Tuesday evening, a renaming ceremony was held at the entrance to the stadium, which is just coming off a $4 million renovation. Improvements to the grounds include new seating, infrastructure upgrades, a new sound system and a new grand entrance, which was revealed to the public at Tuesday’s ceremony.

Alan Hall, Ogden Pioneer Days Chairman, opened the ceremony.

“I am one very happy cowboy,” he said. “A longtime dream of mine and yours has finally come true. In just a few moments, you’ll experience the grandeur of a splendid new grand entrance, through which, you will see a stunning, newly renovated stadium.”

Several other dignitaries spoke Tuesday night, including Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski, who took time to recognize Spencer Eccles.

“We all stand on the shoulders of giants,” he said. “We’re here to honor one of those giants. We honor you with your name, not just because of the treasury you’ve committed, but also the time and the talent. Those are the things that make a city a community.”

Rick Davis, vice president of rodeo operations, said 2024 is set to be a big year for the rodeo with the new renovations in place.

“We’ve come a long way in 90 years,” he said. “This year at Pioneer Days, we’ve got a record number of contestants. We have contestants from 27 states in the United States, Australia, Canada, Brazil. We’re bringing the world to Ogden for five days to celebrate rodeo. We’re so proud of that.”

Dave Hogan, president of Wadman Construction — the company that did the renovations on the stadium — said Wadman has been involved with the rodeo for nearly 25 years.

“It’s been an amazing thing for us and for our employees to be a part of,” he said. “We’re honored to be able to do another round of renovations this year.”

Also speaking was the man whose name is now affixed to the stadium — Spencer “Spence” Fox Eccles.

“I’m so appreciative and impressed by your vision for an even better stadium for our cowboys,” he said. “This is sure, really, high cotton for this Ogden boy.”

He noted that the Ogden rodeo isn’t the only thing turning 90 years old this year.

“I was born August 24, 1934, the same year of the Ogden Rodeo’s official opening,” he said. “I can tell you that it warms my heart to think back on all of the times I have come to watch the Pioneer Days Rodeo in this very stadium with, now, four generations of my family.”

In commemoration of his upcoming birthday, the audience sang Happy Birthday to Eccles before he helped in the unveiling of the archway entrance that now bears his name.

The Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo runs July 19-24. For more information, visit https://www.ogdenpioneerdays.com/.