Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds
Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds is a college football stadium in Lexington, Kentucky, home of the Kentucky Wildcats, who play in the SEC of NCAA Division I FBS. It opened in 1973, making it 53 years old in 2026 and seats 61,000 fans. It ranks 14th of 16 in the SEC by capacity.
The team plays on artificial turf. Its record crowd is 71,024 vs. Florida (2007).
Stadium facts
- Location
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Home of
- Kentucky Wildcats
- School
- University of Kentucky
- Conference
- SEC
- Subdivision
- Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
- Opened
- 1973
- Capacity
- 61,000
- Playing surface
- Artificial turf
- Former names
- Commonwealth Stadium (1973–2017)
- Record crowd
- 71,024 vs. Florida (2007)
- Size rank in FBS
- 39th of 138
Famous games at Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds
- 1973: 31–26 win over Virginia Tech in the stadium's first game
- 2003: Seven-overtime game vs. Arkansas
Game day
Tradition. Since 1999, fireworks go off from atop the suites when the Wildcats take the field, after each score, and after wins.
Seating & views
Kroger Field seats about 61,000 with seating on all four sides and an upper deck. The home sideline holds the press box, suites and most premium seating, and that side gets shade first for 3:30 kickoffs, especially sections 21 to 31 and 221 to 231. The visitors' sideline, sections 1 to 11 and 201 to 211, stays sunny for most of an afternoon game, and the end zones are sunny until late afternoon. At noon games the last rows of sections 28 to 31 are among the few shaded spots. The lower-level student section is sections 34 to 40 and holds the first 4,000 students; later arrivals go upstairs.
Parking & tailgating
Kroger Field is ringed by permit lots such as Blue, Red, Orange, Yellow, Purple and Silver, plus the Main and Gluck RV lots. Every vehicle in stadium lots needs a permit, one permit per space, and lots open at 8 a.m. Fans arriving within two hours of kickoff may be sent to the nearest open lot. Tailgating happens behind your vehicle, not in aisles. UK has pointed general fans to campus parking structures, and Cooper Drive has served as a visitor tailgating area. Rideshare uses Sports Center Drive. Check UK's official gameday parking page, since details change.
Seating and parking sources: ukathletics.com, ukathletics.com, shadedseats.com.
Plan your trip to Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds
Stadiums near Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds10
- 1FCSRoy Kidd Stadium — Eastern Kentucky Colonels 22 mi
- 2FCSPhil Simms Stadium — Morehead State Eagles 58 mi
- 3FBSL&N Federal Credit Union Stadium — Louisville Cardinals 67 mi
- 4FBSNippert Stadium — Cincinnati Bearcats 79 mi
- 5FBSFred C. Yager Stadium — Miami RedHawks 103 mi
- 6FBSJoan C. Edwards Stadium — Marshall Thundering Herd 119 mi
- 7FCSWelcome Stadium — Dayton Flyers 120 mi
- 8FBSHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium at Jimmy Feix Field — Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 129 mi
- 9FBSMerchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium — Indiana Hoosiers 135 mi
- 10FCSTucker Stadium — Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 140 mi
Questions about Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds
Where do the Kentucky Wildcats play home games?
The Kentucky Wildcats play at Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds in Lexington, Kentucky.
How many people does Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds hold?
Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds has a capacity of 61,000.
When did Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds open?
Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds opened in 1973.
What is the attendance record at Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds?
The record crowd at Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds is 71,024 vs. Florida (2007).
Does Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds have grass or turf?
Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds has an artificial turf field.
What other college football stadiums are near Kroger Field at C.M. Newton Grounds?
Roy Kidd Stadium in Richmond is about 22 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.