Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium has anchored Middle Tennessee State University athletics in Murfreesboro, Tennessee since it opened on October 14, 1933, when the Blue Raiders played Jacksonville State to a scoreless tie. Built as Horace Jones Field by the Civil Works Administration during the Depression era, the stadium grew alongside the school itself, expanding from a modest track-and-grandstand layout into a modern college football venue.
The stadium carries the name of John Cullom “Red” Floyd, a former MTSU player and head coach who led the Blue Raiders to a 30-8-1 record in the late 1930s, including a perfect 8-0 season in 1935. After a $25 million renovation in 1997-1998 reshaped the facility into an octagonal bowl ahead of MTSU’s move to Division I-A football, the venue now seats around 27,300 fans and remains the centerpiece of Blue Raiders game days.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders (NCAA football)
- Location: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- Opened: October 14, 1933
- Capacity: About 27,300
- Attendance record: 30,502 (vs. Georgia Tech, Sept. 10, 2011)
- Named for: Johnny “Red” Floyd, MTSU player, coach, and athletic director
- Notable upgrade: Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center, opened July 2025
From Depression-Era Field to Modern Bowl
The stadium’s earliest incarnation, Horace Jones Field, was a Civil Works Administration project built on the campus of what was then Middle Tennessee State Teachers College. It expanded in stages over the decades, with major additions in 1940, 1960, and 1968, before the 1997-1998 renovation gave it the enclosed, octagonal-bowl look fans see today. That project also added a five-story tower with luxury suites and a press level, plus dozens of executive suites along the sidelines.
Honoring a Blue Raiders Legend
The stadium’s dual naming reflects two figures central to MTSU athletics: Horace Jones, an early administrator, and Johnny “Red” Floyd, whose coaching tenure helped establish the football program’s identity in the 1930s. The school formally added Floyd’s name in 1968, and the venue has continued to evolve since, most recently with the $66 million Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center at its north end, opened in July 2025, keeping the historic site current for Conference USA competition.
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Bleachers for three hours, but with back support. Folds flat and clips to the bench.
For upper-deck seats. Watch line play at the stadium, or the far side of the park from the top of a lift hill.
Sherpa-lined and windproof, with a waterproof back for wet bleachers. Folds into its own pouch.
Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium FAQs
Who plays at Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium?
The Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders football team plays its home games there as part of Conference USA.
How many people can the stadium hold?
The stadium seats around 27,300 fans, down from a higher capacity before recent renovations reconfigured seating.
Who is the stadium named after?
It’s named for Johnny “Red” Floyd, a former MTSU player and head football coach whose teams went 30-8-1 in the late 1930s.
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Photo: Raider ATO at English Wikipedia / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.