As football season kicks off, the University of Utah campus and surrounding neighborhoods are gearing up for the energy and excitement of game day. With the Utes hosting their first home game of the season at Rice-Eccles Stadium against the Idaho Vandals on Thursday, Sept. 3, we want to ensure our campus community and neighbors are prepared for the influx of visitors and traffic.

Campus advisory and alternative instruction

Campus will be exceptionally busy on game day. Heavy traffic and delays are anticipated throughout the area. Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to utilize public transit—particularly UTA TRAX—and to encourage others to do the same. While extra parking will be made available, instructors whose classes may be significantly impacted by the traffic have the flexibility to utilize alternative instruction models, including moving classes online for the day.

Game day schedule and community impacts

• Kickoff: The game runs from 7 to 10 p.m., with stadium doors opening at 5 p.m.
• Parking closures: Impacts to the West Stadium Parking Lot will begin at 6 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3. Guardsman Way and East Stadium Parking Lot closures will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2 and run through the event on Sept. 3. At these times, all vehicles must be vacated from the lots. All parking impacts will continue through, Thursday, Sept. 3. Impacted parking lots will reopen for campus related parking on Friday, Sept. 4. Additional Parking for displaced campus permit holders will be available at Stillwell Field on Sept. 3 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Road closures: Guardsman Way will be closed to through traffic beginning Thursday, Sept. 3 at 4 p.m. Traffic will be restricted on Guardsman Way from 500 South to about 595 South (entrance to Guardsman Parking Lot). Through traffic will reopen shortly after kickoff, expected by 7:30 p.m.
• Transit operations: UTA TRAX will run their normal scheduled trains with an additional seven-10 trains mixed in for pre- and post-game traffic. During the timeframe of 5 to 11 p.m., expect higher ridership and queuing lines at campus stations.
• Public safety and traffic control: Increased police personnel will manage key intersections, major thoroughfares and stadium perimeter zones before, during and after the game to keep transit moving and ensure community safety.
• Sound and illumination: Nearby residents should expect typical stadium activity sounds—including crowd noise, announcements, music, pyrotechnics and cannon blasts—along with bright stadium lighting and red illuminations and flashing and strobing light effects, all of which will subside promptly at the conclusion of the event.

Permit and contact information

Event permits have been issued through the Salt Lake City Department of Public Services (801-535-6105) and the Utah Department of Transportation (801-975-4900).

The University of Utah is proud to bring world-class athletics, culture and community together, and we deeply appreciate the patience and support of our surrounding neighborhoods. For questions or concerns regarding game day operations, please reach out to Rice-Eccles Stadium at 801-581-5445 or email the Community Relations Team at community@utah.edu.