Diego St.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
No pro football team in Salt Lake City
That makes a big difference in terms of community support. Utah only competes against other college teams within Salt Lake City.
Also, the rate of growth should tell us something. The fact that Utah’s average attendance has grown steadily and rapidly suggests that there is still room for growth.
RES is designed for multiple expansions.
The final size would wrap the level of the top of the west bleachers around to the press box. I would estimate the final size to be near 80k.
At this time the fans would go nuts it the view of the field house was lost. Either of the two plans in the OP are the most likely. Economics pointed out by spoons44 above also suggest 65K is the number to shoot for.
Utah’s two straight sellouts and the increased excitement about being in the PAC 10 suggest his 50K might be a bit low.
BCS Evolution -- Punctuating the Equilibrium - twitter
I agree with your last part...
We’re going to have stinker games where the crowd is a bit thin. I remember a game a few years ago against Utah State, shortly after our embarrassing loss to UNLV, in September and it was snowing. The crowd was good sized at the start, but by the end, not so much.
But rarely has there been a game where attendance dipped to pre-Meyer numbers. In fact, I can’t recall a game where it did.
I became convinced our fan base had grown up when in 2006, after getting abused by UCLA in the opener, we packed it in for Northern Arizona. It was literally packed. I don’t think there was an available seat.
Becoming a P-10 member is going to make it that much more likely we don’t struggle at the gates.
Moreover, since Whitt took over, season ticket numbers have gone up every single year he’s been here. We’re currently on pace for 35,000 season tickets.
That means we’re at the point where there will only be 10,000 single game tickets available for each game. That’s huge. We’re almost to the point where we can pack in the entire stadium with just season tickets.
I guarantee that number skyrockets in 2011.
So yes, 60,000 is probably a good and realistic number.
No, we are well past the point of there being 10,000 single tickets available.
There are 6,500 seats reserved for the MUSS and students. There are 3,000 seats reserved for the visiting school. The only way the university will have individual tickets available is if the visiting school returns some of their allotment.
does the huntsman family still give money to the university of utah? just curious.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Craig Thompson just might end up being a savvy guy if he gets the MWC to 12 teams. Hell is just a word, the reality is much much worse." Event Horizon". Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean, I mean plumb, mad dog mean. cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live or win. That's just the way it is. "The Outlaw Josey Wales". To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf. "Training Day". Rashad will beat Rua b/c it's a bad matchup for him. 2/1 odds. Josh Koscheck will dethrone Gsp and win the welterweight title. 2.9/1 odds on that too. Peace.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Jun 21, 2010 10:31 AM MDT up reply actions
Good question
I am sure his large donation to the Huntsman cancer institute in the past are a key reason the U is in the PAC 10 right now though.
Eccles has continued to contribute. I think he is another reason the Utes are joining the PAC 10.
These two families have made huge contributions to the school.
agreed
55,000-60,000 is a perfect number and i think we could fill it all of the time. The season ticket holders will be key, and i would venture to say pac-10 teams will travel better than most MWC squads so that’ll help, too. Making the south end zone identical should do the trick with a new luxury suites/media box. A second screen would be rad—i hadn’t thought of that. Anyone have Dr. Hill on speed-dial?
To Utah?
Heck yeah, they will. I’d be willing to bet the number of visiting Pac 10 fans (not P-10, please) beats your optimistic estimates.
by The Ancient Mariner on Jun 20, 2010 12:28 PM MDT up reply actions
Think any would amke a ski trip out of it in November?
Being in Florida I hadn’t thought of that angle until just now.
BCS Evolution -- Punctuating the Equilibrium - twitter
Not likely
The ski areas are usually not quite open. If they are there is no guarantee. Considering we will probably play Colorado as our rival the last game of the season any possible benefit here would be lost.
And to fill that stadium on a regular basis...
I’m tired of the fair weather fans that show up late (if at all) and leave early.
People need to come out to the games. No more excuses about who we are playing, et al.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
That will happen
I think we’ll see an improvement in RES.
by EverythingU on Jun 22, 2010 11:22 PM MDT up reply actions
I don't think so....
With what Utah has accomplished, the teams they’ve beat and the schedule they’ve had is > the 1984 Championship BYU was awarded. Utah did more in 2004 and 2008 than BYU did in 1984.
by EverythingU on Jun 22, 2010 11:20 PM MDT up reply actions
About that national championship...
It really doesn’t matter after 25 years. So when we expand to the biggest stadium in the state, it will leave the poor zoobies with nothing but hate and envy!
My thoughts exactly.
The PAC 10 fans will travel well and take up a lot more seats and a video screen in the NEZ would be awesome!
Go big or go home!
Chris Hill stated that closing the SEZ would take seating to roughly 58k and would be the first choice. An east-side media box would be cool and I would love to see a huge video board in the NEZ.
expansion correction
I think you forgot to include the section that was already built in 1980 in your estimation. I think if they completed the south endzone identical to the north endzone it would seat 10-15,000 total but you still need to subtract the number of seats from the section that is already there. So I think it would actually add about about 7,000 to ~ 12,000 seats when its all said and done after you subtract the roughly 2500-3000 people that already sit in the south endzone.
I’d like to see them complete the North endzone so that the top is level with the top of the East and West sides of the stadium. Obviously, doing this would make trax and South Campus drive go Under the north endzone. I figured this would add about 10-15k seats, be a pretty cool, but not difficult architectural feat and it would make the stadium in the perfect shape of a “U” if you look at it from the north. Then maybe down the road they tear down the field house and build a student rec center that would possibly also serve as a north entrance to the stadium.
I do like the U idea.
I still like the SEZ idea better.
I think the NEZ and field house remodel should be one project, especially if it is going to serve as an alternate entrance built over South Campus Drive.
Until then lets see if we can’t get the field house roof painted with a giant UTAH with the Utah drum and feathers on either side. Sounds like a night job for the MUSS.
BCS Evolution -- Punctuating the Equilibrium - twitter
I love the 'U' idea, that would be a very cool concept.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
I was just going by Hill's estimates...
That put the stadium at around 60,000 with the SEZ expanded to the current look of the NEZ.
But I think it’s all speculation. Plans are there for expanding, I’m just not sure if capacity numbers are there.
I wouldn’t mind blocking out the field house. Maybe even replicate the field house, but make it larger so it could, as you say, work as a rec center and entrance. Wisconsin has a similar field house hugging their stadium, though it’s obviously much taller:
I like the idea of also expanding the north endzone
Great idea to expand the north endzone to go over the trax line, but sounds like the plan is for south endzone to be filled in first.
If the north endzone was to be expanded, they should tear down the fieldhouse and add a trax station, north gates, and a new rec center in its place. Imagine getting off a train and being under the north endzone seating. You could then go over the trax line directly into the stadium. The one station west of the parking lot gets way too crowded on gameday, so why not add a second station?
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