5 Division-I FBS Stadiums Turning 100 Years Old In 2024
In 2024, five FBS college football stadiums turn 100 years old. Only 25 current college football stadiums in the U.S. hit the Century mark in their history, most recently a swath of iconic venues like Oklahoma and Nebraska. Which college venues join the elite fraternity of century-old stadiums this year?
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College Football Stadiums Turning 100 Years Old In 2024
College football in the 1920s was just a decade from serious reform that likely saved the sport – led by President Teddy Roosevelt. As the popularity of the sport exploded, so did the construction of new stadiums. Between 1920-29, 29 current stadiums were constructed, ranging from staples like DKR-Memorial Stadium (Texas) and Michigan Stadium (Michigan) to Peden Stadium (Ohio) and Ross-Ade Stadium (Purdue).
LSU Tiger Stadium (LSU)
Today, “Death Valley” is an iconic venue that’s made headlines for its Saturday night environment. In 1988, the noise of the crowd registered on the Richter Scale – that moment remains legendary, but hardly a singular event (the 2022 LSU upset over Alabama also set it off). Today, Tiger Stadium seats over 102,000 fans, the sixth-largest stadium in the U.S. It originally sat just 12,000 fans and saw seven major expansions since, the most recent coming in 2014.
Technically, Tiger Stadium celebrates its 100th birthday on Nov. 27. In 2024, that lands between LSU’s two final home games against Vanderbilt (Nov. 23) and newly-added SEC foe Oklahoma (Nov. 30).
LSU announced a year-long celebration of the venue, featuring updated lighting and a new video board, among other things.
Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (Texas)
In its 100th year around, DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium gets a makeover. The Texas Longhorns join the SEC this season after nearly 110 years in the Southwest and Big 12 conferences. The Austin-based venue becomes the fifth SEC stadium that seats over 100,000 fans, nearly doubling up the Big Ten’s 100K seat venues (three).
Like LSU, Texas dedicated their new football venue on Nov. 27, 1924 and, this year, that’s likely celebrated on the Longhorns’ final home game of the season against Kentucky on Nov. 23. Texas Memorial Stadium underwent over a dozen renovations and expansions over the years, the most recent coming in 2021. (The above photo was taken in 2018 prior to that major renovation to the south end zone, pictured.)
The university hasn’t announced festivities to celebrate the stadium as of late January, but it’s likely fans can enjoy some form of celebration this year.
Ross-Ade Stadium (Purdue)
Road to CFB was born inside the walls of Ross-Ade Stadium. The current stadium replaced the original home of Purdue football, which stood since 1892. Over the last century, Ross-Ade Stadium underwent six expansions and two major renovations. The south end zone most recently was built up, closing in the horseshoe-style bowl. In 2000, a three-phase plan to expand the stadium dramatically began. However, only Phase I was completed and the other two – which feature second decks to the east and north grandstands – have yet to be confirmed.
Night games in West Lafayette have become a recent staple in college football. Permanent lighting only became available in 2017 and saw Purdue’s greatest program win, a 44-21 victory over No. 2 Ohio State in 2018.
Speaking of milestones, help us celebrate College Football Tour’s 20th Anniversary!
Folsom Field (Colorado)
One of college football’s most scenic venues opened its gates in October 1924 – earlier than any other stadium in this article. At the time, Folsom Field hosted teams in the Rocky Mountain Conference, long used to the elevation. Currently, Colorado plays its home games at the third-highest stadium in the FBS. Back in 1924, the Buffs shared a league with Colorado State, Montana State, Utah, Wyoming, and more.
Of the stadiums in this article, Folsom Field remains among the least changed. The current COLORADO hill in the south end zone was never leveled, instead made an iconic feature of the stadium. Most of the stands remain intact from the original construction and Folsom Field was last expanded in 2003.
The most recognizable renovation finished in 1968, when the athletic department installed a six-level press box over the west stands.
Michie Stadium (Army)
Of the 34 FBS stadiums constructed before 1930, Michie Stadium has the second-smallest current capacity (Peden Stadium, Ohio). Since opening, the venue saw three major renovations – the east grandstand (1962), west second deck (1969), and the current press box (2003). In the 1970s, Michie Stadium played host to several major opponents, all of which set withstanding capacity records: Missouri (1971), Nebraska (1972), Penn State (1972), and Notre Dame (1973).
To this day, Michie Stadium is one of the most iconic and scenic stadiums in the FBS. It played host to the Army-Navy Game in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic; the historic rivalry only played at a home venue twice since its first four meetings (1890-93), both of which played at Michie Stadium (other being 1943 due to World War II).
Michie Stadium celebrated its 100th season in 2023 with commemorative merchandise and a 3-3 record. In 2024, Army joins a conference for the first time since 2004. It’s only the second time the Black Knights belong to a conference in their 133-year history.
