Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Zions Bank Stadium 14788 South Academy Parkway Herriman, UT 84096
Year Opened: 2018
Capacity: 5,000
Rugby In Utah
Zions Bank Stadium is located in Herriman, Utah. The stadium is home to Real Monarchs, an MLS Next Pro team affiliated with Real Salt Lake of the MLS, and the Utah Warriors. The stadium is located in the same facility (Zions Bank Real Academy) as the Real Salt Lake training center which includes indoor and outdoor soccer pitches. There is also a STEM charter school for both developing players and residents of the nearby areas. The location of the school did mean that the stadium had to change the location of its main entrance to the northwest corner to skirt local liquor regulations.
The Utah Warriors compete in Major League Rugby. The team started in 2017 as a successor to a previous Warriors team.
Food & Beverage 3
The food is reasonably priced at the stadium. The two main concession stands have good food at decent prices. There is usually at least one food truck at matches. The game we attended had a truck offering New Zealand meat pies, which is perfect for the rugby crowd.
Atmosphere 5
The stadium is a nicely designed facility that offers a great atmosphere, as well as spectacular mountain views. There is an intimate viewing experience here as the two grandstands are close to the field. The main set of stands has seatbacks and the other only bench-style seating.
The scoreboard is well-designed and the Warriors have a fun “cat” mascot to entertain the crowd.
Neighborhood 3
The stadium is about a 30-minute drive south of downtown Salt Lake City and is in a rapidly growing suburb.
Right now the area around the stadium is a fast-developing residential neighborhood. You will need to drive a small distance towards I-15 for many food offerings.
Fans 5
The Warriors fanbase is very rabid and makes attending a game here quite fun. Rugby suits the stadium well.
Access 4
Getting to Herriman is easy, as it is located not far away from I-15. Parking is $10.
Expect a bit of traffic getting out of the event as the exit roads are monitored by traffic cops who keep it very controlled.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets range from the low teens to nearly $50. This could vary by game. Parking is $10 per car. The prices are fair and offer a good value.
Extras 4
The team mascot seems to engage with the crowds well and there are giveaways at the entrance to the stadium.
The fact that there is a high school located in the stadium is unique. You can even see signage for the school right from the stadium stands.
You may not be able to take a look around the whole facility, but if you get a chance try and see what you can as the whole thing is pretty amazing.
The views! Seeing the spectacular mountains in the distance makes a game here special. Having that backdrop to the stadium is an extra all of its own.
Final Thoughts
Zions Bank Stadium is a nice and intimate stadium with amazing mountain views, that is a great place to watch rugby.