Workers with Layton Construction and Mountain Crane began dismantling the 2002 Winter Olympic cauldron located at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium grounds on Thursday.
Crews had to quit for the day after workers discovered that the estimated weight of the cauldron was off by about 2,400 pounds and a bigger crane would be needed to safely move it.
“Obviously, this is a treasure for this area and we want to keep it that way,” said Joshua Haines, the vice president of Layton Construction. As part of the stadium’s expansion project, the 19-year old cauldron will be restored to its former brilliance and re-installed on the grounds of the stadium, north of the ticket office, in 2021.
