Gameweek fan information presented by Utah 360: Get ready for Thursday's season opener

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Utes, ranked No. 12 in the preseason, will open the 2024 football season — their first as members of the Big 12 Conference — at home against Southern Utah on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. Fans returning to Rice-Eccles for this historic and highly anticipated season opener will find a number of improvements have been made to make the game experience even more enjoyable. Fans can find everything they need to plan their game day on the official Utah Athletics mobile app, Utah 360.

Thursday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Subscription information can be found here. As always, fans are encouraged to come early and loud and arrive with digital tickets and parking passes already downloaded to their smartphones, which can be conveniently accessed through the Utah 360 app.



OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today for a new game day experience that provides access to news and information, schedules, team rosters, stats and behind-the-scenes videos, and allows fans to purchase and manage game tickets and order refreshments right from their mobile device. The app is available on both the Apple Store (Download) and Google Play (Download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download it to your smartphone's wallet to get ready for game day!



MATCHDAY FAN INFORMATION
Since the August 29 game kicks off at 7 p.m. on weekdays, you'll want to get to campus as early as possible to avoid last-minute traffic congestion before game time. The exact impacts to campus parking on August 29 are listed here. Be in your seats early to enjoy the pregame entertainment, the countdown to kickoff, including a performance by the “Pride of Utah,” the University of Utah's Marching Band, before the team runs onto the field to the cheers of the sellout crowd – Utah's 84th consecutive sold-out stadium since 2010.


Whether you're parking in an assigned parking spot with a pass, grilling out all afternoon, or arriving via public transportation, this page has everything you need to know to plan a fun and successful evening cheering on your Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium.


To help fans prepare for game day and enjoy the best possible experience at our home athletics competitions, Utah Athletics provides a comprehensive game day information page that includes links to information about tickets, parking, stadium admission, stadium policies, food options and fan conduct expectations, which can be found here.



NEW PRODUCTS FOR 2024
In 2024, Rice-Eccles Stadium will implement several significant improvements to stadium infrastructure and operations to enhance the fan experience on game days, most notably the installation of a Wi-Fi network, processes to improve efficiency in concession sales and reduce concourse congestion, and the addition of a second Red Zone Store.

• WiFi
  

  • The University of Utah installed a public Wi-Fi network over the summer to provide fans with a better online and mobile experience in the stadium on game day. Fans can find the “RiceEcclesWiFi” network in their available networks and connect for free and without registration.

• CONCESSION UPGRADES

  • Rice-Eccles Stadium offers a wide variety of food vendors throughout the concourse, including the East Eats food truck alley on the east side of the stadium. A full map of food vendors and other stadium services can be found here (new link needed here).
  • New this year is the ability to order concessions from your mobile device! Mobile concession ordering for pickup is a new feature at all concession stands at Rice-Eccles Stadium and is enhanced by the improved connectivity of the new Wi-Fi network and the Utah 360 app.
  • Fans can pre-order via their mobile device and then pick up their order at the designated mobile order pickup lane at the selected food location.
  • Also new this year is the opportunity to purchase a refillable souvenir beverage cup at all food stands. Customers can fill it up once after their purchase and then return to the separate fountain beverage refill station, as free refills are included in the purchase price.

• REDZONE SHOP

  • Be sure to stop by the Red Zone stores at Rice-Eccles Stadium to pick up your officially licensed Utes apparel. Check out the new Red Zone store on the southeast corner of Rice-Eccles Stadium near Gate L.

• IMPROVED SECURITY CONTROLS IN THE STADIUM

  • In keeping with the University of Utah's commitment to providing a safe environment for spectators, student-athletes, coaches and visitors at Rice-Eccles Stadium, walk-through detector technology will be utilized at all entrance gates beginning this season. Please follow the instructions of security personnel at the entrance gates.

THE ARRIVAL
Meet in front of Gate L at 500 South by 4:45 p.m. to greet the team as they step off the bus. At The Arrival, Utes fans host the official welcome party for the team before each home game. Enjoy food, live music and exclusive t-shirts for each of Utah's six home games, only available when the team arrives at Rice-Eccles Stadium before games.

DIGITAL TICKETS AND PARKING PERMITS

Tickets and parking passes will be scanned using the ticket holder's mobile device on match day. They can also be shared with others via email or SMS.

• To ensure a successful digital ticketing experience, fans are asked to download their tickets and parking passes to their smartphone wallet (iPhone and Android) and present them upon arrival at the parking lot and stadium gates to expedite entry.
• Fans are also advised to arrive early to allow more time for entry.
• Individual tickets for Utah Football League home games can be purchased here.

STADIUM GATES

Stadium gates open 90 minutes before kick-off, at 5.30 p.m., on Thursday. To expedite entry into Rice-Eccles Stadium, fans are encouraged to arrive early and plan the most efficient route from their parking lot or Trax station and find the most convenient stadium gate for entry. There will also be a baggage-free express entry line at all main stadium gates. A map of the gates can be found here.

STADIUM GUIDELINES

• GUIDELINES FOR CLEAR BAGS AND EXPRESS LANES WITHOUT BAGS
  Rice-Eccles Stadium has a clear bag policy. There will be no bag lanes at all main entrances to expedite entry for those without bags. Only clear bags up to 12″ x 18″ are allowed in the stadium. No bags, purses or duffel bags are allowed into the stadium, with the exception of small clutches measuring 6.5″ x 4.5″ or less.
• DRINKING BOTTLES

One sealed water bottle per person (1 liter or less) is allowed in the stadium. Bottled water must not be frozen. For sustainability reasons, empty personal water bottles (1 liter or less) are allowed and the stadium has 44 water bottle refill dispensers at 10 locations throughout the stadium. A map can be found here. Glass water bottles are not allowed. In addition, all beverage dispensers at the concession stands offer drinking water from one of the valves.

• CASHLESS LICENCES
  To reduce touchpoints and increase efficiency in food vendor sales, Rice-Eccles Stadium has implemented cashless transactions at all food vendors. All sales will be processed using either credit cards or the Apple Pay and Google Wallet mobile payment apps.

For a full list of stadium policies and information you should know before your visit, see the A-Z Fan Guide.

FAN BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS – WELCOME TO UTAH
The safety of student-athletes and spectators is a top priority at all Utah Athletics home events. We ask that all fans extend a warm “Welcome to Utah” to everyone by behaving respectfully and responsibly at our events and giving our teams a home field advantage that also shows class and sportsmanship to visiting teams. The FanUP initiative exists to define expected fan behavior at our home stadiums and focuses on:

• Support our Utes and welcome visiting teams and their fans
• Promoting a family-friendly experience
• Enjoy the game responsibly
• Cheer loudly and be proud of Ute!
• Report fan behavior issues by texting “FANUP” to 69050.

Profanity, public drunkenness, rude and disrespectful behavior, racist and derogatory comments, or verbal attacks against individuals or groups will not be tolerated. Anyone engaging in unlawful, dangerous or inappropriate behavior will be removed from the facility. We encourage all fans to help us identify and call out such behavior. Please read the “Welcome to Utah” FanUp Letter to Fans from President Taylor Randall and Athletic Director Mark Harlan.

To learn more about FanUP, visit: fanup.utah.edu.

PARKING SPACES
Parking lots open five hours prior to kickoff, with the exception of Signature and Tailgate lots, which open at 6 a.m. A parking map can be found here (PDF). Tailgating is only permitted in designated parking lots. Alcohol, RVs, trailers and tailgating are prohibited. not allowed in lots 15, 18 or 19.


Please note that due to classes on Thursday, all parking lots other than those in close proximity to the stadium (see map here) will be in normal use and may not be fully cleared in time to provide full capacity for pass holders travelling to the football match. For Thursday's match, the alternative transport options listed below are strongly recommended.

TRANSIT
Additionally, rides on UTA buses, TRAX and FrontRunner trains are free for ticket holders with a valid game ticket, including the new postgame bus service from the stadium to the Court House TRAX station. Visit UTA.com for more information.



OTHER TRANSPORTATION MEANS

• SPIN Scooter are also available on campus.
• Carpooling (Uber/Lyft) The drop-off and pick-up location is along University Street, on the east side, between 250-400 South, directly northwest of the stadium.

We look forward to a great gaming experience and encourage you to find out more before you leave!