Folsom Field is the home stadium of the Colorado Buffaloes football team on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Opened in 1924 as Colorado Stadium, it was renamed in 1944 to honor former head coach Fred Folsom, and it remains one of the sport’s most distinctive venues thanks to its horseshoe shape and mountain backdrop.
Sitting roughly 5,360 feet above sea level, Folsom Field ranks among the highest-elevation stadiums in major college football, trailing only Wyoming’s War Memorial Stadium and Air Force’s Falcon Stadium. That thin air has long been credited with giving the Buffaloes a home-field edge against visiting teams unaccustomed to altitude.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Colorado Buffaloes (NCAA, Big 12 Conference)
- Location: Boulder, Colorado
- Opened: October 11, 1924 (as Colorado Stadium)
- Renamed: 1944, after coach Fred Folsom
- Capacity: about 50,183
- Elevation: about 5,360 feet above sea level
- Notable fact: Became the first “zero-waste” stadium in the NCAA in 2008
A Century of Colorado Football
Designed by architect Waldo E. Brockway and built for about $65,000, the stadium opened in 1924 to replace Colorado’s previous home, Gamble Field. Its playing surface has changed with the times, moving from natural grass to AstroTurf in 1971, back to natural grass in 1999, and to modern FieldTurf around 2025 to support year-round use, including potential postseason games and concerts.
A six-level press box was added in 1968, and a major renovation completed in 2016 brought an indoor practice facility, a high-performance sports center, and new premium seating to the north end zone, modernizing the venue while preserving its historic horseshoe silhouette.
Altitude, Atmosphere, and Attendance
Folsom Field’s biggest crowd came in 2005, when 54,972 fans packed the stadium to watch Colorado defeat rival Colorado State. Set against the Flatirons foothills and the CU campus, the stadium’s setting is regularly ranked among the most scenic in college football.
The venue’s environmental credentials also stand out: in 2008 Folsom Field became the first NCAA stadium certified as a zero-waste facility, a program built on extensive recycling and composting that continues on gamedays today.
Explore more: Explore more legendary stadiums.
Folsom Field FAQs
How old is Folsom Field?
Folsom Field opened on October 11, 1924, as Colorado Stadium, making it more than a century old. It was renamed Folsom Field in 1944 in honor of former Colorado head coach Fred Folsom.
What is Folsom Field’s seating capacity?
Folsom Field has seated about 50,183 fans since a 2014 renovation, making it one of the larger stadiums in the Big 12 Conference.
Why is Folsom Field’s elevation notable?
At roughly 5,360 feet above sea level, Folsom Field is one of the highest-elevation stadiums in major college football, ranking behind only Wyoming’s and Air Force’s home stadiums.
Get More from Folsom Field
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Folsom Field, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Thelastcanadian / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.