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Welcome back to Rice-Eccles Stadium

Transportation impacts may affect your commute to and from each Utah football game.

The long-awaited 2021 Utah Football season kicks off this Thursday, September 2, at 5:30 PM. As fans get ready for the first game against Weber State, be aware of the changes introduced this season, including digital tickets, cashless concessions and more. To help you have the best season ever, here's everything you need to know before attending a home game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

As thousands of Ute fans return to the U for the highly anticipated 2021 football season, be aware of the transportation impacts that may affect your commute to and from each game. Fans traveling to the stadium should prepare for traffic delays, limited parking and road closures.

This season, most home games are scheduled on Saturdays; however, two games fall on weekdays— Thursday, Sept. 2 and Friday, Nov. 26. Therefore, university employees and students should also prepare for transportation disruptions taking place on those two gamedays. Employees should consult with their managers to determine if working from home is a possibility.

KEN GARFF RED ZONE AT RICE-ECCLES

The wait is over. Welcome to the Ken Garff Red Zone at Rice-Eccles! After nearly 18 months of construction, the $80 million stadium expansion project is complete and ready for the opening football game on Sept. 2.

The Ken Garff Red Zone at Rice-Eccles will enhance the game-day experience and create the ultimate college football atmosphere by offering fans new premium seating, bench seating, and hospitality areas. The debut of the premium seating options, including suite, loge box, ledge, club and premium terrace seats, will allow an additional 4,500 fans to get in on the action.

In addition to the fan experience, the Ken Garff Red Zone will also feature new and improved amenities for athletes, including new locker rooms, sports medicine facilities, hospitality areas, and more. Visit the Ken Garff Red Zone website to learn more.

Also launching in the Ken Garff Red Zone is the U Club, a members-only restaurant and private gathering space. As an extension of ClubCorp, the U Club offers exclusive year-round experiences for the University of Utah community of fans. Additionally, U Club members have access to indulge in a world-class menu ranging from traditional burgers to Italian cuisine crafted by a Michelin-star trained chef from Seattle. Visit the U Club website to learn more and view the discounted membership rates for university employees.

DIGITAL TICKETS

Beginning this season, all game day tickets and parking permits are digital and accessible through your mobile device. Go to am.ticketmaster.com/utahutes to log into your account and access your tickets.

We highly suggest adding your tickets to your Apple and android wallets, which will allow you to access without wireless service or WIFI. Visit utahtickets.com/managetickets/ to watch instructional videos demonstrating how to add your tickets to Apple and android wallets.

CLEAR BAG POLICY

Bags, purses and backpacks are not allowed in the Rice-Eccles Stadium. However, each fan may bring one clear bag no larger than 12 inches x 12 inches x 6 inches. The clear bag can be any style, even a 1-gallon sealable bag, as long as it does not exceed the approved dimensions. Fans may also bring a small clutch or wallet no larger than 6.5″ x 4.5″ for privacy. Diaper bags are also allowed if an infant is present with you. Visit the Rice-Eccles Stadium website to learn more about the clear bag policy.

CASHLESS CONCESSIONS

To reduce touchpoints and increase efficiency with concessions sale, Rice-Eccles Stadium will no longer accept cash as a method of payment. All sales will be completed using credit cards or an applicable phone payment app.

WATER BOTTLE POLICY

Staying hydrated throughout the game is especially important when the weather reaches high temperatures. Each guest may bring one factory-sealed water bottle (up to one liter). Guests may also bring an empty personal water bottle and fill it up at the water stations are located throughout the concourses at the stadium.

Fan parking options

Fans must pay $20 per game to park in the following lots (highlighted in yellow):

  • Merrill Engineering Lot (Lot 39)
  • Kennecott Building Lot (Lot 44)
  • Sorenson Lot (Lot 32)
  • USTAR Lot (Lot 46)
  • Eccles Broadcast Lot (Lot 27)

RV owners must pay $80 per game to park in the following lots (highlighted in yellow):

  • Merrill Engineering Lot (Lot 39)
  • Kennecott Building Lot (Lot 44)
  • Sorenson Lot (Lot 32)
  • USTAR Lot (Lot 46)
  • Eccles Broadcast Lot (Lot 27)

General parking is available in the following lots (outlined in black):

  • Student Services Lot (Lot 33)
  • Naval Science Lot (Lot 34)
  • Northwest Garage (Lot 38)
  • ACC Garage (Lot 45)
  • East Wasatch Lot (Lot 47)

Fans with parking permits, such as Crimson Club members, must park in their assigned lot (highlighted in green/yellow).

UTA ticket to ride program

Did you know your gameday ticket also serves as your pass to ride UTA buses, TRAX and FrontRunner trains for free on game days? Football fans can easily avoid the stress of traffic, parking and road closures by riding UTA TRAX to the Rice-Eccles Stadium. A Red Line station is located directly across the West Stadium Lot. Visit rideuta.com to learn more about UTA TRAX routes and schedules.

Road closures & impacts

  • The far-right (north) westbound lane on 500 South will be closed on game days beginning at 6 a.m. After each game ends, all lanes on 500 South will be closed for one hour as fans exit campus.
  • The road shoulders on Guardsman Way will be closed on game day at 6 a.m. and will reopen at midnight. The sidewalk will remain open.
  • Both north and southbound lanes, of the north section of Guardsman Way, will be closed three hours before kick-off and will reopen when the game begins (Saturdays only). Pedestrians may access Guardsman Way during the road closure. Cyclists must dismount and walk their bicycles when traveling on Guardsman Way during this three-hour closure. See map below.

Rideshare pick-up/drop-off location

The pick-up and drop-off zone for rideshare services is on University Street between 300 South and Presidents Circle.

Visit utahutes.com to view the football schedule and visit stadium.utah.edu to learn more gameday information.

Vehicle parking impacts

In preparation for the mass of fans parking on campus, all vehicles must vacate the Stadium Lot (Lot 1), East Stadium Lot (Lot 9) and the Guardsman Lot (Lot 40) by 10:00 p.m. the day prior to game day. Parking lots used for game day parking will be closed 5 hours before kickoff. Employees should consult with their managers to determine if working from home is a possibility. Bicycle parking is available throughout campus.  Visit map.utah.edu to find free bicycle parking near the Rice-Eccles Stadium.