Elliott T. Bowers Stadium has been the home of Sam Houston State University football in Huntsville, Texas, since its first game on September 13, 1986, a 26-3 win over Montana State. Named for longtime SHSU president Dr. Elliott T. Bowers, the on-campus venue has anchored Bearkats football for nearly four decades and also hosts the university’s track program and regular UIL high school playoff games.
The stadium’s profile rose sharply after Sam Houston State moved up to the FBS ranks and joined Conference USA. To match that step up in competition, the university launched a roughly $60 million renovation following the 2024 season, forcing the Bearkats to play their 2025 home slate at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston while crews rebuilt Bowers from the ground up for a 2026 return.
Stats at a Glance
- Team: Sam Houston Bearkats (NCAA FBS)
- Location: Huntsville, Texas
- Opened: September 13, 1986
- Capacity: About 14,000
- Surface: AstroTurf (installed 2016)
- Notable Fact: $60 million renovation with new 5-level press box debuted for the 2026 season
Nearly Four Decades of Bearkat Football
Since opening in 1986, Bowers Stadium has served as the on-campus centerpiece of Sam Houston State athletics, seating around 14,000 fans for Bearkats football games as well as the school’s track and field program. Its location at 620 Bowers Boulevard puts it right in the heart of the SHSU campus in Huntsville.
The stadium carries the name of Dr. Elliott T. Bowers, who led the university as president for two decades before retiring in 1989. Beyond college football, the venue has long doubled as a postseason host site for Texas high school UIL playoff games each fall.
Rebuilding for the FBS Era
Sam Houston State’s jump to FBS competition and Conference USA membership pushed the university to modernize Bowers Stadium. Construction crews broke ground after the 2024 season on a roughly $60 million project centered on a new five-level press box totaling more than 63,000 square feet, along with upgraded luxury seating, balconies, restrooms, and concession areas.
The scale of the work meant Bowers Stadium sat out the 2025 season entirely, with the Bearkats relocating home games to Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. The renovated stadium reopened for the 2026 campaign, giving Sam Houston State a facility built to match its new level of competition.
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Bowers Stadium FAQs
Who plays at Bowers Stadium?
Bowers Stadium is the home football field of the Sam Houston Bearkats, Sam Houston State University’s NCAA FBS program based in Huntsville, Texas.
When did Bowers Stadium open?
The stadium opened on September 13, 1986, when Sam Houston State beat Montana State 26-3 in the first game played there.
Why didn’t the Bearkats play home games at Bowers Stadium in 2025?
A roughly $60 million renovation, including a new press box and upgraded seating, kept Bowers Stadium offline for the 2025 season, so the Bearkats played their home games at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston instead.
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Photo: Larry D. Moore / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.