Utah’s new Utes Production and Communication Studios are now open, giving the athletic department a major upgrade for ESPN+ broadcasts, video board production and student learning.
The facility sits inside the Languages and Communication Building on campus and includes two new control rooms, a new studio space and the ability to run video board shows. University leaders said the space is designed to strengthen Utah Athletics’ production operation while also creating more opportunities for students interested in broadcasting.
At the grand opening, Athletic Director Mark Harlan and other university officials spoke about what the studio means for the program. Utah Chief Operating Officer Jeff Labrum pointed to the limitations the school faced with a much smaller control room in the past and said the new setup will help the university be a better partner to athletics. He also said producing events is a key part of the school’s long-term plans.
"This is an exciting and significant day for the university," said Harlan. "It represents the best of what we stand for at Utah. The moment we announced we were going to the Big 12, we knew we had to deliver for our partners at ESPN."
Harlan also explained how different this move has been from Utah’s time in the Pac-12, when the Pac-12 Network handled production for the school. "We had to start from scratch," said Harlan.
"We had less than a year to plan for 50 of our own broadcasts when we first joined the league. The Big 12 wanted 100, so I had to beg Brett Yormark for less in year one with the promise to then do 100."
For now, Utah will begin by producing soccer and volleyball games this fall, with football planned for a future season like some other Big 12 programs. The school said the new studio should also open doors for students who want careers in broadcasting, including student-athletes who can work on both sides of the screen while contributing on the field.
University speakers emphasized the importance of improving Utah’s ability to tell stories, both around campus and for students preparing for careers after college. Utah also said that by 2028 it will have over 100 paid student interns in the College of Humanities or the new faculty.
Natalie Newton, a 2026 College of Humanities Graduate and Utes Production Intern, spoke about how the facility can help students connect classroom work to real broadcasting experience. She described her path through the College of Humanities and said the lessons she learned prepared her for assignments in the new studio.
Bill Riley, the voice of the Utes and the university’s director of broadcasting, said he is excited about the opening but even more about what comes next. "This is just the beginning of what we are building with Utes Production," said Riley.
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