Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Gerald J. Ford Stadium is a college football stadium in Dallas, Texas, home of the SMU Mustangs, who play in the ACC of NCAA Division I FBS. It opened in 2000, making it 26 years old in 2026 and seats 33,200 fans. It ranks 16th of 17 in the ACC by capacity.
The team plays on natural grass. Its record crowd is 36,742 vs. Army, Armed Forces Bowl (2010).
Stadium facts
- Location
- Dallas, Texas
- Home of
- SMU Mustangs
- School
- Southern Methodist University
- Conference
- ACC
- Subdivision
- Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
- Opened
- 2000
- Capacity
- 33,200
- Playing surface
- Natural grass
- Record crowd
- 36,742 vs. Army, Armed Forces Bowl (2010)
- Size rank in FBS
- 90th of 138
Famous games at Gerald J. Ford Stadium
- Opening game: SMU 31, Kansas 17 (2000)
- Armed Forces Bowl: Army 16, SMU 14 (2010)
- Iron Skillet: TCU 42, SMU 34 (2022)
Seating & views
Ford Stadium, opened in 2000, is listed at about 33,200 seats in a north-south bowl. The west sideline is the home side, with the press box and suites, and the east sideline is the visitors' side. The south end zone is now anchored by the Garry Weber End Zone Complex, a three-level structure that closed the old horseshoe and added premium seating and a new concourse. For 2:30 kickoffs, west sections 201-207 shade first, then 100-108 and 200-208, while the east 200 level stays sunny longest. The north end zone is the sunniest area and only shades for evening games.
Parking & tailgating
SMU has few surface lots, so most fans park in campus garages and lots, which a 2025 review put at $20. Single-game parking is sold online through SMU Athletics, and East Campus parkers can ride a gameday shuttle with stops at Energy Square Garage, SMU Boulevard at the Central Expressway frontage road, and Binkley Avenue at Airline Drive. Neighboring Highland Park and University Park restrict street parking to residents. Tailgating centers on The Boulevard, where tents fill the tree-lined medians of Bishop Boulevard from Dallas Hall to Mockingbird Lane, a tradition since 2000. Check the current gameday parking map before you go.
Seating and parking sources: smumustangs.com, shadedseats.com, smu.edu.
Plan your trip to Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Stadiums near Gerald J. Ford Stadium10
- 1FBSAmon G. Carter Stadium — TCU Horned Frogs 31 mi
- 2FBSDATCU Stadium — North Texas Mean Green 35 mi
- 3FCSErnest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium — East Texas A&M Lions 60 mi
- 4FBSMcLane Stadium — Baylor Bears 88 mi
- 5FCSMemorial Stadium — Tarleton State Texans 92 mi
- 6FCSHomer Bryce Stadium — Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 149 mi
- 7FBSKyle Field — Texas A&M Aggies 153 mi
- 8FBSElliott T. Bowers Stadium — Sam Houston Bearkats 159 mi
- 9FBSGaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium — Oklahoma Sooners 171 mi
- 10FCSAnthony Field at Wildcat Stadium — Abilene Christian Wildcats 173 mi
Questions about Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Where do the SMU Mustangs play home games?
The SMU Mustangs play at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
How many people does Gerald J. Ford Stadium hold?
Gerald J. Ford Stadium has a capacity of 33,200.
When did Gerald J. Ford Stadium open?
Gerald J. Ford Stadium opened in 2000.
What is the attendance record at Gerald J. Ford Stadium?
The record crowd at Gerald J. Ford Stadium is 36,742 vs. Army, Armed Forces Bowl (2010).
Does Gerald J. Ford Stadium have grass or turf?
Gerald J. Ford Stadium has a natural grass field.
What other college football stadiums are near Gerald J. Ford Stadium?
Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth is about 31 miles away. 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.