The University of Utah received an early Christmas present Thursday that will greatly accelerate the renovation and expansion of the football stadium.
The George and Delores Dore Eccles Foundation will donate up to $10 million - 20 percent of the total cost - to help renovate Rice Stadium, where the university plays its football games and where the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Olympics will be held. The Foundation will contribute $5 million immediately and another $5 million "bonus" when the University raises $10 million from the private sector.The announcement was made by University President Arthur Smith at a press conference that included athletic director Chris Hill, football coach Ron McBride and Spencer Eccles, president of the Eccles Foundation. Among those in attendance were Olympic Organizing Committee chairman Tom Welch, Jazz owner Larry Miller and businessman Robert Rice, for whom Rice Stadium is named.
"It's an honor for me to announce this gift, which will benefit the university and university community for years to come," said Smith. "With the generous financial investment of the Eccles Foundation, the 2002 Olympic Organizing Committee and other generous donors, the U. can create a facility that will serve our university and community well into the 21st century."
The stadium expansion is scheduled to begin in the spring of 1997 and be completed a little over a year later. A steel structure will begin to be built around the outside of the existing stadium prior to the 1997 season and when the season is over the project will go full bore to be completed before the 1998 season.
Originally the project was to be done in three phases and not be completed until the year 2000. However, the extra money is allowing the project to be done much faster and at a lower cost. "Because of this gift, we are able to jumpstart this project," said Hill.
A fundraising committee has already "quietly" raised $4 million, said Hill, who believes it will have no problem reaching the goal of $10 million. The Olympic Organizing Committee has pledged $8 million, with the remaining $22 million coming from new and existing university revenue bonds.
Both Hill and McBride were quite emotional in talking about the generous gift from the Eccles and what it means to the athletic department and football program.
"This is pretty hard to believe" said a choked-up McBride. "This is a huge deal. What more could you ask for?"
"This is an amazing opportunity for the university," said Hill. "I'm overwhlemed. This is a landmark day for the University of Utah."
The new stadium - and it will be new for the most part because all but the south stands will be torn down - will include a large press box/scholarship box with two levels of corporate box and suite seating on the west side.
At ground level, the distance from the east stands to the west will be 12 feet wider on the field than it is now, with the first row eight feet off the ground. Temporary seats will be added for the Olympics around the field below the first row of the football stands, bringing the total capacity to slightly over 50,000.
The stadium design also allows for future expansion on the south end when more seats may be needed a few years down the line. The project will be put out to bid early next year.