When parking at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the campus of the University of Utah, it’s important to remember that the key entry points for the facility are pay-only during University of Utah football games. However, if you are crafty enough you too can circumvent the paid parking stalls located in the west and east parts of the complex. During University of Utah football games, however, the paid parking stalls stretch well into campus and so added caution should be taken when attempting to park for free. You can still do it; you just have to walk further than the other patrons willing to shell out about $5 on average per game.
The following map illustrates the key points to which I’m referring. I’ll also go over some alternatives that may be more helpful to you than trying to circumnavigate traffic and/or paid parking stalls.
FROM THE WEST
If you don’t mind walking about half-mile there are two shopping centers, Old Navy and Fred Meyer on the south end of 400 South between 700 and 900 East and just down the hill from the stadium. While it does require some foot power (you’ll be walking eastward up a hill at about a 45-degree angle from 400 South starting at 900 East) it is free. For more adventurous types, you can always try to find parking on University Street in a residential/fraternity/sorority area, which you’ll pass if you choose to walk uphill towards the stadium, but be warned: Campus Police are always on the lookout for vehicles without campus parking stickers and some neighborhoods in this area require neighborhood parking permits. So, park on University Street at your own peril. This tidbit of advice comes from past experience.
Here’s a healthy alternative (and far less expensive): Take TRAX trains to the stadium.For far less than a paid parking stub (about $2), you can actually take the TRAX trains from several key drop-off points in the Salt Lake Valley and take the University line, which will dump you in the west portion of the stadium complex. The train also winds around the complex and can also drop you in the northeast corner of the stadium, if you prefer. TRAX starts in Sandy, which is a city of about 200,000 located about 20 miles south of Salt Lake City and goes north from Sandy through downtown Salt Lake City. From there it spurs from 400 South to the University of Utah and to the stadium or continues through downtown SLC to the Delta Center, home of the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association. If you choose the TRAX alternative, there will be hordes of people unless you leave several hours in advance, however the trip even from Sandy will only last about 20-25 minutes. The only exception to this would be during the Holy War featuring in-state rivals Utah and BYU, in which you would be well advised to leave early in the morning, possibly 8 a.m. to avoid the crowds for the noon kickoff.
Take the Utah Transit Authority buses to the game.For less than even a train ticket, you can hop one of several buses from downtown Salt Lake City (the majority of UTA buses use downtown as a major drop-off point and so it’s easy to hop a connecting route to the University of Utah from there) and end up at Rice-Eccles Stadium for about $1. Though in social circles the bus is frowned upon, if you are on a shoestring budget and don’t mind the added wait time the bus may be the way to go. For more information, go to www.uta.com for train and bus schedules, or phone BUS-INFO in Salt Lake City.
FROM THE EAST
Unfortunately, bargain hunters, east of the stadium happens to be the University of Utah campus until you reach Foothill Boulevard, but if you’re willing to walk about one mile east you can often find free parking in Research Park. There are scores of business complexes and tons of asphalt lots. The advantage to walking from Research Park to the stadium is that it’s all downhill, as opposed to walking up the hill from 400 South. If you try to park at the Veterans Administration Hospital located directly east of the stadium complex, you’ll pay about $5 per car so don’t be fooled by what seems to be a good deal. Until you get up to the lot itself (it’s shrouded by trees) you can’t tell that it’s a pay lot. It just looks like rows of free space on which you can park, cross the street and see your beloved Utes play. Not so, my future bargain hunter. Not so.
FROM THE NORTH
Again north of the stadium is campus country, rife with police and other undesirables to the average bargain hunter. If you have a campus parking permit, you are of course allowed entry to this spacious area, which depending on the day, time and game may be available for no fee (this is if you paid your fees already as a U. student or faculty). Just off-campus is frat land, which means parties will be going strong and so this also creates lots of unnecessary congestion. Your best bet for a cheap fee would be to use President’s Circle, north of the Law School, which has paid meters lining the parking stalls, however, this will require you to re-feed the metal beast at halftime and you’ll be looking at paying about $1.50. You may even be able to find a parking spot among the eclectic eateries and shops in the area, such as Graywhale CD Exchange and Pie Pizzeria. But I wouldn’t count on it. (Unless your buddy has a residential space around University Street and 200 South, but you’d better have a residential parking permit, too or you’ll be towed).
FROM THE SOUTH
South of the stadium there is precious little parking available. It is surrounded by a giant training complex and a parochial high school. However, if you are willing to travel to about 900 East, near Salt Lake City East High School, you will find the East High track stadium, along with, you guessed it, asphalt. Parking is available just past the track stadium area! Outstanding!! The last time I checked the parking was free, however, campus police are always looking for ways to make money (as is the U.) and so I wouldn’t be surprised if the option is no longer available. It’s about a milelong trek from the stadium, but it’s all uphill. Here’s how you get there: If you’re coming from the East High stadium, you would walk east on 800 South from 1100 East and walk uphill past the old National Guard Armory, turn left on 1700 East, pass the Rowland-Hall/St. Mark’s High School on 800 South (Guardsman Way) and the Eccles Training Complex on Guardsman Way. You’ll see Rice-Eccles stadium to your left. If the East track stadium isn’t available you can always use the Smith’s supermarket parking on 800 South and 800 East, which is only two blocks to the west of the high school. As it is, this may be your only available option during the Utah-BYU game, since the stadium always has sellout crowds and overflow tailgating in the hours leading up to the Holy War.
AN ADDED BONUS
As some of you may already know, Rice-Eccles Stadium is also home to Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. What some of you may not know is that all parking in the Veterans Administration Hospital parking lot is free. Though the U. does charge amply for this during football season (and this is the same afore-mentioned shrouded parking area east of the stadium), it does not during RSL games. The easiest way to get to the free parking for Real Salt Lake games is to take Foothill Boulevard north from 1-80 eastbound, and get on to South Campus Drive. From there you travel about half-mile where you’ll see the VA Hospital on your left. Several hundred yards past the hospital is the lot. Hope some of this has helped. Happy hunting!
