Opening in October 2008, Rio Tinto Stadium is a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment facility in Sandy, Utah that provides a stunning new home for the Real Salt Lake soccer club. With breathtaking views of both the Oquirrh and Wasatch Mountain ranges, the new stadium is a vibrant and energetic setting for the team's engaged and loyal fans.
Rio Tinto Stadium has been designed to be an entirely new kind of facility in the InterMountain West, attracting a wide array of events that would not otherwise visit Utah, and strengthening the state's reputation as an international sporting destination. The Stadium has already been named the host of the 2009 MLS All-Star Game. These types of events will bring significant media attention to the state, positively impact tourism, and perhaps most importantly, will help create numerous job opportunities, on both a permanent and seasonal basis.
Located in Sandy, Utah, at the heart of the Wasatch Front, Rio Tinto Stadium is just 15 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City and 25 minutes from SLC International Airport. It is conveniently accessed from major transportation artery Interstate-15 and is located at State Street, between 9000 South and 9400 South.
This world-class venue seats 20,000 people for Major League Soccer and other sports events. Capacity increases to 25,000 for concerts. Stadium amenities include 32 luxury suites, a 2,000-square foot Stadium Club, 1,000 premium club seats, five locker rooms, a 60-foot Video Board, and ribbon LED boards stretching 200 feet long on both the east and west fascia.
The carpet-like natural grass field boasts a surface area of 130 yards in length by 90 yards in width and has been developed to sustain a full slate of diverse sports and entertainment activities . The GTF Kentucky Bluegrass surface and root system is engineered by Graff's Turf Farm in Ft. Morgan, Colorado, the supplier of such hallowed fields as Wrigley Field, Lambeau Field, Busch Stadium and Notre Dame Stadium. Laser-graded to 1/100th of an inch across 105,000 square feet, the field was chemically and organically developed specifically for Utah's high-desert climate to ensure optimal growth and durability throughout the entire year.
Rio Tinto Stadium opens its doors for the first time to the public on Thursday, October 9, 2008, when Real Salt Lake hosts the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer action live on ESPN2 before an international audience. Other events already on the schedule for Fall 2008 include a Real Salt Lake soccer match on Saturday, October 18, at 7:00 p.m. vs. FC Dallas; a USA Rugby doubleheader on Saturday, November 8,; and the "Top of the Mountains" American Football Bowl Game on Saturday, December 6.
Rio Tinto Stadium Construction Facts | |
Ceremonial Groundbreaking: | August 12, 2006 |
Earthwork Commenced: | May 2007 |
Steel Topping Off Ceremony: | December 10, 2007 |
Seat Installation Commenced: | May 12, 2008 |
Field Installation Commenced: | November 2008 |
Accelerated Completion Date: | October 9, 2008 |
Stadium Cost: | $110 million |
Private Investment: | $65 million |
Public Investment: | $45 million |
Site Size: | 23 acres |
Soil Displacement: | 215,000 cubic yards |
Soil Cut to Fill: | 162,000 cubic yards |
Imported Fill: | 53,000 cubic yards |
Concrete Placed: | 25,000 cubic yards |
Structural Steel Erected: | 2,675 tons |
Seats: | Manufactured in Slovakia |
Concession Locations: | 15 full-service |
Restrooms: | 469 fixtures |
Canopy: | Teflon coated fiberglass, fabricated in Shanghai, China |
Field: | 105,000 square feet of natural GTF Kentucky Bluegrass |
Coaxial Cable: | 400 miles |
Video Boards: | From Concourse: 53' tall x 76' wide Main: 40' x 22' active video display (23mm pixel) Auxiliary: 21' x 14' active video display LED Ribbon: Two (2) 4' x 200' East and West Fascia RGB |
Stadium Seating: | 20,000 seats for soccer 25,000 seats for concerts |
Luxury Suites: | 32 |
Level 3: | 26 |
Level 4: | 6 |
Center Circle Club Seats: | 96 |
Club Seating: | 900 |
Stadium Club Room: | Seats 450 |
Ticketing System: | Veritix |
Other West Stadium Amenities: | 32-seat Press Box, 6 Broadcast Booths, Press Lounge, 18 Camera Positions, Team Offices, Administrative Offices |
Commissary: | 8,500 s.f. full-service kitchen |
Concessionaire: | Levy Restaurants (Chicago, Ill.) |
Locker Rooms: | 5 (divisible space) |
Parking Stalls within 15 minutes: | 6,700 |
Management Team: | SCP Worldwide ICON Venue Group |
Construction Team: | Layton-Turner Joint Venture Rossetti Architects Martin & Associates, Structural Allred Soffe Wilkinson & Nichols, Civil M-E Engineers, Electrical Consolidated Engineering Lab, Geotechnical |
Major Subcontractors: | Harper Excavating JD Steel Geneva Rock Products IMS Masonry The Star Group Redd Roofing Linford Contract Glazing Perry Olsen Drywall Accent Flooring StructurFlex MSS Mechanical Wasatch Electric Alta Fire Protection |
Rio Tinto Stadium Quick Facts
- Iconic roof structures on the east and west sides of the stadium keeps atmosphere in; Teflon-coated fiberglass roof manufactured to withstand hurricane-force winds
- __ square feet of glass
- 6 general public entrances
- 1 suite entrance
- 1 press entrance
- 41 feet down to the playing field from street level
- 3,891,243 cubic yards of dirt moved
- 25,000 cubic yards of concrete
- 5,350,000 pounds of structural steel
- 400 miles of coaxial cable
- 6,700 parking spaces within 15-minute walk of main entrance
- 15 concession locations
- __ restrooms utilizing 469 fixtures
- 20,000 fans capacity (25,000 for concerts)
- World Class GTF Kentucky Bluegrass field
- 5 fully equipped professional locker rooms, allowing multi-sport doubleheaders
- Largest video scoreboard and the most LED boards for a stadium its size
- Fully-integrated video & LED electronic video board system
- 32 luxury suites
- Open north end concourse with full view of the field
- Full-service Stadium Club with 150 field view seats located just nine rows up from west sideline
- Fourth-level press entrance to six broadcast booths and 32-seat press box
- Just 15 miles from downtown Salt Lake City
- Three minutes to Interstate 15 (1.2 miles)
- 20 minutes to Salt Lake City International Airport (19.85 miles)