Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Cauldron Park
![]() | This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. The reason given is: Rice-Eccles Stadium has been expanded into the area of the park and some features have been removed. (May 2021) |
Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Cauldron Park | |
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The cauldron with Rice–Eccles Stadium in the background. | |
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Location | Salt Lake City, Utah |
Coordinates | 40°45′32″N 111°50′56″W / 40.758871°N 111.848803°WCoordinates: 40°45′32″N 111°50′56″W / 40.758871°N 111.848803°W |
Created | 2003 |
Operated by | University of Utah |
Status | Open Monday–Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Year round |
Website | Official website |
The Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Cauldron Park is a plaza located at the south end of Rice–Eccles Stadium on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. During the 2002 Winter Olympics, Rice-Eccles Stadium was known as Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium and hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The plaza contained a 2002 Winter Olympic museum, the Olympic cauldron, and other memorabilia from the 2002 Olympic Games.[1]
As the University of Utah moves forward with stadium expansion and limited space, the future of the park is uncertain. The Hoberman Arch was removed in August 2014, and other portions of the park, such as the film and gallery, have been removed as well.[2] The cauldron is the only feature from the Olympics remaining in the plaza.
Park History[]
Construction on the park began October 2, 2002 with a ground-breaking ceremony attended by Olympians Shannon Bahrke and Bill Schuffenhauer.[3] The first phase of construction, which included moving the cauldron and getting it operational was completed in February 2003, in time for the one-year anniversary celebration.[4] The second phase, which included the visitors center, was completed later that summer, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony was held August 22, 2003. The park cost $12 million to construction, and was paid for with revenue and extra surplus from the 2002 Games. Following the park's opening the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) turned over control and maintenance of the park to the University of Utah, giving them a $1 million endowment.[5] The park is open to the public free of charge, with the exception of the film shown in the Visitor Center. Money from ticket sales for the film, along with the original $1 million endowment pays the park's operating costs.
The Park[]
The park has two main highlights: the cauldron and the visitor center. Formerly the park also contained the Hoberman Arch.[2] The park is also landscaped with fountains, plants, stones, and concrete walls. 17 panels, one for each day of the Olympics, are attached to a fence on the park's southern edge. The interior side of each panel describes the Olympic highlights and events of its particular day, while the exterior sides bear the same images that were wrapped on buildings in downtown Salt Lake City during the Games.[6]
The park contains the 2002 Winter Olympics cauldron, which was lit during the duration of the Games.
Visitor center[]
The park's visitors center is located at the western edge of the park and consists of an art gallery, theater and video kiosk area. Large bay windows allow the cauldron and arch to be seen by visitors from inside the round glass and sandstone building, which also serves as a ticket office for the nearby stadium.[6]
The center's theater used to play a 10-minute film which looked back on the Games and their success. This film was displayed using three different screens and special effects such as fog and lights. While the remainder of the park is open to the public free, there was a charge to see the center's film.[7]
The film's unique experience began in the dark, while inspiring quotes were played through the theater's sound system. Fog then filled the room, and a single light was displayed on the screens. As that light grew larger it turned out to be the lantern of a skater, known as the "Child of Light", from the opening ceremony. Then skaters were seen whooshing across the three screens, and a voice sung "there's a flame that burns in every heart"; the athletes were then shown entering the stadium for the opening ceremonies. The film continued with highlights from the opening ceremony, the sporting competitions, and ended back at the stadium with the closing ceremony.[7]
The free areas of the center include the art gallery, which contains more than 50 photographs taken during the Games (originally printed in the Games' official commemorative book), and filmed highlights are available for viewing on Interactive kiosks.[7]
Former features[]
Hoberman Arch[]
The Hoberman Arch was originally located at the Olympic Medals Plaza in downtown Salt Lake City. It was used as a mechanical curtain for the Medal Plaza's stage, and opened like the iris of a human eye.[8] When installed at the plaza it would open to reveal a large 3D sculpture of the 2002 Olympic logo and a second Olympic cauldron, known as the Hero's Cauldron. The stage not only hosted award ceremonies, where the athletes received their medals, but was used as a concert venue during the Olympics, hosting many performing artists.
Following the Olympics, plans to install the arch in some kind of park were formulated; many of Salt Lake's citizens wanted the arch to be used in an amphitheater or some kind of concert venue. But because the arch was a symbol of the 2002 Games, the United States Olympic Committee put restrictions on possible future locations for the arch (to protect Olympic sponsors from other businesses who don't have Olympic sponsor contracts).[9] Because of these restrictions, and a lack of consensus among Salt Lake's leaders on where it would go, SLOC announced plans, on December 5, 2002, to install the arch in the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Cauldron Park.[10]
On July 30, 2003, the arch was lifted onto its new permanent base using 3 cranes.[11] It is no longer functional, although it is lit with various colored lights at night. It is located just outside the park's southern fence and is partly open which allows visitors to walk through it. A large plaque is located in the park, just in front of the arch, and gives details on the arches design and use during the Olympics, including photographs.
The arch was removed from the park beginning on August 1, 2014.[2]
References[]
- ^ Roche, Lisa Riley (December 16, 2002). "Cauldron Site Under Construction". Deseret News. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
- ^ a b c Richards, Mary (August 1, 2014). "Olympic arch leaving Rice-Eccles Stadium". Salt Lake City: KSL-TV. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
- ^ Gorrell, Mike (October 3, 2002). "Caldron Park Coming: U. Breaks Ground on Olympic Memorial near Stadium". Salt Lake Tribune.
- ^ Roche, Lisa Riley (February 9, 2003). "The Fire Still Burns". Deseret News. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
- ^ Renzhofer, Martin (August 18, 2003). "Towering Legacy: Olympics Cauldron Park Is Set to Open Within Days". Salt Lake Tribune.
- ^ a b Gorrell, Mike (May 13, 2003). "Oly Caldron Park Rapidly Taking Shape at U.". Salt Lake Tribune.
- ^ a b c Jarvik, Elaine (August 18, 2003). "Olympic Park and Film Distill 17 Days of Glory". Deseret News. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ Griggs, Brandon (January 26, 2002). "Space-Age Arch Will Serve as Medals Plaza Curtain". Salt Lake Tribune.
- ^ May, Heather (November 14, 2002). "Oly Hurdle Trips Gallivan Center: Branding Concerns May Squelch Arch Deal". Salt Lake Tribune.
- ^ Gorrell, Mike (December 6, 2002). "Arch Would Anchor U. Olympic Legacy". Salt Lake Tribune.
- ^ Roche, Lisa Riley (July 31, 2003). "Hoberman Arch Installed at the U." Deseret News. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
External links[]
- 2002 Winter Olympics
- Parks in Salt Lake City
- University of Utah