Benefits Human Resources

The EAD planning Team understand it's difficult to get away from your important clinical duties to attend our in-person EAD event, so that's why we are bringing EAD to you! This year, the Hospitals & Clinics Recognition Team will be setting up treat stations on a Thursday, September 17 at the following locations:

• Huntsman Cancer Hospital
• Huntsman Mental Health Institute
• Crises Center
• University Orthopaedic Center
• Main University Hospital

This team will also plan on delivering treats to their Service Delivery Areas (SDA's) on a date to be determined:

• South Jordan Health Center - South SDA
• Farmington Health Center - North SDA
• Sugar House Health Center - Central SDA

For questions, please contact Kari Smith with the Hospitals & Clinics Employee Recognition Team.

Concessions

• Free Papa Johns pizza, drinks and dessert!
• NEW** Shaded Eating Area & DJ Entertainment - check out our new tented eating area located down the stairs on the east side of the stadium while a DJ to entertains you with tunes!

Concourse Activities 

• NEW** The Auxiliary Oasis - take a moment to relax and recharge in this resort-style lounge area brought to you by the Auxiliary Business Development department!
• NEW** Celebration Station - help us celebrate our beloved mascot Swoop's 30th birthday by decorating party hats and taking photo-ops with the red-tailed hawk himself!
• NEW** Game Show - play mini games with U's Game Show student club!
• Arcade Zone - challenge your colleagues to classic arcade games like 4-player Pacman or new games like Killer Queen!
• Service Project - help the Center for Campus Wellness create kits for their Wellness Exchange and Recovery U programs
• Crafters' Corner Market - returning for its third year, our Crafters Corner Market will feature U of U employees selling their artwork, jewelry, crafts, etc. You'll want to bring your wallets for this one!
• Swag Swap & Hooked on Books - EAD's very own treasure hunt, sponsored by Staff Council! Sort through donated department swag and books, CDs, DVDs, and other media for a free souvenir to take home! Donate to the Swag Swap 2026 through end of August!
• The Grandparents Are In Advice Booth - the University's favorite grandparents will once again be showcasing their seasoned wisdom and offering "free, bad advice" for guests in attendance
• Airbrush Temporary Tattoos - rock your Utes spirit with a Ublock temporary tattoo!
• Stadium Campus Store - will be open and offering deals for staff on Utah gear!
• Professional Headshots - courtesy of University Marketing & Communications; a perfect opportunity to update your Outlook profile photo!
• Flu Shot Clinic - keep yourself safe and healthy (and earn WellU credit!) by getting your seasonal flu shot provided by RedMed Employee Health Clinic

Field Activities 

• Putting with the Police - play mini putt-putt with University of Utah Police and see if you can score a hole in one with a comically large golf club!
• Football Field Goal Kick - embody the Utes football team and see if you can kick a field goal!

The EAD Planning Team are excited to announced a virtual opportunity coming to all employees during EAD Week (September 14 - 18, 2026) - the Utah360 Virtual Challenge! This is a perfect way to celebrate EAD for virtual, out-of-state/country employees, those who can't make it to the in-person event or really just any employee looking for online way to connect!

How to Play

On Monday, September 14, the Utah360 EAD home page will open for all employees! This website can be accessed both on mobile and via web browser. In addition to hosting important information about the in-person event (location, map, etc.), challenge participants will be able to access the Online Activities page (or by clicking on the "Forms" tab), where a series of challenges will be posted. Challenges include sharing recipes, writing poetry, answering riddles, sharing photos and more! Uploading a photo of a decorated party hat from the Celebration Station and checking in via QR code at sponsor booths during the in-person event also count toward your 30 challenges!

Be Entered for a Chance to Win!

Any Utah360 participant who completes at least 30 challenges by end of day on September 18 will be eligible for our raffle to win a signed helmet by Utes football coach, Morgan Scalley!

TRAX

Scanning your Ucard and hopping on the TRAX red line for a free ride is the best way to get to EAD this year! All University of Utah employees ride for free on TRAX (and bus!). The Red Line will bring you directly to Stadium Station. Use UTA’s website to plan your TRAX journey!

Campus Shuttles

Another option to get to EAD this year is to use a campus shuttle. We have two special campus shuttle routes in place to help get both our guests and employee volunteers to the event. These shuttle routes are particularly useful for employees who work downtown, the Hospital, or Research Park. Shuttles will be available throughout the duration of the event, starting at 9 am and running through 2:00 pm. There are two shuttle routes: the BSB/Downtown Shuttle and the Research Park Shuttle.

Tracking EAD Shuttle Routes via Maps.utah.edu

• Head to maps.utah.edu
• Click on the navigation menu (three lines) on the left hand side
• Click on the "Shuttle" dropdown menu
• Toggle the "Special Event" shuttle for live tracking of all EAD shuttle routes on September 17!

EAD Shuttle Route - BSB Downtown Route Stops

• Dan Jones Building
• 102 Tower
• 250 Tower
• BSB Building
• Kennecott
• HCH
• HCI
• University Hospital
• Medical Center TRAX
• Stadium TRAX

EAD Shuttle Route - Research Park Stops

• ARUP
• HMHI
• NHMU
• Chipeta/Wakara
• 417 Wakara
• Orthopaedic Center
• Komos Drive
• Mario Capecchi/Madsen
• Huntsman Center
• South Campus TRAX
• South Campus Drive (outside Gate J/K)
• Stadium TRAX

Parking

Parking is extremely limited for Employee Appreciation Day, so we highly suggest our guests utilize campus shuttles or the TRAX system to get to the event.

Below are parking lot options available to our guests and volunteers, first-come first-served. Please note these lots have parking moratoriums in place, meaning no one will be ticketed if they choose to park there for the event – no extra permit is required. If you choose to park in a lot not listed here, you may be subject to a parking ticket.

• Main Stadium Parking Lot 001
  • The main stadium parking lot (Lot 001) is located off S. University St and 500 South.
  • Please note that this lot is also shared by students and faculty attending class throughout the day and is extremely busy!
• Guardsman Way Parking Lot 040
  • The Guardsman Way parking lot (Lot 040) is located by the U’s Public Safety building on Guardsman Way and 500 South.
  • If you park in Lot 040, you can either walk from the lot to the Stadium (approximately 0.5 miles/15 minutes to Gate E’s East Volunteer Entrance or hop on the Guardsman Way & South Campus shuttle via the BSB/Downtown & Hospital EAD shuttle route and get off at the College of Social Work to enter through Gate E’s East Volunteer entrance
• Ambulatory Care Center Garage Lot 045 (basement-level only)
  • Take the University Medical Center TRAX stop directly to the Stadium Station stop
• Shoreline Ridge Parking Garage Lot 081
  • The Shoreline Ridge garage is located near the Shoreline Ridge dorms on Medical Tower Way and S. Medical Drive on upper campus.
  • If you park in Lot 081, head along the Bonneville Shoreline trail past Red Butte Garden, and hop on the Research Park EAD shuttle route from the Natural History Museum (approximately 0.4 miles/10 minute walk)

Use maps.utah.edu to find parking lots!

The 2026 EAD venue map can be found on the Utah360 EAD event homepage, which opens during EAD Week (September 14 - 18, 2026). You can be find it by clicking here or navigating to the "Map" tab from the homepage.

But here's an idea of where to find entertainment, activities, and other important destinations on the concourse!

Entrance Gates

• Entrance Gate D : located on the west side of the stadium closest to Stadium Trax station
• Entrance Gate J/K: located on the east side of the stadium off 1500 E and South Campus Drive

ADA Access

• Employees requiring ADA access to enter the event should enter from the west side of the stadium and enter Lobby F which is just north of Entrance Gate D. A stadium worker in this lobby will assist employees with elevator access to the concourse level, or through the tunnel into the field level.

Volunteer Check-in

• West Volunteer Check-in: located on the west side of the stadium through Gate D, up the stairs, and immediately to the right (noted by signage)
• East Volunteer Check-in: located on the east side of the stadium through Gate J/K and in the east lane before turning right onto the concourse (noted by signage)

Activities

• Airbrush Tattoos: west side of the stadium among vendor booths
• UMC Headshot: west side of the stadium among vendor booths
• Game Show: west side of the stadium among vendor booths
• Service Project: northwest corner of the stadium by the stairs leading to the field
• Arcade Zone: northwest corner of the stadium by the stairs leading to the field
• Celebration Station: northwest corner of the stadium by the stairs leading to the field
• Swag Swap & Hooked on Books: southwest corner of stadium across from Campus Store
• Crafters Corner: the entire south end of the stadium
• DJ Entertainment: southeast corner of stadium down the stairs in shaded eating area
• Grandparents Are In Advice Booth: east side of the stadium among vendor booths
• Auxiliary Oasis: east side of the stadium as you enter through Gate J/K
• Flu Shot Clinic: northeast corner of the stadium
• Football Kick: on the field in the north end zone
• Putting with the Police: center field

Food/Drink

• Pizza and fruit served from Concession Stands 35 and 37 located on east side of stadium
• Dessert served from the Auxiliary Oasis located on the east side of the stadium as you enter through Gate J/K
• Eating areas:
  • Stadium seating through portals 36 and 37
  • Shaded canteen seating in southeast corner of stadium down the stairs

Field Access

• Northwest corner of stadium, down the stairs and through the tunnel
• Down the stairs from stadium seating eating area through portals 36 and 37

Bathrooms

• All bathrooms will be open on the concourse

First Aid

• East side of stadium around the left hand corner from Gate D inside closed door room marked "first aid"

Employee Appreciation Day is made possible through our campus partnerships. Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support! We welcome community businesses and campus departments who want to reach out to our employees at Employee Appreciation Day.

• Local businesses/community organizations
  • Sponsorship packages
  • Questions? Reach out Jordan Schmitz at jordan.schmitz@utah.edu
• Campus Departments/Groups
  • Campus booth package
  • Questions? Reach out to Kody Carbone at kody.carbone@utah.edu

Consider volunteering for this year’s Employee Appreciation Day! This event wouldn’t be possible without the help of generous U employees who volunteer 1-2 hours of their time in various areas, such as activities/games, food & beverage, and more! Learn more about volunteering at EAD!

If you are interested in volunteering, please register by Friday, July 31. 

1. Who is allowed to attend the in-person Employee Appreciation Day (EAD)? University of Utah, HCI and U of U Health faculty and staff are invited to attend! Student employees are also invited to attend.
2. Who is not allowed to attend the in-person EAD? Due to safety concerns, pets are not allowed to attend (service animals are welcome, however). Children and family members of employees will not be permitted to attend either. Essentially, if you do not have a valid UNID or U Card, you will not be allowed to enter the event.
3. Who is allowed to participate in the virtual EAD activity (Utah360)? Any University of Utah, HCI and U of U Health faculty and staff member (including students) who can't make it to the in-person event can participate in this virtual activity! If you work-from-home, work from a different state, are a part of our University of Utah Korean campus, or an employee in our Hospitals/Clinics system (who often can't leave their shifts for the in-person event), this is a great opportunity to get involved! You can still participate if you attend the in-person event too.
4. What do I need to bring with me to EAD this year? We recommend bringing your cellphone for guest check-in, your Ucard, and a wallet to shop our new expanded Crafts Market!
5. What is the check-in/registration process? This year, guests will check in to the event via a QR code located at the signs to either the west or east entrance of the stadium, so it is highly encouraged that you bring your cell phone! Guests will input their UNID after scanning the QR code, and this will verify their employment with the U on the backend in addition to providing some important information about the event (venue map, meal ticket info, etc.). Please show your employment verification to the volunteers working the entrance gate to enter the event.
6. What is the bag policy for this event? Guests will be given tote bags courtesy of our Presenting Partners, Xfinity and Fidelity, as they arrive at the event. Guests are asked to leave backpacks, workbags, large purses, etc. at home/work, but if they do bring them to the event, they will be searched by our on-site security team.
7. How do I enter the event if ADA access is required? If you arrive at  the event near Gate D (the historical entrance to EAD) off the main stadium parking lot, you will find an ADA entrance located near the Gate E lobby area. You will take the lobby elevator to the 2nd floor to then exit onto the concourse. This is also the way for ADA access to the field level for field-level activities.

For further questions, please contact EAD@utah.edu.