The Ken Garff Red Zone replaces the existing Spence Clark Football Center, which was demolished to allow for the creation of a new south end zone. The new structure connects to the existing bowl, increasing the stadium’s capacity to 51,444 spectators. The field level of the facility serves as a game day home for the student-athletes and support staff and contains locker rooms for the home/visiting teams, referees, and cheerleaders. It also contains a field club and recruiting lounges for future student-athletes. The upper levels contain premium amenities for fans, as well as a connection at the concourse level to create 360-degree travel around the stadium with new restrooms, concessions, and a team store.
“This expansion is going to be a game-changer for our student-athletes across all of our sport programs, helping us to recruit the very best and equipping them with resources to compete at the highest level,” said Mark Harlan, University of Utah Athletics Director. “We’re also excited to expand our fan amenities and allow Utes football fans to experience one of the best atmospheres in college football in a brand new way.”
The Ken Garff Red Zone features a variety of fan seating, including 44 loge boxes, 15 premium suites that are 100 feet closer to the field than previous seating options, and the addition of 1,200 chairback seats and bench seats in the endzone. Populous and the university added in more low/mid-level seats than were taken out during construction to make the game day experience an all-inclusive event for all levels of ticket holders. The facility is also home to a combination suite club and a premium rooftop terrace managed by Club Corp that will be activated for members on game days, as well as throughout the year as a restaurant and event space for weddings, corporate functions, and other community gatherings.
“From developing the initial concepts for the end zone expansion in 2017 to opening day, it’s been a privilege to work with the university, athletic department, and auxiliary services to deliver a new experience for fans to enjoy in Rice-Eccles Stadium,” said Jeremy Krug, Associate Principal at Populous and Lead Designer on the project. “It was important to create a project that honored the Utah brand and allowed the story of the football program and the community to shine through. This Ken Garff Red Zone expansion will do just that, creating an unrivaled game day experience.”
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Populous encountered several challenges brought about by the stadium’s existing elements. Before the expansion, game day operations were spread out into different areas of the stadium, campus, and the Clark Center. Without a continuous concourse, access to the south end zone from other parts of the stadium was limited. Additionally, the university purchased a new score board two years ago, prior to the renovation. Populous designed the end zone project around the new scoreboard, while making sure it matched up with the existing east and west stands. Populous’ design accommodates for a 360-degree fan concourse and ample space to efficiently give the team everything they need in one place.
“It’s been an honor to help deliver this project right in our backyard in Salt Lake City,” said Brent Tippets, Principal at VCBO. “Through the expansion of the south end zone, we’ve established the University of Utah’s presence on the national stage and created a subject of deep pride for our community to enjoy for years to come.”
