Kroger Field is the 61,000-seat home of Kentucky Wildcats football on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington, and it’s the largest stadium in the state. It opened in 1973 as Commonwealth Stadium, went through a major renovation in 2015 that traded some bleacher capacity for club seats and suites, and took its current name in a 2017 naming-rights deal with Kroger.
Beyond the exact seat count, this guide covers everything you need for an actual gameday visit: where to park and what it costs, what you can bring in under the clear-bag policy, which side of the stadium has shade, how to get there without a car, and what to expect at the gates.
Quick Answer: How Many People Does Kroger Field Hold?
Kroger Field holds approximately 61,000 fans, making it the largest stadium in Kentucky and the home of Kentucky Wildcats football at 1540 University Drive in Lexington. That figure covers general-admission bleacher sections, sideline chairback seats, and the loge, club, and suite levels added in the 2015 renovation.
Capacity has moved around over the stadium’s history: a 1999 expansion pushed the old Commonwealth Stadium to 67,606 seats, and the 2015 renovation brought the number down to today’s roughly 61,000 by widening concourses and converting some bleachers into premium seating.
Kroger Field Seating Chart and Layout
The stadium is laid out with the premium south side — loge boxes, club seats, and suites added in 2015 — facing the shaded, more expensive sideline, while the north side offers similar sightlines in full sun at a lower price point. The lower bowl at the east end is general-admission seating, and it’s also where the student section sits, roughly sections 34-40, making that end of the stadium the loudest and most student-heavy on gamedays.
If you want a good-value seat with decent shade, look at the lower-level north side; for the full premium experience, the south side club and suite levels are the way to go. For an exact row-by-row layout before you buy, an interactive 3D seating chart on the ticketing site is the easiest way to preview the view from any section.
Bag Policy and What You Can Bring
Kroger Field follows the SEC’s standard clear-bag policy. Each fan is allowed one large clear bag — either a one-gallon clear Ziploc-style bag or a clear bag no larger than roughly 12″ x 6″ x 12″ — plus one small non-clear clutch or wallet no bigger than about 4.5″ x 6.5″. Backpacks and drawstring bags are not allowed inside the gates, even if they’re made of clear material, so leave those in the car.
Other items that get stopped at the gate include outside food and drinks, coolers, glass or aluminum containers, weapons, laser pointers, artificial noisemakers, drones, and vaping devices. Concessions and the team store are cashless, so plan to pay by card or phone once inside.
Parking and Tailgating
Campus lots open to fans at 8 a.m. on gameday, and spots near the stadium fill up well before kickoff, so arriving early matters more than almost anything else for a smooth visit. Fans without a season parking permit have a couple of main options: a handful of parking structures on campus offer first-come, first-served paid parking at standard garage rates, while reserved single-game lots closer to the stadium (near the William T. Young Library) typically run around $50 per vehicle and are card-only — no cash.
All parking, like ticketing, is managed through mobile permits scanned at the lot entrance, so pull that permit up on your phone before you leave the house. Tailgaters can set up pop-up tents in designated lots, though anything requiring stakes deeper than a few inches needs prior approval from the athletics department, and RV parking generally opens the Friday night before a Saturday game and must clear out by Sunday at noon.
Best Seats: Sun, Shade, and Sightlines
Because the stadium runs roughly north-south, the sun sits over the north side for most of a Saturday afternoon game, which is why the shaded south-side club and suite levels carry a price premium. If you’re buying general seating and want to avoid baking in direct sun, prioritize the north side’s lower level for the best combination of shade and value.
For noise and atmosphere, the east-end lower bowl — the student general-admission section — is the rowdiest part of the building. For families or anyone who wants a calmer sideline view with a clean sightline to the videoboards, the west-end and sideline sections away from the student section are the better call.
Gates, Getting There, and Entry Tips
Kroger Field sits at 1540 University Drive on UK’s campus in Lexington. Most public gates typically open about 90 minutes before kickoff, with a few main gates and the suite entrances opening a bit earlier for premium ticket holders. Students enter through a dedicated gate with a valid UK student ID and get a wristband for lower-level access.
If you’re not driving, Lextran runs a gameday shuttle service into campus for a small fare (exact change needed), typically starting a few hours before kickoff and running through the game. There’s also an accessible shuttle and golf-cart service from the designated ADA parking areas for fans who need it. For live gate assignments, road closures, and shuttle stops on a specific gameday — which shift slightly from season to season — check the official UK Athletics gameday information page before you head out.
Concessions, Alcohol, and Accessibility
Beer and seltzer are sold at concession stands inside the stadium, generally with a limit of two per valid ID per transaction, and alcohol sales cut off after a set point late in the game rather than running the full four quarters. All concessions and team-store purchases are cashless, so bring a card or mobile wallet.
Accessible seating and parking are available, with ADA parking offered in the single-game reserved lots and a nearby parking structure, plus shuttle and golf-cart pickup for fans who need it. Service animals are permitted with proper documentation. If you have specific accessibility needs, it’s worth calling the UK Athletics ticket office ahead of your visit to confirm current accommodations.
Tickets and Prices
Kentucky football has gone fully digital: tickets, parking permits, and even concessions purchases are handled through the UK Athletics app rather than paper or physical cards. Tickets load through mobile-ticketing technology that refreshes the barcode automatically, so a screenshot won’t scan at the gate — save tickets to your phone’s wallet app before you leave home in case cell service is spotty near the stadium.
Single-game tickets are priced by section and tier the way most college stadiums do it: general-admission and upper-level seats are the cheapest, sideline and lower-bowl seats cost more, and premium club or suite seating is priced separately through the athletics department. Even infants typically need a ticket to enter, though a discounted lap-child ticket is usually available. For current single-game prices, season tickets, and the official on-sale schedule, check the official Kroger Field page on UK Athletics.
From Commonwealth Stadium to Kroger Field
Commonwealth Stadium was built for about $12 million and opened on September 15, 1973, when the Wildcats beat Virginia Tech 31-26 in the first game played there. A 1999 expansion added 40 suites and pushed capacity to 67,606, and in 2011 the stadium added two large LED video boards. The playing surface carries its own name, the C.M. Newton Grounds, honoring the former Kentucky athletics director — a name assigned in 2001 that stuck even after the stadium itself was renamed.
The stadium took its current name on May 1, 2017, when the University of Kentucky and marketing partner JMI Sports announced the Kroger naming-rights deal, following the roughly $126 million renovation completed in 2015 that reshaped the stadium into the ~61,000-seat venue fans see today.
Photos
For late-season football, outdoor hockey and October park nights. Shake, pocket, and stay warm for hours.
12 x 10.5 x 6 in. — built to the common stadium clear-bag size. Check your venue's rules.
USB-charged warmers for cold night games — no disposable packets.
Kroger Field capacity and gameday guide FAQs
How many people does Kroger Field hold?
Kroger Field holds approximately 61,000 fans, making it the largest football stadium in Kentucky.
How many people can Kroger Field hold?
The stadium’s listed capacity is roughly 61,000, a figure reached after the 2015 renovation converted some bleacher seating into club, loge, and suite levels.
How many seats does Kroger Field have?
Kroger Field has about 61,000 seats across its lower bowl, upper deck, sideline club sections, loge boxes, and suites.
How many fans does Kroger Field hold?
Kroger Field accommodates around 61,000 fans on a sellout Kentucky Wildcats gameday.
How many people can fit in Kroger Field?
Kroger Field’s official seating capacity is about 61,000, which is the number used for sellout crowds and attendance records.
How many people does Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky hold?
The Lexington, Kentucky stadium — home to Kentucky Wildcats football at 1540 University Drive — holds approximately 61,000 people.
How many people does Kroger Field seat?
Kroger Field seats roughly 61,000 fans, down from a pre-2015 capacity of 67,606 before the stadium’s major renovation.
Was Kroger Field always this size?
No. It opened in 1973 at a smaller size, grew to 67,606 seats after a 1999 expansion, and was brought down to today’s roughly 61,000 during the 2015 renovation that added premium seating.
What is the best way to confirm current gate times and prices?
Gate times, parking lot assignments, and ticket prices can shift season to season, so check the official UK Athletics gameday information page before each visit.
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