Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium has been the home of Missouri Tigers football in Columbia, Missouri, since it opened on October 2, 1926. Renamed in 1972 to honor legendary Mizzou coach Don Faurot, the stadium has grown from a modest bowl into a modern SEC venue while keeping one of college football’s most distinctive landmarks intact.
That landmark is the giant block ‘M,’ a 90-foot-wide, 95-foot-tall symbol built into the north end zone hillside from whitewashed rocks in 1927. University of Missouri freshmen still repaint the stones every year, making the ‘M’ one of the oldest continuously maintained traditions in college sports and a signature image whenever Faurot Field appears on television.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Missouri Tigers (NCAA FBS, SEC)
- Location: Columbia, Missouri
- Opened: October 2, 1926
- Capacity: About 57,300 (2025), expanding toward 65,000 for 2026
- Playing Surface: AstroTurf (since 2021)
- Nickname: The Zou
- Notable Fact: Home to the hand-painted rock block ‘M,’ built in 1927
The Ride Experience
Game days at Faurot Field center on the north end zone hillside, where the whitewashed rock ‘M’ looms over the field and gives the stadium its unmistakable silhouette on TV broadcasts. Since joining the SEC in 2012, Mizzou has hosted marquee opponents in front of crowds that have topped 75,000 in the stadium’s history, with the modern record attendance of 75,298 set against Penn State in 1980.
A Century of Growth
The stadium has been rebuilt in stages since the 1940s, moving through double-decked seating additions, a switch to artificial turf and back to grass, a new press box and suite tower in 2000, and an $89 million south end zone project in 2019. A $250 million north end zone renovation, running from 2024 through 2026, is timed to push capacity toward 65,000 in time for the stadium’s 100th anniversary season.
Explore more: Explore more legendary stadiums.
Faurot Field FAQs
When did Faurot Field open?
The stadium opened on October 2, 1926, and was renamed Faurot Field in 1972 in honor of longtime Missouri coach Don Faurot.
What is the block ‘M’ at Faurot Field?
It’s a 90-foot-wide, 95-foot-tall symbol made of whitewashed rocks built into the north end zone hillside in 1927, still repainted annually by University of Missouri freshmen.
What is Faurot Field’s capacity?
Capacity was about 57,300 during the 2025 season due to ongoing construction, with a north end zone renovation expected to raise it to roughly 65,000 for the stadium’s 100th anniversary in 2026.
Get More from Faurot Field
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Faurot Field, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Lectrician2 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.