The arms race in college football continues to grow. Three FBS schools are building new stadiums in the future – USF, Northwestern, and Hawaii. Bookmark this page for the latest updates on new college football stadiums in development.
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Newest College Football Stadiums In Development
Unnamed USF Football Stadium: 2027
USF revealed renderings for its new on-campus stadium on Dec. 5. The school also announced a $6 million donation intended to go to the new facility, but also that the new open date would not be until 2027 (previously reported 2026). The stadium will be east-west facing to “maximize shade” inside the venue.
The gift was donated by USF Federal Credit Union, bumping total funding up to $43 million, just shy of their $50 million goal. The credit union secured naming rights to the pregame walk space outside the stadium. The design company involved with this projects also designed other FBS venues like Minnesota, Baylor, Colorado State, and UAB.
No capacity or name has yet been revealed by USF. However, “more detailed renderings” are expected in Spring 2024, which could include those details. The ground breaking ceremony is also planned for Fall 2024.
New Ryan Field (Northwestern): 2026
Chicago Business reporter Danny Eckler reported in September 2022 that Northwestern plans to tear down existing Ryan Field. A new, $850M stadium would take its place with a “slightly different footprint” and will be privately funded. The goal for the stadium is to host concerts and other events.
The demolition of the existing Ryan Field began in January 2024. The new stadium is reported to open in 2026. In the meantime, the Wildcats play home games at a temporary, converted lakeside practice facility for non-conference and Wrigley Field for Big Ten tilts.
New Aloha Stadium (Hawaii): 2029
Developments to Hawaii’s new football stadium and entertainment complex released Dec. 6, 2023. Originally, the facility was projected to open by the 2026 season; that deadline has been pushed back to 2029. The entire entertainment district plan isn’t expected to open until 2043 at the earliest.
Chris Kinimaka, a public works administrator handling the development contract, said in December 2023 that they are “looking to have the stadium available for the start of the UH 2028 football season.” A master plan is reported to be revealed in December 2025.
Originally estimated to be a 30-35,000 seat venue, Kinimaka now says the venue will hold 22,500 seats.
In March 2024, House Bill 2664 was introduced. The plan killed the existing stadium build and instead would make the existing Ching Complex Hawaii’s new permanent home. The $400M in funds would be re-allocated to disaster relief efforts following wildfires in the state. University of Hawaii staff and athletic administrators vehemently opposed HB 2664.
Just weeks later, the bill died in the state senate.
Aloha Stadium still sits vacant after closing in 2020. Multiple dates have been rumored for its demolition, but Kinimaka now gives a late 2025 or 2026 estimate.
New Rice Stadium (Proposed)
In June 2024, Rice reportedly began seeking options for a new football stadium. Current Rice Stadium opened in 1950, replacing old Rice Field (opened 1913). It was built by the city of Houston with a maximum capacity of 57,000 to host Super Bowls and other major events. Rice Stadium hosted Super Bowl VIII (1974) as well as President John F. Kennedy’s famous “We choose to go to the moon” speech (1962).
However, the venue has fallen to disrepair. The upper deck isn’t in condition to seat spectators anymore, forcing Rice to play high-profile games at NRG Stadium. The biggest issue, of course, is the enormous seating capacity not fit for the Owls football program. Oftentimes, the stadium is barren during football games.
“We’re looking at whatever it takes. Our approach is we have to do something drastic…Just putting new paint on what we have is not what we’re looking at,” Rice athletic director Tommy McClelland said in the inked report. He also used the word “transformational” when discussing renovations and alternatives.
“In this day and age, we can’t build something that is there for 300 days a year and doesn’t do anything,” McClelland said in the report. “We have to build a community asset.”
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