Kroger Field holds roughly 61,000 fans, making it the largest stadium in Kentucky and the home of Kentucky Wildcats football on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington. 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: how that 61,000 figure compares to the stadium’s history, 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.
Kroger Field Capacity: The Full History
Capacity has shifted several times since the stadium opened on September 15, 1973 as 58,000-seat Commonwealth Stadium. A late-1990s expansion that enclosed both end zones and added 40 suites pushed capacity to roughly 67,530 by 1999 and then 67,606 from 2003 through 2008, with the number holding near 67,900 into the early 2010s.
The 2015 renovation is what brought the stadium down to today’s approximately 61,000 — architects widened concourses, upgraded the press box, and converted a chunk of bleacher seating into club seats, loge boxes, and suites, trading some raw capacity for premium amenities. The highest attendance ever recorded at the stadium remains 71,024, set during a 2007 game against Florida, back when the building held thousands more seats than it does now.
At roughly 61,000 seats, Kroger Field edges out Louisville’s Cardinal Stadium (about 60,800) as the largest football stadium in the state, though the two are close enough that either could be cited as ‘Kentucky’s biggest stadium’ depending on the exact season’s configuration.
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 south 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 cost more and are card-only.
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. For current gameday parking maps, permit prices, and lot assignments, check the official UK Athletics Kroger Field page before you head out.
Best Seats: Sun, Shade, and Sightlines
Because the stadium runs roughly east-west, the north side sits in full sun 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 south 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 Gate 1 with a valid UK student ID and mobile ticket and sit in general-admission sections 34-40.
If you’re not driving, Lextran runs a gameday shuttle service into campus for a small fare, 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 throughout the stadium, with ADA parking offered in the single-game reserved lots and an accessible shuttle running from designated lots for fans who need it.
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 seating FAQs
How many people can Kroger Field hold?
Kroger Field holds approximately 61,000 fans. That capacity reflects the 2015 renovation, which widened concourses and converted some bleacher seating into club seats, loge boxes, and suites.
How many fans does the Kentucky football stadium hold?
Kentucky’s football stadium, Kroger Field in Lexington, holds roughly 61,000 fans, making it the largest stadium in the state of Kentucky.
What is the seating capacity of Kroger Field?
The current seating capacity of Kroger Field is approximately 61,000, covering general-admission bleachers, sideline chairback seats, and the premium club, loge, and suite levels on the south side.
Was Kroger Field ever bigger than it is now?
Yes. The stadium’s capacity peaked at around 67,900 seats in the 2000s and early 2010s before the 2015 renovation reduced it to today’s roughly 61,000 in exchange for wider concourses and more premium seating.
Is Kroger Field the largest stadium in Kentucky?
Yes, at roughly 61,000 seats Kroger Field is the largest football stadium in Kentucky, narrowly ahead of the University of Louisville’s Cardinal Stadium at about 60,800 seats.
What’s the record attendance at Kroger Field?
The highest recorded attendance at the stadium is 71,024, set during a 2007 game against Florida, when the stadium’s capacity was still around 67,900 seats before the 2015 renovation.
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