Canvas Stadium opened on August 5, 2017, as the on-campus football home of the Colorado State Rams in Fort Collins, Colorado, ending nearly five decades of games at off-campus Hughes Stadium. The venue, officially named Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium, sits at roughly 5,003 feet of elevation and gives fans sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains’ Front Range from its seating bowl.
Built at a cost of about $220.1 million and designed by Populous and ICON Venue Group, the stadium holds around 36,500 seats that can expand to roughly 41,000 for marquee matchups. Colorado State christened the building with a 58-27 win over Oregon State on August 26, 2017, and the Rams have called it home ever since.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Colorado State Rams football
- Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
- Opened: August 5, 2017
- Capacity: About 36,500 (expandable to around 41,000)
- Construction Cost: About $220.1 million
- Architect: Populous and ICON Venue Group
- Notable Fact: Named for Canvas Credit Union under a $37.7 million, 15-year naming-rights deal
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. 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.
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Canvas Stadium 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.
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 for former coach Sonny Lubick.
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Photo: FarGah1 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.