Stanford Stadium

Stanford Stadium is a football venue in Stanford, California, with 50,424 seats used mainly for university sports events. The 43 rows of seating surround the rectangular field on three sides, while the playing surface itself sits roughly 30 feet (9 meters) below ground level and remains sheltered from wind.

The first version opened in 1921 as a wooden bleacher structure holding 60,000 spectators and served as a university game venue for nearly a century. A complete rebuild followed in 2006, reducing capacity to just over 50,000 seats and creating modern facilities for players and visitors.

The stadium carries the university's name and serves as home for college football games that draw students and families from the region on weekends. The grass sits lower than the surrounding ground, which allows spectators to look down naturally and see the field well from almost every seat.

Elevators near Gates 4 and 5 connect the upper and lower seating areas and make access easier for wheelchair users, who find designated spaces in both levels. Visitors can use parking at the Varsity Lot, where reserved areas for people with mobility needs are available.

In 1962, a track meet between the USA and the Soviet Union took place here and ended with athletes from both nations walking together arm-in-arm around the running track. This event stands as a rare moment of athletic closeness during the tense period of the Cold War.

Location: Stanford

Inception: September 16, 2006

Official opening: September 16, 2006

Capacity: 50424

Website: https://gostanford.com/facilities/stanford-stadium/16

GPS coordinates: 37.43444,-122.16111

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:19