Jordan Bench

It was a Saturday morning, and I was sitting in my home office watching BYU pregame analysis and tinkering with some new AI tools before the kids woke up. Two things I love: building stuff and BYU football.

Most mornings, the kids slowly make their way into my office as they wake up. I give them a hug, and they’ll often sit on my lap while I show them what I’m working on. My five-year-old son loves building games and making 3D prints together. He’s also obsessed with all things BYU. We’ve raised him right.

Our family outside in BYU gear. — We’ve raised them right.

With it being game day, I had the thought: could we create a small 3D replica of LaVell Edwards Stadium?

My dad is the reason we bleed blue. He was more excited about BYU football than anything else in life. He lived for season openers, big away games, and especially playing Utah. On the morning of the rivalry game, he’d carry a BYU flag on his run. He loved getting people riled up.

Some of my favorite memories with him were trips to watch BYU play Notre Dame or Texas. And there were many moments at LaVell Edwards Stadium. High fives after a touchdown. Rushing the field after a big win.

One of those wins was against Utah on September 11, 2021. BYU won 26–17, ending a nine-game losing streak against Utah. I have a picture of Abbey and me with my parents on the field after.

Abbey and me with my parents on the field at LaVell Edwards Stadium after BYU’s 2021 win over Utah. — On the field with Abbey and my parents after the Utah win. September 11, 2021.

My dad passed away from cancer in 2025. Every football season, I pull that picture out to remember him.

That’s a lot of what I think about when I think about BYU football.

We had also recently finished our basement, and Abbey had been decorating the shelves of our entertainment center. She had the idea to incorporate a stadium into the decor, since going to games has been such a big part of our lives.

Between that, my son’s love of 3D prints, and my own memories, I was excited to see if I could make it happen. Using natural language and 3D modeling software, I designed the first printable version of the stadium. I couldn’t wait to submit the digital files and have it printed.

The day it was delivered, I was stoked to get home and open it with my son.

Funny enough, he was more concerned about who got to keep the stadium. He thought it was cool that we’d created a mini stadium and wanted to know what we could make next.

By then, we’d already filled the entertainment center with decor, so it ended up in my office next to my desk. My office is pretty minimal, mostly black and white, and the stadium fits right in.

The white 3D-printed model of LaVell Edwards Stadium on a wood surface. — Our mini LaVell Edwards Stadium.

I love having it where I can see it. It makes me think of my dad, my family, and the experiences we’ve had together. And now there’s the memory of making it and opening it with my son.

We decided to list the stadium on Etsy. I figure there are other BYU fans with their own memories who would enjoy having a small version of it in their home.