2002 Olympic Cauldron Returns To Rice-Eccles Stadium
Jan 29, 2021, 5:19 PM | Updated: 6:00 pm
(Layton Construction)
(Layton Construction)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The cauldron from the 2002 Winter Olympics has returned to Rice-Eccles Stadium after a nearly-yearlong refurbishment.
The cauldron was placed upon a 17-foot pedestal just north of the stadium’s ticket office on Friday.
All 738 “well-weathered” glass panes were removed and the complete structure was sandblasted and refinished during the refurbishment project.
Higher-quality glass will be put in place along with supportive infrastructure elements, which officials said will preserve the icon’s lifespan.
The cauldron was removed from its original home behind the stadium’s south end zone last February as part of the stadium’s $80 million expansion project.
The expansion, known as the Ken Garff Performance Zone, will raise Rice-Eccles’ capacity from 45,807 to 51,444 and add new amenities for the University of Utah’s football team and other athletic programs.
It could also boost Salt Lake’s bid to host another Olympic Games in 2030 or 2034.
