Stanford Stadium sits on the Stanford University campus in Stanford, California, and has served as the home of Stanford Cardinal football since it opened on November 19, 1921, with a Big Game matchup against rival California. The original horseshoe-shaped stadium was a massive concrete bowl that grew to hold close to 89,000 fans and hosted some of college and professional football’s biggest moments, including Super Bowl XIX in January 1985, when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Miami Dolphins.
In an ambitious offseason project, the university demolished the aging stadium after the 2005 season and rebuilt it from the ground up in time for the 2006 opener, trading the old running track and sprawling upper deck for a tighter, more intimate 50,424-seat bowl. Today the venue also hosts tickets, parking, and gameday logistics that are very different from the old stadium’s — here’s what to know if you’re planning a visit.
Quick Answer
Stanford Stadium seats 50,424 fans on the Stanford University campus in Stanford, California, and is the home of Stanford Cardinal football. Tickets and parking passes are sold through Stanford Athletics’ official ticket office, and the venue enforces a clear-bag policy with metal-detector screening at every gate.
From an 89,000-Seat Bowl to a Modern Rebuild
The original Stanford Stadium was an enormous horseshoe of concrete, built in just four months for the 1921 season and later expanded to hold close to 89,000 spectators (and, briefly, as many as 90,000 for marquee events). Over the decades it hosted the Stanford-Cal Big Game, Super Bowl XIX, and soccer during both the 1994 and 1999 FIFA World Cups, along with a 1962 USA-USSR track meet that drew a combined crowd of more than 150,000 over two days.
By the early 2000s the stadium’s age and oversized capacity no longer matched the program’s needs, so Stanford tore the entire structure down after the 2005 season and rebuilt it in under a year. The new stadium removed the old track, brought seating much closer to the field, and reopened for the 2006 season at a listed capacity of 50,424, where it stands today.
Tickets: How to Buy Them
Stanford Athletics sells single-game tickets, multi-game flex plans, premium seating (including Director’s Level and Field Box options), and group tickets directly through its official ticketing platform, tickets.gostanford.com, or by phone at 1-800-STANFORD. Pricing varies by opponent and demand, with marquee matchups like the Big Game against Cal typically commanding the highest prices; resale marketplaces such as Ticketmaster, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats also list seats for sold-out or high-demand games.
The Athletics Ticket Office is located at Gate 2 on the stadium’s south side for in-person purchases or will-call pickup. Children under two years old are admitted free as long as they sit on a parent’s lap rather than occupying a separate seat.
Parking at Stanford Stadium
Stadium parking is spread across several campus lots, including the General Lots (Lots 7 and 8), IM South (Lot 4), and the Cardinal Lots reserved for season ticket members. On football gamedays, most lots open five hours before kickoff, with the exception of Lot 2/El Camino Grove, which opens earlier and also offers an overnight parking option for fans arriving ahead of a Saturday game. Parking passes are sold in advance through the official ticket site rather than at the gate for most lots, so buying ahead is the safer bet for popular matchups.
Many fans skip parking altogether by taking Caltrain to a nearby station and connecting via the free Marguerite shuttle, which runs directly to campus and the stadium area on gamedays.
Bag Policy and Gameday Essentials
Stanford Athletics enforces a clear-bag policy at Stanford Stadium. Approved bags include clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″; one-gallon clear resealable plastic storage bags; and small clutch bags or wallets up to roughly 4.5″ x 6.5″ with or without a strap. Bags that don’t meet these size and material rules aren’t allowed past the gates.
Fans carrying non-compliant bags can drop them at complimentary bag check stations near Cagan Stadium and Cobb Track, which typically open two hours before an event and close about an hour after it ends. All guests pass through metal detectors at entry and should be ready to remove phones, keys, and other metal objects. Gates generally open about 1.5 hours before kickoff, giving fans time to clear security and find their seats.
Getting to the Stadium Without a Car
Stanford Stadium is well served by public transit. Caltrain stops near campus, and the free Marguerite shuttle connects nearby stations, campus, and the stadium on event days. VTA, SamTrans, and BART also serve the broader Palo Alto area with connections to campus transit. Cyclists can find dedicated bike parking near the stadium coordinated through the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, a popular option given how congested game-day traffic around campus can get.
Seating Chart and Accessible Seating
The rebuilt bowl brings seating much closer to the field than the old stadium’s track-ringed layout, and Stanford Athletics publishes an interactive 3D seating map online for fans checking sightlines before buying. High-definition video boards at both ends of the stadium provide closed captioning of public address announcements, and assistive listening devices are available at Guest Services.
Accessible (ADA) seating is available in Row Y of all 100-level sections and Row V of 200-level sections in seats 201-207, 219-227, and 239-240, along with ADA platforms in Sections B, F, and P on the stadium floor. Fans who need to switch an existing ticket to an ADA seat should contact Ticketmaster directly to make the change.
A Multi-Purpose Bay Area Venue
Beyond Cardinal football, the rebuilt stadium has periodically hosted the San Jose Earthquakes’ California Clasico rivalry match against the LA Galaxy, drawing crowds far larger than the Earthquakes’ regular MLS stadium can hold. It also served as the temporary home field for Stanford softball during the 2025 season while the team’s usual venue, Boyd and Jill Smith Family Stadium, underwent a major renovation. Its compact, sightline-friendly bowl has also made it a flexible venue for concerts and other large campus events.
Stanford Stadium FAQs
How many people does Stanford Stadium hold?
The current stadium’s listed capacity is 50,424, down from the original stadium’s roughly 89,000 seats before the 2006 rebuild.
When did Stanford Stadium open?
The original stadium opened on November 19, 1921. It was demolished after the 2005 season and rebuilt, reopening on September 16, 2006.
Did Stanford Stadium host a Super Bowl?
Yes, it hosted Super Bowl XIX in January 1985, when the San Francisco 49ers beat the Miami Dolphins 38-16.
Where do you buy Stanford Stadium tickets?
Tickets are sold through Stanford Athletics’ official site, tickets.gostanford.com, by phone at 1-800-STANFORD, or in person at the Athletics Ticket Office at Gate 2. Resale sites like Ticketmaster, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats also list seats for high-demand games.
Where can you park at Stanford Stadium?
Fans can park in the General Lots (7 and 8), IM South (Lot 4), or Cardinal Lots for season ticket holders, with Lot 2/El Camino Grove offering an overnight option. Passes are purchased in advance through tickets.gostanford.com, and most lots open about five hours before kickoff.
What is Stanford Stadium’s bag policy?
Only clear plastic/vinyl/PVC bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″, one-gallon clear resealable bags, and small clutch bags up to about 4.5″ x 6.5″ are allowed inside. Non-compliant bags can be checked for free near Cagan Stadium and Cobb Track.
How do you get to Stanford Stadium without driving?
Caltrain plus the free Marguerite shuttle is the most popular option, with additional connections available via BART, SamTrans, and VTA.
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