Doak Campbell Stadium, officially Bobby Bowden Field at Doak S. Campbell Stadium, has been the home of Florida State Seminoles football in Tallahassee, Florida since it opened on October 7, 1950. Named for Doak S. Campbell, the university’s first president, the stadium later added Bobby Bowden’s name in 2004 to honor the legendary coach who built FSU into a national power during his 34-year tenure.
What began as a modest 15,000-seat facility built for around $250,000 has grown into a brick-faced fortress that has hosted crowds well over 80,000 during its peak capacity years. A major two-year renovation completed around the stadium’s 75th anniversary reshaped the venue with new premium seating, video boards, and amenities, trimming capacity in favor of a more modern fan experience.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Florida State Seminoles (NCAA FBS)
- Location: Tallahassee, Florida
- Opened: October 7, 1950
- Capacity: About 67,277 (post-2025 renovation)
- Record Attendance: 84,431 vs. Notre Dame, October 18, 2014
- Notable Fact: Nicknamed ‘The House That Bobby Built’
The Ride Experience
Game days at Doak Campbell Stadium are built around Florida State’s War Chant tradition, with fans performing the Tomahawk Chop as the Marching Chiefs and Chief Osceola on his horse Renegade fire up the crowd before kickoff. The stadium’s brick exterior, designed to echo the architecture of FSU’s campus, wraps around a bowl that has packed in some of the sport’s biggest crowds, including the 2014 record of 84,431 against Notre Dame.
Following the 2025-2026 renovation tied to the stadium’s 75th anniversary, fans now experience wider concourses, chairback seating, and new premium spaces including the Dunlap Champions Club, Founders Suites, Loge Boxes, and the West Sideline Club, alongside massive new video boards in both end zones.
History and Legacy
Doak Campbell Stadium grew from its original small-scale design through decades of expansions that eventually pushed capacity toward roughly 80,000 seats. It briefly hosted Florida A&M home games between 1974 and 1980 in addition to Florida State football. The stadium’s most recent transformation, funded through a $265 million bond-financed project approved by the FSU Board of Governors in 2023, prioritized modern fan comfort and premium seating over raw seat count, bringing capacity down to about 67,277.
Explore more: Explore more legendary stadiums.
Doak Campbell Stadium FAQs
Who is Doak Campbell Stadium named after?
It’s named for Doak S. Campbell, Florida State University’s first president. Coach Bobby Bowden’s name was added to the field in 2004.
What is the capacity of Doak Campbell Stadium?
Following a major 2025-2026 renovation, capacity sits at about 67,277, down from a peak of roughly 79,000-82,000 in earlier configurations.
When did Doak Campbell Stadium open?
The stadium opened on October 7, 1950, and has since undergone numerous expansions and renovations.
Get More from Doak Campbell Stadium
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Doak Campbell Stadium, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: SeminoleNation / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.