Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium has served as the home of Oklahoma Sooners football in Norman, Oklahoma since it opened on October 20, 1923. Built originally for about $293,000 and dedicated as a memorial to Oklahomans who died in World War I, the stadium’s playing surface was named Owen Field after longtime coach Bennie Owen, a name still used today alongside the stadium’s formal title.
The venue took its current name in 2002 following a $12 million gift from Christy Gaylord Everest, and it has grown from an original capacity of around 16,000 into one of the largest stadiums in college football. Nicknamed ‘The Palace on the Prairie,’ it has been expanded and renovated repeatedly, most substantially in 1980, 1997, 2003, and 2016, reflecting well over a century of Sooners football tradition.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Oklahoma Sooners (NCAA FBS)
- Location: Norman, Oklahoma
- Opened: October 20, 1923
- Capacity: 80,126 (as of 2019)
- Playing Surface: Bermudagrass (since 1994)
- Record Attendance: 88,308 (vs. TCU, November 11, 2017)
- Notable Fact: Field named Owen Field after coach Bennie Owen
A Century on Owen Field
Since its 1923 dedication, the stadium has evolved through several playing surfaces, from natural grass to AstroTurf in 1970, Superturf in 1981, and back to Bermudagrass in 1994. Capacity climbed steadily over the decades, from about 16,000 seats in the 1920s to over 55,000 by the late 1940s, passing 70,000 in the 1970s, and eventually reaching a peak of about 83,489 from 2016 to 2018 after the south end zone was enclosed and premium seating was added, before settling at its current 80,126 following an aisle-widening reconfiguration for 2019.
The stadium celebrated its 100th season of Sooners football in 2024, a milestone reached as Oklahoma transitioned from the Big 12 into the SEC, adding a new chapter to the venue’s long football history.
Renovations and Records
Major construction projects in 1980, 1997, 2003, and 2016 combined for well over $100 million in stadium investment, adding seating, luxury suites, and modern amenities while preserving the historic Owen Field name. The stadium’s all-time attendance record of 88,308 was set on November 11, 2017, during a matchup against TCU, underscoring the scale of Sooners football fandom in Norman.
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Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium FAQs
How old is Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium?
The stadium opened on October 20, 1923, making it over a century old as of 2024, when Oklahoma celebrated its 100th football season there.
Why is it called Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium?
It was originally named Oklahoma Memorial Stadium to honor Oklahomans who died in World War I. It was renamed in 2002 after a $12 million donation from Christy Gaylord Everest.
What is Owen Field?
Owen Field is the name of the playing surface inside the stadium, honoring Bennie Owen, the Oklahoma football coach for whom it was named in the 1920s.
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Photo: Toniklemm / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.