FirstBank Stadium sits on the Vanderbilt University campus in Nashville, Tennessee, and has served as the home of Commodores football since it opened on October 14, 1922. Originally named Dudley Field, the venue earned the distinction of being the first stadium in the South built exclusively for college football, a title it has carried through a century of renovations and rebrands.
The stadium was known as Vanderbilt Stadium for over four decades before FirstBank secured a ten-year naming-rights partnership beginning in August 2022. That agreement coincided with a multi-year renovation project that modernized the bowl while keeping the stadium’s compact, battleship-gray exterior, a nod to the Commodores’ naval mascot.
Stats at a Glance
- Team: Vanderbilt Commodores (NCAA, SEC)
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Opened: October 14, 1922
- Capacity: about 35,000
- Playing Surface: Artificial turf
- Previous Names: Dudley Field, Vanderbilt Stadium
- Notable Fact: First stadium in the South built exclusively for college football
A Century of Vanderbilt Football
When Dudley Field opened in 1922, it held about 20,000 fans, a capacity that grew in stages through the 20th century, reaching roughly 27,900 by 1949, 34,000 by 1960, and a peak of around 41,400 after a 1998 expansion. The playing surface switched from natural grass to AstroTurf in 1970, returned to grass in 1999, and has used artificial turf again since 2012.
The venue briefly hosted an NFL tenant too, serving as the Tennessee Oilers’ home field for the 1998 season while the team’s permanent Nashville stadium was under construction. Tennessee State also played select games there between 1971 and 1996.
From Vanderbilt Stadium to FirstBank Stadium
After carrying the Vanderbilt Stadium name from 1981 to 2022, the facility underwent a renovation completed in phases through 2025 alongside the FirstBank naming-rights deal, trimming capacity to a more intimate 35,000 while upgrading seating and amenities. The Commodores have rewarded the refreshed stadium with historic moments, including a 2024 upset win over Alabama that fans celebrated as the program’s first-ever victory over a top-five opponent.
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FirstBank Stadium FAQs
What was FirstBank Stadium called before?
It was known as Dudley Field from 1922 to 1981, then Vanderbilt Stadium from 1981 until the FirstBank naming-rights deal began in 2022.
What is the capacity of FirstBank Stadium?
The stadium holds about 35,000 fans following its 2022-2025 renovation, down from a peak of roughly 41,400 in the late 1990s.
Who plays at FirstBank Stadium?
Vanderbilt Commodores football is the primary and longtime tenant; the NFL’s Tennessee Oilers also used the venue for the 1998 season.
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Photo: Quintin Soloviev / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.