Lane Stadium, officially Lane Stadium/Worsham Field, is the home of Virginia Tech Hokies football in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Hokies played their first varsity game there on October 2, 1965, a 9-7 win over William & Mary, and the stadium was formally dedicated on October 23, 1965, at the homecoming game against Virginia, a 22-14 win. Today it seats 65,632 fans.
The stadium is named for Edward H. Lane, a Virginia Tech (VPI) graduate and board member. The playing surface, Worsham Field, was dedicated on September 5, 1992, and honors longtime supporters Wes and Janet Worsham.
Stats at a Glance
- Team: Virginia Tech Hokies football (NCAA)
- Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
- Opened: 1965 (first game October 2; dedicated October 23, 1965)
- Capacity: 65,632
- Original cost: About $3.5 million
- Playing surface: Worsham Field (natural grass)
- Elevation: About 2,057 feet above sea level
- Famous for: The Enter Sandman team entrance
Game Day and the Enter Sandman Entrance
Lane Stadium is best known for one moment. Before kickoff, Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” plays as the Virginia Tech team runs onto the field, and the crowd jumps in unison. The tradition began in 2000 and is the one fans and national media most often associate with the stadium.
Players also touch a block of Hokie Stone, the local limestone used across the Virginia Tech campus, on their way out. Hokie Stone was added to the walls of each end zone in 2005.
History and Growth
The stadium cost about $3.5 million to build. It seated 35,050 when fully completed in 1968 and has been expanded several times since, including major work from 1998 to 2002 and again from 2004 to 2006. The 2006 west-side expansion was the largest, at about $52.5 million.
Virginia Tech also had a long streak of consecutive home sellouts that began in November 1998 and ran into 2013. At about 2,057 feet above sea level, the Blue Ridge setting is one of the highest for an eastern FBS stadium.
Explore more: More stadiums to visit.
Lane Stadium FAQs
How many people does Lane Stadium hold?
Lane Stadium’s listed capacity is 65,632, according to Virginia Tech athletics.
When was Lane Stadium dedicated?
Virginia Tech’s first varsity game there was October 2, 1965, a 9-7 win over William & Mary. The stadium was officially dedicated on October 23, 1965, at the homecoming game against Virginia.
Why is it called Lane Stadium/Worsham Field?
The stadium is named for Edward H. Lane, a Virginia Tech graduate and board member. Worsham Field honors donors Wes and Janet Worsham and was dedicated on September 5, 1992.
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Photo: Jmcgough21 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.