Nippert Stadium sits on the University of Cincinnati campus on a playing field, known as Carson Field, that has hosted football continuously since 1901, making it one of the oldest football sites in the country still in use. The current brick-and-concrete stadium was dedicated in 1924 and named for James Gamble Nippert, a UC player who died from an infected injury suffered in the final game of the 1923 season.
Over a century of renovations transformed Nippert from a 12,000-seat bowl into a modern facility that now holds about 38,088 fans. It has served as home to the Cincinnati Bearcats for more than a century, briefly hosted the AFL’s Cincinnati Bengals in 1968 and 1969, and was home to FC Cincinnati’s USL and inaugural MLS seasons from 2016 to 2020 before the club moved to TQL Stadium.
- Cincinnati Bengals played here 1968–1969. See every Bengals stadium →
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Cincinnati Bearcats (football); formerly FC Cincinnati (2016-2020) and Cincinnati Bengals (1968-1969)
- Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
- Opened: 1924 (current structure); site in continuous use since 1901
- Capacity: About 38,088 (as of 2024)
- Record attendance: 40,124, set October 24, 2015
- Notable fact: One of the oldest college football sites in the U.S. still used on its original location
A Field with Over a Century of History
Cincinnati first played on this ground, originally called Varsity Field, in 1901, decades before the current stadium existed. Construction of a permanent concrete-and-brick stadium began in 1915, and the finished venue was dedicated in 1924 and renamed for James Gamble Nippert. The playing surface itself is still known as Carson Field, honoring Arch Carson, the UC physical director who oversaw its original construction.
That continuous history on one site makes Nippert one of the handful of college football venues in the country that can trace its home field back to the earliest decades of the sport, predating most of the stadiums still standing today.
Growing with the Program
Nippert’s capacity grew in stages as Cincinnati’s program expanded: from 12,000 at its 1924 dedication, to 24,000 after a 1936 WPA-funded expansion, to 28,000 following 1954 renovations, and to 35,000 after work completed in 1992. A 2014-2015 project pushed capacity above 40,000 and modernized premium seating, while a 2017 field-widening project to accommodate FC Cincinnati’s soccer tenancy trimmed seating to its current total of about 38,088.
Explore more: Explore more iconic stadiums.
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.
Nippert Stadium FAQs
How old is Nippert Stadium?
The current stadium was dedicated in 1924, but the site itself has hosted Cincinnati football continuously since 1901, making it one of the oldest football grounds in the country still in use.
Who is Nippert Stadium named after?
It is named for James Gamble Nippert, a University of Cincinnati player who died in 1923 from blood poisoning after an injury in his final game. His grandfather, James N. Gamble of Procter & Gamble, funded the stadium’s completion.
What is Nippert Stadium’s capacity?
Nippert Stadium currently seats about 38,088, after capacity was reduced slightly when the playing field was widened in 2017 to meet soccer regulation standards.
Get More from Nippert Stadium
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Nippert Stadium, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Ben Levin / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.