Utah is set to roll out a noticeably different game-day atmosphere at Rice-Eccles Stadium this fall, with the biggest changes arriving just as the Morgan Scalley era opens Sept. 3 against Idaho.
The most visible upgrade is a new LED lighting system that Utah Athletics says will be used for team entrances, touchdowns, field goals and quarter breaks. The “Instant-strike” lights can also shift colors, and the program shared a preview showing the stadium glowing red.
A longtime tradition will stay in place, too. The Moment of Loudness, the fourth-quarter tribute that began after the deaths of Ute players Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe, will continue this season. The video plays between the third and fourth quarters and originally featured narration from former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, asking fans to create a “Moment of Loudness” in their honor.
That tribute has grown over time to include fan-submitted photos of loved ones who have died, and Utah said the version used during the Scalley era will be updated to feature prominent Utah football alumni who played with Jordan and Lowe, with an emphasis on family inside the program.
There are more new wrinkles on the way. Utah plans to introduce “surprise” elements tied to the team’s entrance and the “Utah Mili,” the pregame chant. The entrance sequence, which begins five minutes before kickoff, will come with new music and visuals.
The MUSS is also changing. Utah’s student section will now be general admission, and the school is encouraging students to show up early. In addition, the Utes are adding an on-field host for pregame programming and timeouts.
One familiar sight will move to a new spot in the timeline. The Olympic Cauldron lighting has been shifted from the first-quarter break to 42 minutes before kickoff, where it will be paired with a blast from the Utah Thunder II cannon, which is returning for another season, to let fans know it’s time to head into the stadium.
Utah’s home slate includes seven games at Rice-Eccles Stadium this season: Idaho, Arkansas, Utah State, Kansas, Houston, BYU and West Virginia.