Situated on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, Camp Randall Stadium has been the beating heart of Badgers football since it opened on November 3, 1917. Designed by architect Arthur Peabody at a cost of just $15,000, the stadium was built on grounds that once served as a Union Army training camp during the Civil War, where an estimated 70,000 Wisconsin soldiers prepared for battle. Its first game set a fitting tone: a 10-7 homecoming victory over rival Minnesota.
Over more than a century of expansions and renovations, Camp Randall grew from its modest origins into one of the largest and most storied venues in the Big Ten Conference. A 2022 south end zone renovation replaced older bleacher seating with premium sections, settling the current capacity at 76,057. The oldest stadium in the conference, it consistently ranks among the top draws in all of college football, with a single-game attendance record of 83,184, set on November 12, 2005, against Iowa.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Wisconsin Badgers (University of Wisconsin)
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
- Opened: November 3, 1917
- Capacity: 76,057
- Conference: Big Ten
- Surface: FieldTurf (heated)
- Attendance Record: 83,184 (vs. Iowa, Nov. 12, 2005)
A Century of Expansion and Big Ten Rivalry
Camp Randall Stadium started as a modest horseshoe with a capacity of around 11,900 and grew through a series of major expansions across the 20th century. Key milestones included the addition of south stands in the 1930s, the removal of the on-field track and addition of roughly 11,000 seats in 1958, and the construction of an upper deck on the west side in 1966 — pushing capacity past 76,000 for the first time. A $77.6 million renovation of the south end zone completed in 2022 modernized the fan experience while slightly reducing overall seating in favor of premium amenities.
The stadium’s Civil War heritage remains a defining part of its identity. The original Camp Randall training ground was named after Wisconsin Governor Alexander Randall, and the site briefly held Confederate prisoners of war in April 1862. After veterans protested plans to sell the land for development, the state purchased it in 1893 and transferred it to the university, where it was soon put to use as an athletic ground by the track, baseball, and eventually football teams.
Jump Around: The Tradition That Moves the Stadium
Between the third and fourth quarters of every home game, Camp Randall Stadium erupts to House of Pain’s 1992 hip-hop anthem ‘Jump Around.’ The entire student section — and much of the 76,000-seat bowl — jumps in unison, creating a wall of noise and vibration that has been measured by seismographs. The tradition began informally in 1993 and was officially adopted as a stadium program on October 10, 1998.
The tradition’s grip on Badger game day is so strong that when stadium officials briefly suspended it in 2003 over structural concerns, student protests prompted a rapid reinstatement after engineers confirmed the stadium could safely handle the vibrations. ‘Jump Around’ is now widely regarded as one of the most electric crowd moments in college football, drawing national attention every season and serving as a key part of the stadium’s fearsome home-field advantage.
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Camp Randall Stadium FAQs
When did Camp Randall Stadium open?
Camp Randall Stadium opened on November 3, 1917, with a 10-7 Wisconsin homecoming victory over Minnesota. It is the oldest stadium in the Big Ten Conference.
What is the current seating capacity of Camp Randall Stadium?
Following a 2022 south end zone renovation, Camp Randall Stadium holds 76,057 fans. Its all-time single-game attendance record is 83,184, set on November 12, 2005, during a game against Iowa.
What is the ‘Jump Around’ tradition at Camp Randall Stadium?
Between the third and fourth quarters of every home game, the PA system plays House of Pain’s ‘Jump Around’ and the entire crowd jumps in unison. The tradition started informally in 1993 and was made an official stadium event in 1998, and is considered one of college football’s most iconic crowd moments.
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Photo: Lectrician2 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.