u: How Far They Have Come

As we get prepared for the upcoming season, (August 5th fall practice begins), I have been searching the web for significant info on the Utes. Although there is quite a bit of information, nothing really jumps out at you. I did happen upon the release of season tickets for the 2010 campaign and was amazed that the system that the university set up to sell these tickets was overloaded and could not handle all of the requests.
To be fair the school did not inform the public that it was only releasing 1000 tickets and they probably should have, but I would rather look at this from a more positive view, which is the demand for these tickets.

In 2001 the average attendance for RES was 34,458. In 2009 the stadium averaged 45,155. Of course the spike in attendance coincided with the success of the team during the past decade but I wonder how many seats the Utes could sell. With the PAC-10 inclusion coming next year, I think that they could presumably sell into the 60 to 65,000 seat range without worry. I don't know that RES could handle that kind of addition but I would think that when the new stadium was built (1997-98), the architects had to consider potential expansion as a part of the design. Chris Hill Utah's AD is on record stating that potential expansion is coming but capacity, as far as I know, has not been announced.

Stadium capacity in the PAC-10 is quite varied. USC and UCLA have venues that handle 92,000 and 91,136 respectively. Cal, Arizona State, and Washington all boast over 70,000 with the smallest stadium being Washington State at 35,117. If Utah was to expand 65,000 we would be the fifth largest stadium in the PAC-10. Colorado's stadium holds 53,570.

I guess my point is that University of Utah football has come a long ways since 2000. The 2004 team seemed to be an anomaly. But the success that Coach Whit has brought to the table lifted the program to heights unimaginable just ten short years ago. With PAC-10 membership looming, success could be taken to another level completely.

Can you say National Championship! Not only is it conceivable......it is probable.

Cummings Stadium 1884-1926