For seven decades the University of Utah football team called Ute Stadium — renamed Rice Stadium in 1972 — its home. With an original seating capacity of 20,000, Ute Stadium opened its doors just eight months after ground was broken. According to piece from Utah University’s magazine, the total cost of the stadium was $133,000, or less than $2 million in 2016 dollars. Amazing!
The first game in the brand-new Ute Stadium featured a matchup between Utah and the Colorado School of Mines. It wasn’t even close, and the home fans enjoyed the Utes blowing out the Orediggers, 40-6. Three weeks later the stadium was dedicated during an October 22 game against the Colorado Buffaloes.
Ute/Rice Stadium was replaced in 1997 by what is now Rice-Eccles Stadium, which stands on the same spot.
