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SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah athletics department unveiled the highly anticipated Ken Garff Red Zone Thursday afternoon.
The expansion, which cost approximately $80 million featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of an audience of nearly 400 special guests. Among the speakers included Athletics Director Mark Harlan, former interim president Dr. Michael L. Good, incoming President Taylor Randall and primary donor Katherine Garff, the spouse of the late Robert Garff, who was chair of the Ken Garff Automotive Group.
"Today is a historic day, not only for the athletics department and our student-athletes, but for the university," Harlan said. "They say things like, 'If you build it, they will come.' But we understand that they're already coming to Rice-Eccles Stadium. What this allows is 4,500 more people to join the party. That's an amazing thing."
Good said the expansion of the stadium will have a big impact on the athletics programs, in particular recruiting. But it will "also advance our entire university," too, he added.
"As we continue recruiting the nation's top academic talent to our university and this beautiful new facility, I already envision bringing our new recruits up there, showing them the magnificent valley on one side, the impressive Rice-Eccles Stadium on the other, serving them a fine meal and completing their recruitment to the University of Utah with that same statistically higher opportunity that our football team will accomplish on the field when they are in the red zone," Good added.
The stadium expansion was a project largely funded by a generous donation from the Garff family, who were involved in the project and the vision for the university.
After Dr. Good, Katherine Garff spoke on behalf of her family, mentioning her late husband's involvement in the project and his vision.
"My husband Bob had a dream that the Ken Garff Red Zone could attract and unite the finest faculty, build and retain the most gifted athletes and attract and develop the greatest students," Katherine Garff said. "He also had a dream that the Ken Garff Red Zone could be a gathering place to encourage the faculty, the business community, families and students to be able to enjoy these facilities year-round."
Katherine Garff helped football head coach Kyle Whittingham cut the ceremonial ribbon, marking the completion of the project and opening the facility to those in attendance to tour the south end that includes new seating, including premium seats, loge boxes and terrace seating.
The expansion also included a new field-level hosting area, press rooms and significantly upgraded home and away locker rooms. The away locker room features a graphic on the outside wall with the phrase: "Welcome To 5,000 Feet."
The Utes locker room, however, features individual lockers with players' photos above and several phrases throughout including, "A Utah Man Am I" as well as a centerfold drum and feather. Additionally, the very first locker players see when they enter is an honorary locker to the late Ty Jordan outfitted with his jersey and helmet.
With these improvements, Utah fans will enjoy a completely new experience with a fully enclosed stadium, locking in the electricity and high-intensity environment that every Utah home game offers.
