University of Utah unanimously approves $61.8M indoor football facility

Aerial view of newly proposed $61.8M Utah Football training facility. Photo: University of Utah.

SALT LAKE CITY — On Tuesday afternoon, the University of Utah board of trustees unanimously voted to approve a new $61.8M indoor football facility.

The proposed facility would be added in addition to the current Spence Eccles Field House which was constructed in 2004. The Field House is currently the primary indoor training facility for several of the university’s athletic teams and is home to many Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation programs.

While the current field house has adequately housed a plethora of different events, the new facility proposal noted many of its current challenges such as constant scheduling conflicts, inadequate ceilings for punting, inadequately sized sidelines for safe player run-off and the fact that it only possesses one end zone.

The proposed facility would eradicate these current challenges by featuring a second facility, adjacent to the Spence Eccles Field house with a 120 yard full length football field with two end zones and 90 foot ceilings. It would also include two 20’x40’ LED video boards, overhead glass garage doors, climate control range of 30 degree to 110 degrees, energy efficient and sustainable lighting systems and a 5,000 square-foot lobby across a 101,000 square-foot facility.

With the approval by the board, the proposal will now move to and await approval from the legislature. The details of the request include an approval for a bond up to $61.8M which would be repaid by donations and non-state University funds.

If approved, the new facility would be placed just south of the Spence Eccles Field House on Guardsman Way. Construction and design would begin in Spring of 2022 with completion estimated by fall of 2024.

A link to the full proposal can be found here.