Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium has hosted University of Oklahoma football on Owen Field since October 20, 1923, growing from a 16,000-seat memorial to Oklahoma’s World War I dead into an 80,000-plus-seat fortress fans call “The Palace on the Prairie.”
Whether you’re heading to Norman for your first Sooners Saturday or just want the practical details before you buy tickets, this guide covers the seating chart, bag policy, parking, gates, and address, along with the century-plus of history that built Owen Field’s reputation.
Quick Answer
Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is the University of Oklahoma’s on-campus football venue in Norman, seating 80,126 fans on Owen Field. Gates typically open two hours before kickoff, a clear-bag policy applies at every entrance, campus parking runs on a first-come, first-served basis for a flat per-vehicle fee, and tickets are sold through the OU Athletics Ticket Office at 1185 Asp Ave.
Stadium at a Glance
Team: Oklahoma Sooners (NCAA FBS). Location: 1185 Asp Ave, Norman, Oklahoma 73019. Opened: October 20, 1923. Capacity: 80,126 as of 2019. Playing surface: Bermudagrass, in place since 1994. Record attendance: 88,308, set against TCU on November 11, 2017. The playing surface itself is Owen Field, named for longtime coach Bennie Owen, and that name is still used alongside the stadium’s formal title today.
A Century on Owen Field
The stadium was dedicated in 1923 as Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, built for roughly $293,000 as a memorial to Oklahomans killed in World War I. It took its current name in 2002 after a $12 million gift from Christy Gaylord Everest, while Owen Field kept its identity as the playing surface itself.
Capacity climbed from about 16,000 seats in the 1920s to more than 55,000 by the late 1940s, past 70,000 in the 1970s, and up to roughly 83,489 between 2016 and 2018 after the south end zone was enclosed with premium seating. A 2019 aisle-widening reconfiguration brought it to the current 80,126. The venue’s playing surface has changed several times too, from natural grass to AstroTurf in 1970, Superturf in 1981, and back to Bermudagrass in 1994. Oklahoma celebrated the stadium’s 100th football season in 2024, the same year the program moved from the Big 12 into the SEC.
Renovations and Records
Major construction phases in 1980, 1997, 2003, and 2016 combined for well over $100 million in investment, adding seating, luxury suites, and modern amenities while preserving the historic Owen Field name. The stadium’s all-time attendance record, 88,308, was set on November 11, 2017, in a game against TCU.
Seating Chart & Best Seats
The lower bowl wraps the field in sections 1 through 46. Center sections 3-8 and 28-33 sit along the sidelines and offer the best sightlines to midfield, while end-zone sections 15-21 and 42-46 and corner sections 1, 2, 9-14, 22-27, 34, and 35 fill out the rest of the lower level.
The upper deck adds center sections 105, 129, and 130, corner sections 103, 104, 106, 107, 127, 128, 131, and 132, and end-zone sections in the 120s, 130s, and the south upper deck (226-236). Premium options include the enclosed Stadium Club, the South Club, and the Santee Lounge, a courtside-style setup built into sections 3-8. Because sun and shade shift by side and time of day, it’s worth checking an interactive seating chart before you buy if that matters to you.
Getting Tickets
Single-game and season tickets for Oklahoma Sooners football are sold through the OU Athletics Ticket Office, with mobile tickets delivered through the Oklahoma Sooners app once you’re logged into your account. The ticket office sits on the stadium’s west side at 1185 Asp Ave in Norman and can be reached by phone during weekday business hours for questions about seat locations, ADA seating, or transfers.
For current pricing, the schedule, and to buy tickets, use the official Oklahoma Sooners ticket page, since prices and availability shift by opponent and season.
Bag Policy & Gameday Rules
OU enforces a clear-bag policy at every home game. Approved bags are a clear plastic tote no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches or a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag; small non-clear clutches or wallets are generally fine as long as they’re roughly wallet-sized. Every bag is subject to search at the gate, and anything oversized or non-compliant has to go back to your car, so it’s worth packing light.
Policies can shift slightly from season to season, so confirm the current rules on the official OU football game day page before you head to the stadium.
Parking Near the Stadium
Public parking on football Saturdays is limited to the OU campus itself, and lots fill up well before kickoff. General public lots run first-come, first-served for a flat per-vehicle charge, with separate reserved, RV, and accessible lots available to permit holders. General public gates at the stadium are Gates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 11.
Because streets around the stadium get congested fast on gamedays, plan to arrive close to when gates open rather than right before kickoff, and check the official site for the current game day parking map and any posted road-closure routes.
Gates, Hours & Getting There
Gates at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium generally open two hours before kickoff, giving fans time to clear bag checks, find their seats, and grab concessions before the team takes the field. Exact gate times and any special early-entry windows are posted per game, so check the current schedule before you go.
The stadium sits in the heart of OU’s Norman campus at 1185 Asp Ave, Norman, OK 73019, about a 20-minute drive south of downtown Oklahoma City. For the most current gate times, prices, and stadium policies, see the official OU Athletics game day hub.
Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium FAQs
How old is Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium?
The stadium opened on October 20, 1923, and celebrated its 100th season of Sooners football in 2024, the same year Oklahoma moved from the Big 12 to the SEC.
Why is it called Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium?
It was originally dedicated as Oklahoma Memorial Stadium to honor Oklahomans who died in World War I. It took its current name in 2002 after a $12 million gift from Christy Gaylord Everest.
What is Owen Field?
Owen Field is the name of the playing surface inside the stadium, honoring longtime Oklahoma coach Bennie Owen. It’s still used alongside the stadium’s formal name today.
What is the bag policy at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium?
OU uses a clear-bag policy: a clear plastic tote up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches or a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag, plus a small non-clear clutch or wallet. All bags are searched at the gate.
What time do gates open on gameday?
Gates typically open two hours before kickoff, though exact times are posted per game on the official OU football game day page.
Where do I park for an OU football game?
Parking is limited to OU’s Norman campus on gamedays. General public lots are first-come, first-served for a flat per-vehicle fee, with reserved, RV, and accessible lots available separately. General public gates are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 11.
What is the stadium’s address?
Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is located at 1185 Asp Ave, Norman, OK 73019, on the University of Oklahoma campus.
What is the current capacity and attendance record?
Capacity is 80,126 as of 2019. The all-time attendance record is 88,308, set against TCU on November 11, 2017.
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