Husky Stadium has been the home of Washington Huskies football on the University of Washington campus in Seattle since it opened on November 27, 1920. Built into a hillside overlooking Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains, the stadium’s open east end and U-shaped bowl give it one of the most scenic settings in college sports, a view that has earned it the nickname “the greatest setting in college football.”
Beyond its scenery, Husky Stadium is famous for its sound. In a 1992 game against Nebraska, the crowd noise reached a measured 133.6 decibels, a mark that stood as the loudest crowd ever recorded at a college football stadium for more than three decades until Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium registered 137 decibels in 2023. This guide covers the stadium’s history plus everything you need for game day, from tickets and parking to the bag policy at the gates.
Quick Answer
Husky Stadium is a 70,083-seat college football venue on the University of Washington campus at 3800 Montlake Blvd NE in Seattle, opened in 1920 and home to the Washington Huskies. Tickets go through UW Athletics (gohuskies.com) or the secondary market, on-campus parking requires a permit or lot payment, and the stadium enforces a clear-bag policy at every gate.
Stats at a Glance
Team(s): Washington Huskies football (NCAA) | Location: 3800 Montlake Blvd NE, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington | Opened: November 27, 1920 | Capacity: About 70,083 | Renovation: 2011–2013, $280 million | Notable fact: Recorded 133.6 decibels vs. Nebraska in 1992 — the loudest college football crowd on record for over 30 years, until Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium hit 137 decibels in 2023.
The Game-Day Experience
Husky Stadium’s design amplifies its atmosphere as much as its acoustics. The bowl’s steep seating and cantilevered metal roofs, which cover much of the seating along the sidelines, trap and reflect crowd noise back down toward the field, an effect fans and players have compared to playing inside a drum. Combined with a passionate student section moved to the west end zone during the 2013 renovation, the stadium routinely ranks among the loudest venues in college football.
The open east end of the stadium frames views of Lake Washington, the Cascade Mountains, and the university’s rowing crews on the water below, a backdrop that sets it apart from nearly every other major college football venue in the country.
A Century of History
Designed by the architecture firm Bebb and Gould and built for about $600,000, Husky Stadium opened in 1920 and has undergone several transformations since, including changes in playing surface from dirt to natural grass, AstroTurf, FieldTurf, and back to a newer generation of AstroTurf. A $280 million renovation completed in 2013, the largest capital project in university history at the time, lowered the playing field, removed the old running track, and rebuilt the stadium’s lower bowl while preserving its signature roofline and views.
The stadium briefly hosted the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks in 1994 and again in 2000-2001 while their new stadium was under construction, and it has also served as a concert and event venue for the Seattle area. For a decade, the venue carried the sponsored name “Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium” under a 2015 naming-rights deal; that field-naming agreement has since expired, and as of the 2026 season the university is negotiating a new stadium sponsorship, so expect the official name to change again in the near future.
Planning Your Visit: Tickets, Parking & Bag Policy
Tickets to Washington Huskies home games are sold directly through UW Athletics at gohuskies.com, with resale options also available through major secondary marketplaces closer to kickoff. Ticket prices vary widely by opponent, seating tier (sideline, end zone, or suite-level), and how close to game day you buy, so check the official site for the current season’s pricing before a specific matchup.
On-site parking is available in UW campus lots near the stadium, typically sold as single-game permits or season passes purchased in advance through UW Athletics; day-of inventory is limited and fills quickly on game days. Many fans instead use Sound Transit’s Link light rail to the University of Washington Station, a short walk from the stadium, or King County Metro buses to avoid post-game traffic around Montlake.
Husky Stadium enforces a clear-bag policy at every gate: approved bags are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC no larger than roughly 12″ x 6″ x 12″, one-gallon clear resealable plastic bags, or small non-clear clutch bags around the size of a hand. Backpacks, purses, diaper bags, and camera or binocular cases are not permitted and must be returned to a vehicle before entry. Because exact prices, gate times, and policy details can change season to season, always confirm current information on the official Husky Stadium website before you go.
Husky Stadium FAQs
When did Husky Stadium open?
Husky Stadium opened on November 27, 1920, on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.
What is Husky Stadium’s capacity?
Husky Stadium seats about 70,083 fans, a figure set after the 2011-2013 renovation added luxury suites that reduced the previous capacity of roughly 72,500.
Is Husky Stadium still the loudest college football stadium?
No. Husky Stadium’s 133.6-decibel reading from a 1992 game against Nebraska held the record for over 30 years, but Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium broke it in 2023 with a 137-decibel reading, becoming the current record holder.
Where is Husky Stadium located?
Husky Stadium sits at 3800 Montlake Blvd NE on the University of Washington campus in Seattle, on the shore of Union Bay near the Montlake Cut.
How do I buy tickets to a Husky football game?
Tickets are sold through UW Athletics at gohuskies.com, with resale marketplaces offering additional options as games approach. Prices depend on the opponent, seating location, and how close to the game you buy.
Is there parking at Husky Stadium?
Yes, UW operates campus lots near the stadium with single-game and season permits, though day-of availability is limited. Many fans use Sound Transit’s Link light rail to the University of Washington Station or Metro buses instead.
What is Husky Stadium’s bag policy?
Husky Stadium requires clear bags no larger than about 12″ x 6″ x 12″ (or small clutch bags), and prohibits backpacks, purses, and similar large bags at all gates.
Is Husky Stadium still called ‘Alaska Airlines Field’?
The 2015 naming-rights deal that created ‘Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium’ has expired, and as of the 2026 season the University of Washington is in talks for a new stadium sponsor, so the field name is expected to change.
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