Stanford Stadium
Stanford Stadium is a college football stadium in Stanford, California, home of the Stanford Cardinal, who play in the ACC of NCAA Division I FBS. It opened in 1921, making it 105 years old in 2026 and seats 50,424 fans. It ranks 12th of 17 in the ACC by capacity.
The team plays on natural grass. Its record crowd is 94,000 vs. California (1935), a record at the time.
Stadium facts
- Location
- Stanford, California
- Home of
- Stanford Cardinal
- School
- Stanford University
- Conference
- ACC
- Subdivision
- Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
- Opened
- 1921
- Capacity
- 50,424
- Playing surface
- Natural grass
- Record crowd
- 94,000 vs. California (1935), a record at the time
- Size rank in FBS
- 58th of 138
Famous games at Stanford Stadium
- First game, Big Game: California 42, Stanford 7 (1921)
- Super Bowl XIX: 49ers 38, Dolphins 16 (1985)
- FIFA World Cup matches incl. a quarterfinal (1994)
Game day
Parking. Public transit to the stadium runs on game days only, via the Stanford stop.
Seating & views
Stanford Stadium seats 50,424, every seat with a back, in a bowl rebuilt in just 42 weeks for the 2006 season. It has lower and upper levels, a skybox tower with seven suites and about 400 Director's Level seats, and two video boards. West midfield and west sideline seats are sold as premium. The Red Zone student section moved in 2025 to the east sideline, running from Section 136 into the south end zone to Section 104, near the visitors' bench. Under the north end arches, the Archway offers cabanas and terrace spaces, and the Buck/Cardinal Club hospitality area sits at the north end between Gates 5 and 10.
Parking & tailgating
Stanford's football lots are numbered, from the Sunken Diamond Lot (Lot 1) and El Camino Grove (Lot 2) to General Lots 7 and 8 and IM South Lot 4. Buy passes in advance online; on-site payment works only at Lots 7, 8 and IM South, and cash is not accepted. Lot 2 sells overnight passes. Caltrain's Palo Alto station is a short walk away, and Waymo has a gameday drop-off at the Oval. Fans may tailgate in any designated football lot and in Chuck Taylor Grove, and the free Fan Fest across from Gate 3 opens three hours before kickoff. Check Stanford Football Gameday Central before each game.
Seating and parking sources: gostanford.com, gostanford.com, gostanford.com.
Plan your trip to Stanford Stadium
Stadiums near Stanford Stadium10
- 1FBSCEFCU Stadium — San Jose State Spartans 17 mi
- 2FBSCalifornia Memorial Stadium — California Golden Bears 32 mi
- 3FCSUC Davis Health Stadium — UC Davis Aggies 81 mi
- 4FBSHornet Stadium — Sacramento State Hornets 88 mi
- 5FBSValley Children's Stadium — Fresno State Bulldogs 144 mi
- 6FCSMustang Memorial Field — Cal Poly Mustangs 171 mi
- 7FBSMackay Stadium — Nevada Wolf Pack 193 mi
- 8FBSRose Bowl Stadium — UCLA Bruins 319 mi
- 9FBSLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum — USC Trojans 320 mi
- 10FBSSnapdragon Stadium — San Diego State Aztecs 429 mi
Questions about Stanford Stadium
Where do the Stanford Cardinal play home games?
The Stanford Cardinal play at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California.
How many people does Stanford Stadium hold?
Stanford Stadium has a capacity of 50,424.
When did Stanford Stadium open?
Stanford Stadium opened in 1921.
What is the attendance record at Stanford Stadium?
The record crowd at Stanford Stadium is 94,000 vs. California (1935), a record at the time.
Where do I park for games at Stanford Stadium?
Public transit to the stadium runs on game days only, via the Stanford stop.
Does Stanford Stadium have grass or turf?
Stanford Stadium has a natural grass field.
What other college football stadiums are near Stanford Stadium?
CEFCU Stadium in San Jose is about 17 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.