The Salt Lake Organizing Committee hands the U a $7.9 million check. The money will go toward the bonds taken out to renovate Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, as well as the Olympic flame.
The payment?due by January 2003?was presented seven months early.
“Many memories were made here, making this year’s opening and closing ceremonies the most watched in U.S. history,” said Fraser Bullock, SLOC president and CEO.
The U moved some football playoff games in order to accommodate earlier preparation for the Olympics.
SLOC plans to finish the $28 million payment for use of U’s Heritage Commons facilities by the end of this year or early next year.
The U has already received $12 million of what SLOC owes.
U President Bernie Machen said the partnership between SLOC and the U has yielded great experiences.
“There have been many partnerships in U.S. history, this has been one of the best,” he said.