Canvas Stadium is the on-campus home of Colorado State Rams football in Fort Collins, a 36,500-seat bowl sitting above 5,000 feet with the Front Range as a backdrop. If you’re heading to a game, you need more than history — you need to know how big it is, where to park, what you can carry through the gates, and how to get tickets.
This guide covers all of that, plus the story behind the stadium’s name, its record-setting crowds, and the move from off-campus Hughes Stadium that changed Rams football for good.
Quick Answer
Canvas Stadium holds about 36,500 fans (expandable to roughly 41,000 for marquee games), opened August 5, 2017, and sits on Colorado State’s Fort Collins campus at about 5,003 feet of elevation. Gates typically open two hours before kickoff, parking lots open about six hours before kickoff, and a clear-bag policy applies to everyone entering.
Canvas Stadium Capacity and Seating
The seating bowl holds approximately 36,500 fans for a standard Rams home game, with the configuration able to flex to around 41,000 for sellout-caliber matchups through standing-room and temporary seating additions. The bowl wraps tightly around the field in a single deck, so even upper-level seats stay close to the action, and sightlines open up toward the Rocky Mountains’ Front Range on the stadium’s west side.
Colorado State has pushed well past capacity on its biggest days. The program’s average home attendance topped 33,000 in the 2024 season, and the single-game attendance record has fallen repeatedly in recent years — Colorado’s 2024 visit drew 40,099, the 2025 Homecoming game against Hawaii drew 40,416, Wyoming drew 40,546 in September 2026, and the 2026 Homecoming game against Oregon State, CSU’s first Pac-12 game, set the current record with a full house of 41,000. Those crowds make Canvas one of the loudest venues in the Pac-12 on a big Saturday.
Tickets: How to Buy
Single-game and season tickets for Rams football are sold through Colorado State Athletics’ official ticket office, with online purchases available year-round and phone orders taken by the Rams ticket line. Prices vary by game, opponent, and seating tier (sideline, end zone, and premium/club areas are priced separately), so check current rates before you buy rather than relying on last season’s numbers.
On game day, an advance ticket window opens at the stadium’s northwest corner off Pitkin Street several hours before kickoff for anyone who still needs a seat, though mobile tickets purchased in advance are the faster way in. For current pricing, season-ticket packages, and the team’s full home schedule, go directly to the official Colorado State Athletics tickets page.
Parking and Getting to the Stadium
Because Canvas Stadium sits directly on campus, most fans walk in from nearby campus lots, residence halls, or short Fort Collins neighborhoods rather than driving in at the last minute. Reserved lots near the stadium require a season parking pass, while general and single-game parking is available further out with a walk or shuttle into the stadium district.
Parking areas and tailgate lots typically open about six hours before kickoff, giving fans a long pregame window before gates open. If you’re driving in for a game, build in extra time — traffic around campus backs up fast on Rams gamedays, and the closer lots fill well before kickoff.
Bag Policy and What You Can Bring
Canvas Stadium enforces a clear-bag policy at every gate. Allowed bags are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″, a one-gallon clear plastic freezer (Ziploc-style) bag, or a small clutch no bigger than 4.5″ x 6.5″ with or without a strap. Backpacks, purses, and any non-clear bag outside those sizes are turned away at the gate, so leave them at home or in the car.
Every guest passes through a metal detector, and all permitted bags are subject to search. Colorado State Athletics recommends skipping a bag entirely if you can, since bagless fans can use dedicated express lanes and get through security noticeably faster.
The Game-Day Experience
Unlike its predecessor, Hughes Stadium, Canvas Stadium was built directly on Colorado State’s campus, putting students and fans within walking distance of the action. The bowl-style seating wraps close to the field, and Shaw Sports artificial turf keeps the playing surface consistent through Colorado’s unpredictable weather, including the occasional early-season snow that can roll off the Rockies.
The stadium’s elevation above 5,000 feet gives visiting teams a thinner-air challenge, something Rams fans have embraced as a home-field edge. A 727,000-square-foot footprint houses not just the seating bowl but also locker rooms, meeting spaces, offices, and classrooms, making the building a year-round hub for the football program rather than just a gameday venue.
From Hughes Stadium to Canvas
Colorado State played at Hughes Stadium, several miles from campus, from 1968 until the move to Canvas Stadium. The shift to an on-campus facility followed years of debate and a roughly two-year construction process. Canvas Stadium opened on August 5, 2017, and the Rams christened it with a 58-27 win over Oregon State on August 26, 2017.
In April 2018, Canvas Credit Union signed a 15-year, $37.7 million naming-rights agreement, while a separate $20 million gift over 30 years preserved the Sonny Lubick Field name honoring the program’s longtime former head coach. Built at a cost of about $220.1 million and designed by Populous and ICON Venue Group, the stadium marked its 10th anniversary season in 2026 and has since hosted its first concerts and several state high school championship games alongside Rams football.
Photos
Sherpa-lined and windproof, with a waterproof back for wet bleachers. Folds into its own pouch.
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.
Canvas Stadium visitor guide FAQs
How many people can Canvas Stadium hold?
Canvas Stadium seats about 36,500 fans for regular games, with capacity expandable to roughly 41,000 for high-demand matchups. Recent Rams games against Colorado, Hawaii, Wyoming and Oregon State have drawn over 40,000 fans and set new stadium attendance records. The current record is a full house of 41,000 against Oregon State on October 3, 2026.
When did Canvas Stadium open?
The stadium opened on August 5, 2017, with the Rams playing their first game there on August 26, 2017, a 58-27 win over Oregon State.
Why is it called Canvas Stadium?
Canvas Credit Union purchased naming rights in a 15-year, $37.7 million deal announced in April 2018, while the field itself is named Sonny Lubick Field for the program’s former head coach.
What is the bag policy at Canvas Stadium?
Only clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″, one-gallon clear freezer bags, or small clutches up to 4.5″ x 6.5″ are allowed. Backpacks and larger non-clear bags are not permitted, and all bags are subject to search.
How early do gates and parking open at Canvas Stadium?
Parking lots and tailgating typically open about six hours before kickoff, and stadium gates open about two hours before kickoff.
Where do you buy tickets for Canvas Stadium?
Tickets are sold through Colorado State Athletics’ official ticket office online, by phone, or at the Rams Ticket Office, with an additional game-day advance sales window at the stadium’s northwest corner.
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