First Community Stadium
First Community Stadium is a college football stadium in Houston, Texas, home of the Rice Owls, who play in the American of NCAA Division I FBS. It opened in 1950, making it 76 years old in 2026 and seats 47,000 fans. It ranks 7th of 14 in the American by capacity.
The team plays on artificial turf. Its record crowd is 68,142 for Super Bowl VIII (1974).
Stadium facts
- Location
- Houston, Texas
- Home of
- Rice Owls
- School
- Rice University
- Conference
- American
- Subdivision
- Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
- Opened
- 1950
- Capacity
- 47,000
- Playing surface
- Artificial turf
- Former names
- Rice Stadium (1950–2026)
- Record crowd
- 68,142 for Super Bowl VIII (1974)
- Size rank in FBS
- 63rd of 138
Famous games at First Community Stadium
- 1950: Stadium opened
- 1962: President Kennedy delivered his Moon speech here
- 1974: Hosted Super Bowl VIII, Dolphins over Vikings
Other teams that played here
- Houston Oilers (NFL), 1965–1967. Now the Tennessee Titans
- Houston Cougars (FBS), 1951–1964
Plan your trip to First Community Stadium
Stadiums near First Community Stadium10
- 1FBSJohn O'Quinn Field at Space City Financial Stadium — Houston Cougars same city
- 2FCSShell Energy Stadium — Texas Southern Tigers same city
- 3FCSHusky Stadium — Houston Christian Huskies same city
- 4FCSPanther Stadium — Prairie View A&M Panthers 40 mi
- 5FBSElliott T. Bowers Stadium — Sam Houston Bearkats 66 mi
- 6FBSKyle Field — Texas A&M Aggies 78 mi
- 7FCSProvost Umphrey Stadium — Lamar Cardinals 79 mi
- 8FCSNavarre Stadium — McNeese Cowboys 133 mi
- 9FCSHomer Bryce Stadium — Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 137 mi
- 10FBSDarrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium — Texas Longhorns 145 mi
Questions about First Community Stadium
Where do the Rice Owls play home games?
The Rice Owls play at First Community Stadium in Houston, Texas.
How many people does First Community Stadium hold?
First Community Stadium has a capacity of 47,000.
When did First Community Stadium open?
First Community Stadium opened in 1950.
What is the attendance record at First Community Stadium?
The record crowd at First Community Stadium is 68,142 for Super Bowl VIII (1974).
Does First Community Stadium have grass or turf?
First Community Stadium has an artificial turf field.
What other college football stadiums are near First Community Stadium?
John O'Quinn Field at Space City Financial Stadium is also in Houston. See the full list of nearby stadiums on this page.
Facts are for the 2026 season. Distances are straight-line miles between city centers. Capacity figures vary by source. See something wrong? Let us know. Is this your stadium? Get the “Listed on All Football Stadiums” badge for your website.