10 Best College Stadiums to Visit

BY
Rynard
Wakefield
|
March 11, 2021

Behind every great college team is a great college stadium. Whether it’s the Wolverines’ Big House of Michigan or the atmosphere of Death Valley at Tiger Stadium for LSU, there are tons of college stadiums that would be special to witness. However, here we have put together a list of the best game-day experiences in the nation. Fans are screaming, the place is packed, and even the most uninterested spectator will have an awesome time. Read on for our list of the 10 best college stadiums for any fan to visit!

1. Ohio Stadium (Ohio State University)

Capacity: 104,944

Hearing Buckeye fans chant “O-H-I-O” throughout the entirety of “The Horseshoe” is something every fan watching Ohio State games expects to witness. The unique shape, massive size, and overall tradition at this venue make it one of the best university stadiums to watch a game at.

At halftime, one of the best marching bands in the nation puts on exhilarating performances that have fans glued to their seats during intermission - a rare feat these days!

A top row view of Ohio Stadium

2. Tiger Stadium (LSU / Louisiana State University)

Capacity: 102,321

One of the most feared places for any team to visit, the LSU Tigers rarely lose when playing a home game here. Tiger Stadium is loud and intimidating, and there is plenty of purple and gold with over 102,000 fans filling the seats. It's no wonder Tiger Stadium is known as "Death Valley"!

If it is a night game, opponents may not even bother to get on the bus.

A top row view of Tiger Stadium at LSU

3. Michigan Stadium (University of Michigan)

Capacity: 109,901

They call Michigan Stadium the “Big House” for a reason.

The stadium seats 109,901 people and is the largest stadium in the United States. In fact, on September 7, 2013, the stadium attracted 115,109 attendees. This is still the largest crowd ever to watch a college football game!

Since 1975, the Wolverines have attracted at least 100,000 fans in 200 consecutive home games. Michigan Stadium is truly a sight to behold, and one of the best stadiums for any fan to visit.

An aerial view of Michigan Stadium

4. Beaver Stadium (Penn State University)

Capacity: 106,572

The atmosphere in the Beaver Stadium is intense.

Several traditions make this venue unique. In the “S Zone”, students are given white and blue shirts to form an “S” in the senior student section, and on big offense and defensive plays, “KernKraft 400” by Zombie Nation blasts in the stadium.

Imagine 100,000 howling fans wrapped in white, waving towels and stomping in the stands to the beat of Zombie Nation. Now imagine that you are trying to play while these fans are screaming at you!

Beaver Stadium is situated in one of the most picturesque settings in college football, with nearby Mount Nittany providing a scenic backdrop - an iconic sight to see for any visiting fan.

An aerial view of Beaver Stadium at Penn State University

5. Memorial Stadium (Clemson University)

Capacity: 81,500

The Memorial Stadium first received the popular nickname "Death Valley" because the university cemetery is located on a hill overlooking the fields. The Tigers are nearly impossible to beat at the venue, posting a 71% win record at Memorial Stadium. 

Clemson fans nearly set the record for the loudest stadium in college football at a whopping 133 decibels in a 2007 game against Boston College.

From Tiger Trail to touching Howard Rock, this stadium is full of history and tradition to keep you entertained.

A mid-crowd view of Memorial Stadium at Clemson University

6. Darrell K Royal Stadium (University of Texas)

Capacity: 100,119

Everything in Texas is bigger, including the stadiums.

Not only are you in the heart of Texas at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, you are also in the heart of college football tradition. The Longhorns are the Texas team, as they say, and nothing is bigger than football in the Lone Star State. However, one thing might seem bigger: 100,000+ fans wearing burnt orange in a stadium.

With 100,119 seats, the Darrell K Royal Stadium is one of the largest stadiums in the world in terms of seating. It’s the largest football-only venue in the state of Texas and the ninth-largest stadium in the world.

As is always the case in Austin, there will be no shortage of great music, delicious food, and competitive football - the perfect accompanying elements to one of the best college stadiums to visit!

An aerial view of the Darrell K Royal Stadium at the University of Texas

7. Rose Bowl (UCLA/University of California, Los Angeles)

Capacity: 94,392

If you want a stadium rich with history, this is the place to be!

The Rose Bowl Stadium has hosted the Super Bowl five times. In addition to serving as the home of the Bruins, the venue is also host to one of the most prominent bowl games in college football: the Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowl has hosted this iconic match every year since 1923 (with the single exception of 1942.)

Whilst the capacity is slightly more than 94,000, the 1973 Rose Bowl game between USC and Ohio State University reached a staggering 106,869 people.

The stadium and the climate combine to make the Rose Bowl a must-visit for college football fans. The Rose Bowl is located in the foothills of Pasadena and is one of the most magnificent environments in all of sports - one of the best stadiums to visit for anyone who enjoys the atmosphere of a roaring crowd.

A top row view of the Rose Bowl

8. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (USC/University of Southern California)

Capacity: 93,607

A venue that has played host to several different events.

Since its construction in 1923, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has hosted two Super Bowls, college football, NFL, MLB, and XFL matches, among others. It has hosted the Summer Olympics not only once, but twice! The stadium has even been declared a National Historic Landmark.

Whether it's the armored warhorse, Traveler, galloping around the stadium or lighting the torch after the third quarter, the Trojans have plenty of traditions fans can look forward to experiencing. Besides, you never know who will appear at a USC game - this is Los Angeles, after all - making this one of the best college stadiums to visit.

A panoramic view of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with fireworks erupting over the scoreboard.

9. Kyle Field (Texas A&M University)

Capacity: 102,733

The venue is known as the “12th Man” for a reason. Win or lose, the fans pack the stands and scream at the top of their lungs. 

While Michigan's open bowl-shaped building is surprisingly docile, Kyle Field's vertical structure makes it one of the loudest stadiums in the United States. In 2014, the university spent nearly half a billion dollars to renovate the stadium to increase its capacity to more than 100,000 screaming fans, and the result is astonishing. 

The upper deck on all sides make the opponents feel enveloped in deafening sounds. With a large number of Aggie fans filling the stadium every week, it is hard to imagine a more intimidating venue.

If you love boisterous crowds and a fanatical atmosphere, this is the place to be.

A top row view of Kyle Field at Texas A&M University.

10. Neyland Stadium (University of Tennessee)

Capacity: 102,455

With the Smoky Mountains in the distance and the Tennessee River running past the stadium, it can only be Volunteer Country.

Neyland Stadium, named after famed Tennessee coach Robert Neyland, is one of the largest stadiums in the world. In fact, the venue is the fourth largest in the United States and the sixth largest in the world.

Before the game, fans can watch the Volunteer Navy float in, or even march with the players! The orange and white checkered end zone area is extremely distinct, but pales compared to the cladded ocean of orange fans singing “Rocky Top”. 

Completely enclosed, the double-deck is one of the loudest venues in college football.

A top row view of Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee

Honorable Mentions

Bryant-Denny Stadium (Alabama) 101,821

Sanford Stadium (Georgia) 92,746

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Florida) 88,548

Jordan-Hare Stadium (Auburn) 87,451

Nebraska Memorial Stadium (Nebraska) 85,458

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