Jack Trice Stadium is the home football venue of the Iowa State Cyclones, sitting on the university’s campus in Ames, Iowa. The stadium opened on September 20, 1975 as Cyclone Stadium, debuting with a 17-12 Iowa State win over Air Force, and was renamed in 1997 to honor Jack Trice after years of student advocacy.
Trice was Iowa State’s first African American athlete, and he died in 1923 from injuries suffered during a game against Minnesota. Today the stadium he’s named for holds around 61,500 fans and stands as the only stadium in the Division I FBS named for a Black individual, making it one of college football’s most historically significant venues.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Iowa State Cyclones (NCAA, Big 12 Conference)
- Location: Ames, Iowa
- Opened: September 20, 1975 (as Cyclone Stadium; renamed 1997)
- Capacity: About 61,500
- Playing Surface: Natural grass (since 1996; AstroTurf 1975-1995)
- Notable Fact: Only Division I FBS stadium named for an African American individual
A Name Rooted in History
The stadium’s name honors Jack Trice, who broke Iowa State’s color barrier as its first Black athlete in the early 1920s. During a 1923 road game against Minnesota, Trice suffered a broken collarbone and internal injuries after being trampled by opposing players; he died two days later. Students began pushing for the stadium to carry his name almost as soon as it opened in 1975, and the university finally made the change official in 1997, replacing the original Cyclone Stadium name.
Growth Over the Decades
Jack Trice Stadium has been expanded and upgraded repeatedly since 1975, including a switch from AstroTurf to natural grass in 1996, a new press box in 1997, and a $30 million renovation completed in 2009 that added two dozen suites. The most recent major change came in 2015, when a south end-zone enclosure with hillside seating pushed capacity to about 61,500, making it the third-largest stadium in the Big 12 Conference.
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Jack Trice Stadium FAQs
Who is Jack Trice Stadium named after?
It’s named for Jack Trice, Iowa State’s first African American athlete, who died in 1923 from injuries sustained in a football game against Minnesota. The stadium was renamed in his honor in 1997.
What is the capacity of Jack Trice Stadium?
The stadium holds about 61,500 fans following a 2015 expansion that enclosed the south end zone with additional seating.
When did Jack Trice Stadium open?
It opened on September 20, 1975 under the original name Cyclone Stadium, with Iowa State beating Air Force 17-12 in the first game.
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Photo: Unknown / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.