Rice-Eccles
Stadium Parking

Rice-Eccles Stadium parking.  Is it even a thing?  Where can you park for Utah Ute football games? 

That’s a question that has been on the minds of both Ute fans and visitors alike for decades.  There’s one sweeping generalization to be made about Rice-Eccles Stadium parking.  It simply sucks. 

But then it always has.  The University of Utah has been mostly a commuter campus for at least since I came to Utah.  And that’s a long time ago.

They’ve taken a lot of the parking away although, I’ve got to admit, they have added a couple nice covered lots and a little parking over by the soccer field.

Just about every lot on campus … that I know of … has become a Crimson Club parking lot.  That means you have to buy a permit.  Nothing against the Crimson Club as I’m a member but that leaves next to nothing for those who aren’t members.

Although the Utes’ football success now means that if you want Ute football season tickets, you must pay the money and join the Crimson Club.  No choice.

Nonetheless, I have a season parking permit in the covered lot across from the Huntsman Center.  The first game this year … 2023 … was a home game against Florida. It was on a Thursday night so there were students still on campus.

After the game, even after reaching our car, we had to sit without moving for at least 45 minutes just to get out that parking lot.

Since then, we went back to our old stand-bye which is on one of the streets over by East High School.  That involves a 20-minute walk up the hill to the game and the same back. 

At least, it is downhill after the game.  As the crowds have gotten bigger, this walk has gotten longer, though, as you have to park further and further away.

If you don’t have a pass, there are numerous property owners and renters around the stadium … and even in the parking lot at East High … that will let you park on their property for a hefty fee. 

They were asking $40 for a spot in the driveway of a home two blocks from the stadium for the Florida game. 

A good bet is to take Trax … the Salt Lake City light rail transit system. You can park in any one of a number of large lots and take the train right up to the stadium. 

You can come from downtown … whether you’re staying there or not. There are plenty of large parking lots downtown.

There used to some on-campus lots that weren’t bad if you wanted to walk a little.  The Engineering Building parking lot was one of them but I believe that’s a permit lot also now. 

We literally stopped going to Utah basketball games back in the early 2000’s because the parking on campus disappeared. Construction for the Olympics and other campus buildings had decimated the available campus parking.

To sum up, if you’re not a season ticket holder with a parking pass … and parking passes aren’t necessarily much better … you’re either walking a good distance, taking Trax or paying a hefty fee.

The best advice I can give you on parking is that if you don't already have a parking pass, don't drive to the stadium unless you want to walk at least 15 – 20 minutes one way.  The lots are full before the season even starts.

One other option is to take an Uber or Lyft.  They'll drop you right in front of the stadium.  Or have someone drive you close to the stadium and drop you off.  We've done that numerous times also.

Good luck.