Camp Randall Stadium on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison has been the home of Badgers football since it opened on October 6, 1917. Architect Arthur Peabody designed it for about $15,000, on grounds that served as a Union Army training camp in the Civil War, where an estimated 70,000 Wisconsin soldiers prepared for battle. Its first game was a win over Beloit that October, and the stadium was dedicated on November 3, 1917, with a 10-7 win over Minnesota.
The question most people ask is how many fans it holds, and the answer has changed in recent years. This guide gives the current capacity, explains why it dropped, and covers the practical side of a home Saturday: tickets, seating, gates, bag rules, parking, tailgating and getting there.
Quick Answer
Camp Randall Stadium holds 76,057 fans as of the 2024 season. That is down from 80,321, its listed capacity from 2005 through 2021, after the south end zone renovation completed in 2022. The largest crowd ever recorded was 83,184 on November 12, 2005, against Iowa.
How Many People Fit in Camp Randall Stadium?
The current listed capacity is 76,057, the figure used for 2024 and later seasons. A 2022 update reported 75,822 right after the renovation, so you may see that number on older pages. Use 76,057 for anything current.
Capacity is a seating figure, not an attendance guarantee. Announced crowds for individual games can come in above or below it depending on how standing room, premium areas and the student section are counted. The 83,184 record from 2005 is well above any seated capacity, which is why it stands as a one-off.
For context, Wikipedia lists Camp Randall as the oldest and seventh-largest stadium in the Big Ten after the reduction. Before 2022 it ranked higher because of the 80,321 capacity.
Why Camp Randall’s Capacity Dropped
The drop came from the CR Future project, a south end zone renovation completed in a single 2022 offseason. It replaced older bleacher-style seating with new premium seating and hospitality clubs. Premium spaces take up more room per fan than bleachers, so the total seat count went down by roughly 4,300 even as the fan experience was upgraded.
The playing surface was also updated. Camp Randall became one of the first stadiums in the country to install artificial turf in 1968, and it now uses FieldTurf with a heated surface, a change that Wikipedia dates to after the 2023 season.
Camp Randall Stadium Gameday Guide (2026 Season)
Bag policy: One small clutch (6.5″ x 4.5″) plus one large clear bag, either a one-gallon clear Ziploc-style bag or a 12″ x 6″ x 12″ clear tote. There is no bag check at the stadium.
Gates open: General public gates open 1.5 hours before kickoff. Premium ticket holders on the east side (Gates 2 and 3), south end zone (Gates 1 and 10) and the Wisconsin Club can enter 2 hours before.
Parking: 2025 game day rates were $5 in Lots 60 and 76, $20 in Lots 46 and 67, and $50 in Lot 64 for buses and RVs. Check the official parking page for 2026 rates.
Tailgating: Allowed for regular season football games only. Grills are allowed on surface lot asphalt but not in parking ramps, and there are no open flames or wood fires.
Payments: All concession stands are cashless and take cards and contactless payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Re-entry: None. Once you leave, that ticket cannot be used to return.
Policies were checked against the official team and stadium pages in September 2026. Rules can change game to game, so confirm on the official football game day parking page and the official football carry-in and bag policy before you go.
Tickets and Seating at Camp Randall
Wisconsin sells football tickets through the athletic department. For 2026, season ticket holders and donors at $50 and higher got a pre-sale window for single-game tickets in mid-June, based on giving levels, before any wider sale. Home tickets are delivered digitally to your mobile device, and orders can also be placed by phone at 608.262.1440 or 1.800.GO.BADGERS. Student tickets run through a separate student ticket portal.
Seating is a mix of general seating and premium areas. Premium seating sits along the east side, in the south end zone and in the Wisconsin Club, and those ticket holders use separate early-entry gates (2 and 3 on the east side, 1 and 10 at the south end zone). The student section is in the bleachers, where students stand through the game and take part in Jump Around between the third and fourth quarters. Alcohol has been sold in general seating since 2024.
Because the stadium is one of the oldest in the Big Ten, much of it is concrete and steel with long stairways. If you have mobility needs, ask the ticket office about accessible seating rather than buying general seats and hoping to move.
Planning Your Visit: Tickets, Prices and Kickoff Times
Ticket prices vary by opponent, seat location and how close it is to game day, so premium matchups cost more than non-conference games. Kickoff times are set by the conference and its TV partners, and many are announced only a couple of weeks ahead. Treat any price or time you see on a third-party page as a snapshot.
For current schedules, prices and mobile ticket help, use the official Wisconsin Athletics ticket office, and for single games see the official football single-game tickets page.
Camp Randall Stadium Bag Policy (2026)
Each ticket holder may bring one small clutch purse no larger than 6.5″ x 4.5″ and one large clear bag. The large bag can be a one-gallon clear Ziploc-style storage bag or a 12″ x 6″ x 12″ clear tote.
The UW-Madison policy library lists these as not allowed: bags larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″ (including purses, backpacks, camera bags, drawstring bags, fanny packs and binocular cases), food, beverages, containers, strollers, laser pointers, umbrellas, banners, flags, signs, noisemakers, weapons, inflatables, laptops, video recorders, monopods and tripods.
Medical bags and diaper bags (for fans with a child) are permitted after a thorough inspection. There is no check-in location for prohibited bags, so leave them at home or in your vehicle. Items left at the gates are disposed of.
Gates and Entry
General public gates open 1.5 hours before kickoff. Premium ticket holders on the east side (Gates 2 and 3), the south end zone (Gates 1 and 10) and the Wisconsin Club can enter 2 hours before kickoff. Metal detector screening is used at the entry gates, so allow extra time near kickoff.
Camp Randall has a no re-entry policy. Monroe Street in front of the stadium is closed to unauthorized vehicles before and after each game, and the closure start time has changed between seasons, so check the official tailgating FAQ for current timing before you drive in.
Parking at Camp Randall Stadium
UW-Madison sells game day parking from lot attendants at the lots, and the 2025 page lists Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express as accepted. The 2025 rates were $5 in Lots 60 and 76, $20 in Lots 46 and 67, and $50 in Lot 64 for buses and RVs. General parking is first come, first served, and 2026 rates should be confirmed on the official page.
UW Athletics sells single-game parking in advance for accessible parking only. Vehicles parked illegally in lots reserved for football game day parking are ticketed and towed to Lot 59.
Tailgating Rules
Tailgating is permitted only for regular season football games. Grilling is allowed on the asphalt of surface parking lots as long as the tailgate area is not in a drive or fire lane. No open flames or wood fires are permitted, and propane or electric grills are prohibited inside parking ramps and garages. Pop-up tents are not allowed on the roof of parking structures, including Lots 17, 20, 36, 46, 67 and 76.
Open containers are allowed only within UW-Madison parking lots. They are prohibited on campus greenspaces and on campus and City of Madison sidewalks, with a listed fine of $200.50. Weapons of any kind are prohibited in parking lots.
Badger Bash, the free official pregame party at Union South across from the stadium, starts 2.5 hours before kickoff, with the UW Marching Band, Bucky Badger and the spirit squad.
Getting to Camp Randall Stadium
UW Athletics operates the Bucky Shuttle, with stops at Lots 60, 64 and 76. Athletics and GO Riteway run the game day shuttle between the stadium and Lots 60 and 76, and shuttle tickets go on sale at 10:00 AM on the Monday before each home game. The official parking and rideshare map lists rideshare locations, so check it before the season’s first home game.
Food and Drink
All concession stands at Camp Randall are cashless and accept credit cards and contactless payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Since you cannot bring in outside food or beverages, plan to buy inside, and note that alcohol has been sold in general seating since 2024.
For late-season football, outdoor hockey and October park nights. Shake, pocket, and stay warm for hours.
12 x 10.5 x 6 in. — built to the common stadium clear-bag size. Check your venue's rules.
USB-charged warmers for cold night games — no disposable packets.
Camp Randall Stadium capacity and game day guide FAQs
How many people fit in Camp Randall Stadium?
Camp Randall Stadium’s listed capacity is 76,057 as of the 2024 season. It was 80,321 from 2005 to 2021 before the 2022 south end zone renovation reduced it.
What is the attendance record at Camp Randall Stadium?
The record is 83,184, set on November 12, 2005, when Wisconsin played Iowa. That is above any current seated capacity.
Why is Camp Randall’s capacity lower than it used to be?
The CR Future south end zone renovation, completed in 2022, replaced older seating with premium seating and hospitality clubs. Those spaces hold fewer people, so total capacity fell by roughly 4,300.
Is Camp Randall the biggest stadium in the Big Ten?
No. Wikipedia lists it as the oldest and seventh-largest stadium in the Big Ten since the capacity reduction.
Can I bring a bag into Camp Randall Stadium?
Yes, within limits: one small clutch no larger than 6.5″ x 4.5″ plus one large clear bag (a one-gallon clear Ziploc-style bag or a 12″ x 6″ x 12″ clear tote). There is no bag check, so larger bags must stay at home or in your vehicle.
When do the gates open at Camp Randall?
General public gates open 1.5 hours before kickoff. Premium ticket holders on the east side (Gates 2 and 3), south end zone (Gates 1 and 10) and the Wisconsin Club can enter 2 hours before.
Can I leave and re-enter the stadium?
No. Camp Randall has a no re-entry policy, and a ticket cannot be used to return once you leave.
How much does parking cost near Camp Randall?
The 2025 game day rates were $5 in Lots 60 and 76, $20 in Lots 46 and 67, and $50 in Lot 64 for buses and RVs. Confirm 2026 rates on the official parking page.
Where do I buy Camp Randall football tickets?
Through the Wisconsin Athletics ticket office online at uwbadgers.com, or by phone at 608.262.1440 or 1.800.GO.BADGERS. Home tickets are delivered digitally to your mobile device.
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