utah football 1975 - of College Football Games

'The Best in the WAC"
RICE STADIUM
"An AstroTurf Palace"
The University of Utah became the
first school in the Western Athletic Conference
to install artificial turf in August
of 1972 due to a $1 million donation by
Salt Lake businessman Robert L. Rice.
The gift, the largest single amount in
the history of Ute athletics, was directed
toward the installation of AstroTurf, a
new surface on the all-weather track, a
new lighting system, and the construction
of a new Scholarship box, ticket
office and concession areas.
The turf and track were ready for use
during the 1972 season providing an
ever-beautiful backdrop to Utah's exciting
football. The new Scholarship box
was completed for the 1973 season.
Completion of these projects will give
the University of Utah total athletic
facilities equaled by few schools in the
nation.
First rudiments of the stadium were
completed in 1927. Constant improvements
and remodeling projects since
that time have made it one of the finest
in the west.
With a seating capacity of more than
30,000, Rice Stadium is a timber
30
and concrete structure with dirt
fill. Styled in a horseshoe fashion, the
stadium contains a modern all-weather
track which encircles the playing field.
The open south end is beautifully landscaped.
When utilized for non-athletic events,
the stadium (because of the round seating
arrangement on the north end) is
frequently referred to as "Stadium
Bowl." The seats in the north end were
built in 1947.
A major remodeling project was completed
in 1966 which saw the installation
of over 5,000 chair seats and the
construction of a press box on the west
side. The one level structure is one of
the most functional press facilities in the
west, running between the 25-yard
lines.
Utah defeated Colorado Mines 44-6
in the first football contest played in
the stadium.
The Utah Utah State game in 1961
drew the largest crowd ever to the
stadium (32,438).