Utah will open up its six-game home schedule Saturday as the Utes take on Cal Poly at Rice-Eccles Stadium (4 p.m. MDT, ESPN+).
Ahead of the first game at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the University of Utah announced some improvements to the fan experience.
This season, pyrotechnics will go off on the south end zone scoreboard after Utah touchdowns.
Saturday also will feature the return of “Red Thunder,” one of the oldest traditions at Utah football games. The cannon that blasts after every Ute touchdown was gone from the stadium from 2021-2024. It returns in 2025 and will fire from the northwest side of the field.
Outside the stadium, Utah says that it has streamlined the security process, which should speed up lines to get into the game. This year, fans’ tickets will be scanned first before going through security.
Once inside the gate, there’s been a number of improvements to the concession stands, starting with a “grab and go” stand on the west side of the stadium. Fans will be able to grab a snack from the store and check out without having to wait in line to order.
Utah is also introducing two mobile-order-only concession stands (Stand 32 on the east side and Stand 15 on the west side), which allow fans to place an order on the Utah 360 app and grab it when it’s ready.
Additionally, every concession stand in the stadium will now have a mobile-order option that allows fans to order their food ahead on the Utah 360 app.
Concourse congestion has been an issue at Rice-Eccles Stadium in the past, partly due to the physical limitations of the stadium, but the changes will hopefully help fans get back to their seats a little faster and reduce the time spent in concession lines, which is part of the concourse crowding issue.
Another addition this year is a new ticketing provider — Paciolan, which replaced Ticketmaster. Fans can buy tickets to Saturday’s game, and the rest of the schedule, at UtahTickets.com. Fans can manage their purchased tickets on the Utah 360 app.
