SECU Stadium is the home field of Maryland Terrapins football and men’s lacrosse on the University of Maryland campus in College Park. It opened on September 30, 1950 as Byrd Stadium, named for former coach and university president Harry “Curley” Byrd, and has grown from an original capacity of about 34,680 to a modern Big Ten venue.
The stadium has carried several names over the decades, including Chevy Chase Bank Field and Capital One Field, before the university’s board voted in 2015 to drop the Byrd name over his segregationist record while president. Since October 2022, it has been known as SECU Stadium under a 10-year naming-rights partnership with the State Employees Credit Union.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Maryland Terrapins football and men’s lacrosse
- Location: College Park, Maryland
- Opened: September 30, 1950
- Capacity: About 46,185 (reduced from 51,802 after a 2025 seating renovation)
- Surface: FieldTurf (“CoolPlay”), installed 2012
- Notable fact: Set an attendance record of 58,973 on November 1, 1975 for a game against Penn State
The Ride Experience
Fans entering SECU Stadium find a compact, sunken-bowl layout that keeps most seats close to the field, a design that has stayed largely intact through decades of expansion. The stadium has hosted the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship ten times, reflecting Maryland’s status as a lacrosse power alongside its football program.
Major upgrades over the years included the 1991 addition of Tyser Tower for suites and press facilities, a 1995 upper-deck expansion, and a $50.8 million project completed in 2009 that added premium seating and modernized concourses. A large videoboard installed in 2021 updated the in-game presentation ahead of the SECU naming deal.
A Name Shaped by History
The stadium’s naming history mirrors debates on college campuses nationwide about honoring historical figures. After students and faculty raised concerns about Curley Byrd’s opposition to integration during his 1936-1954 presidency, the university’s board voted 12-5 in 2015 to strip his name, temporarily calling the venue Maryland Stadium.
In 2022, Maryland Athletics struck a 10-year, $11 million agreement with SECU, Maryland’s largest state-chartered credit union, and the stadium debuted its current name on October 1, 2022. The Baltimore Stars of the USFL also called the stadium home for the 1985 season.
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SECU Stadium FAQs
How many people does SECU Stadium hold?
SECU Stadium’s capacity is about 46,185 as of 2025, down from 51,802 after lower-level seats were widened.
Why is SECU Stadium no longer called Byrd Stadium?
The University of Maryland’s board voted in 2015 to remove the Byrd Stadium name because former president Curley Byrd opposed integration during his tenure.
When did SECU Stadium open?
The stadium opened on September 30, 1950, originally as Byrd Stadium.
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Photo: Bluesnote / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.