LaVell Edwards Stadium sits on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, at an elevation of about 4,649 feet, making it one of the highest-elevation stadiums in major college football. It has served as the home field for BYU Cougars football since it opened in 1964, originally under the name Cougar Stadium.
The stadium was renamed in 2000 to honor legendary head coach LaVell Edwards, who led the Cougars for 29 seasons and guided the program to its 1984 national championship. Today it holds roughly 62,073 fans and remains one of the largest venues in the Big 12 Conference, having undergone several rounds of renovation since its original construction.
Stats at a Glance
- Team: BYU Cougars (NCAA Division I FBS, Big 12 Conference)
- Location: Provo, Utah
- Opened: 1964
- Capacity: about 62,073
- Surface: Natural grass
- Elevation: about 4,649 feet above sea level
- Notable fact: Record attendance of 66,247 set in a 1993 game vs. Notre Dame
From Cougar Stadium to LaVell Edwards Stadium
The venue opened in 1964 as Cougar Stadium with an original capacity of just over 28,800, later expanded to around 35,000 with additional stands, and then temporarily raised to about 45,000 with bleachers placed in the end zones. A major 1982 expansion added permanent concrete stands in the north and south end zones in place of those temporary bleachers, pushing capacity above 65,000. In 2000, BYU renamed the stadium to honor head coach LaVell Edwards after his retirement, recognizing his three decades of leadership and the program’s 1984 national title season.
Subsequent renovations, including luxury seating added in 2003 and accessibility upgrades in 2010, gradually adjusted the seating count downward to its current figure of about 62,073. A 2024 round of upgrades replaced the natural grass playing surface, added new LED lighting for HD and 4K broadcasts, and refreshed suite and club-level seating areas.
A High-Altitude College Football Atmosphere
Beyond football, the stadium has a layered history: it hosted NCAA track and field championships in 1967 and 1975 before the surrounding track was removed, and for years part of North America’s largest collection of Jurassic-era dinosaur fossils was stored in vaults beneath the east bleachers until 2005. Its high elevation and mountain backdrop give it a distinct home-field character among Big 12 venues, and it remains one of the largest and most recognizable stadiums in the state of Utah.
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LaVell Edwards Stadium FAQs
How many people does LaVell Edwards Stadium hold?
The stadium’s current capacity is about 62,073, following renovations completed in 2024.
Why was it renamed LaVell Edwards Stadium?
It was renamed in 2000 to honor longtime BYU head coach LaVell Edwards, who led the Cougars for 29 seasons and coached the team to its 1984 national championship.
When did the stadium open?
It opened in 1964, originally under the name Cougar Stadium, with an initial capacity of just over 28,800.
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Photo: Dalee Despain / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.