Utah Stadium Expansion

[Portland Ute]

The standing room only "seats" are terrible. Some friends invited me to the Utah/TCU game last year (sorry Ute fans) and we could barely see anything since there were so many people in front of us and we were trying to look DOWN at the action. That doesn't really work. We moved around a lot but we couldn't find anything suitable.

I don't know why those tickets are even sold if you can't even see the game.

Did you even try going to the top of the stadium? My hell, how old are you that you can't see anything from there. You aren't close to the action, but you can see every play develop perfectly. The SRO at the top of the east and west stands is fine. There is also some SRO room at the top of the north end zone which delivers perfectly acceptable views of the action.

But, it's good to know that there is such a demand for tickets that people will pay just to get into the stadium, even if they might not be able to see.

[Uncle Ted]

They spruced the place up last year with new paint, carpet, graphics, and lockers... but the place was built in the 80's and it was showing it's age.

The new design will undoubtedly be far superior.

After a few years in the Pac-12 maybe they can get something more like what the Longhorns have...

The UT football locker room features a lounge area with game tables, 125 personalized lockers for the players, five flat-screen TVs and a three-dimensional, lighted 20-foot Longhorn on the ceiling. The facility, which is named the Howard L. Terry-Bobby Moses Jr. Longhorn Locker Room, is described on the UT athletics department's Web site as 'one of the finest collegiate locker rooms in the country.'

[BemidjiCoug]

After a few years in the Pac-12 maybe they can get something more like what the Longhorns have...

Makes you wonder if Texas' boosters are anything like Miami's

[Devildog]

Is that Texas locker room at the stadium or the practice facility?

There are many teams that have nice locker rooms at the main practice facility.

Stadium space is usually less "expansive".

Orange Ute posted the architects rendering of the Utes new practice facility

http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showpost.php?p=631744&postcount=843

[Uncle Ted]

Is that Texas locker room at the stadium or the practice facility?

Yes.

It is housed in the W.A. "Tex" Moncrief, Jr.-V.F. "Doc" Neuhaus Athletic Center (MNAC), the football support facility at the south end of the stadium.

[Devildog]

That is a nice home field advantage.

At Rice Eccles the visitors locker room is pretty much just like the Utes except that everything is painted grey.

[Devildog]

Yes.

It is housed in the W.A. "Tex" Moncrief, Jr.-V.F. "Doc" Neuhaus Athletic Center (MNAC), the football support facility at the south end of the stadium.

That is pretty damn cool, and a good idea to build the complex as an all in one (training and stadium).

Utah obviously can't do that due to space limitations.

I do hope the new expansion creates a more upscale feel than what they have now. Hell, I'm sure it will. It is still in Utah though... and this whole state has a "small time" thinking that drives me crazy.

We will never have room like that at the stadium... but they can and should still make it bad-ass.

Leaving that Texas locker room before the game and heading out onto the field through this tunnel... can't help but make you feel like a winner.

With style like that at UT... it's no wonder my UT law graduate brother-in-law is such an insufferable ass.

[Scorcho]

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgRpMDttLoQ"]University of Utah - State of the Utes with Dr. Chris Hill - YouTube[/nomedia]

well, at least we got to see a 5 second glimpse of what the South End Zone might have looked like.

Sounds like Hill put the kibosh on it for now.

[OrangeUte]

University of Utah - State of the Utes with Dr. Chris Hill - YouTube

well, at least we got to see a 5 second glimpse of what the South End Zone might have looked like.

Sounds like Hill put the kibosh on it for now.

not sure i like having another box in the south endzone. it looks cool, but might look kind of goofy with a nearly identical box on the west sideline.

makes me think about the olden days up at Rice Stadium sitting on the black-top UTAH in the North Endzone for games. We have come a long way.

[Katy Lied]

As to the topic at hand, I would love it, especially since my dad and stepmom would be able to get their own season tickets and stop bugging me about them. I also know second-hand that designs have been in Chris Hill's office for at least a year.

I don't follow your logic. Can't your parents buy season tickets even now?

[Portland Ute]

I don't follow your logic. Can't your parents buy season tickets even now?

Do you know a way that they can?

If you aren't currently a season ticket holder, particularly a CC member, it's next to impossible to get seats.

[Portland Ute]

University of Utah - State of the Utes with Dr. Chris Hill - YouTube

well, at least we got to see a 5 second glimpse of what the South End Zone might have looked like.

Sounds like Hill put the kibosh on it for now.

I'm puzzled by this video.

"Here are some cool plans.

We might use them.

Probably won't.

You see (Jedi Hand wave) other schools are DOWNSIZING.

But here is a peek at what we have considered.

Remember (Jedi hand wave) Utah and Oregon are the only schools in the PAC12 that are selling our their stadiums. (Jedi Hand wave)"



(*Yeah, that's about ALL Utah and Oregon have in common right now, Good Doctor*)

It's all a bunch of fluff. Sure, Utah is selling along with Oregon. But don't mention that Oregon has a 60K stadium and RES is 46K

Sure, mention all the schools that are downsizing. But don't mention that ALL OF THEM will still have a LOT MORE CAPACITY than RES when they are finished!

It's all a bunch of condescending tripe.

On the other hand....

I wonder why you would show drawings if you did NOT plan to expand.

This is the first time that Hill or the U. have really directly addressed the issue of the fan base clamoring for more tickets and for expansion.

It is, maybe more significantly, the first time they have released visual evidence of a plan.

That picture of the proposed SEZ is already spreading on the Ute related interwebs like wildfire.

On the one hand, I think Hill has passed his usefulness. OTOH, this isn't his first rodeo. He HAD to know that people would get ONE thing from that video and it would be that picture of the SEZ schematic....and that one picture is worth a thousand words.

[LA Ute]

[YOUTUBE]ZgRpMDttLoQ[/YOUTUBE]