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 and is the home of Stanford Cardinal football. The clear bag policy allows clear bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″ and clutches up to 4.5″ x 6.5″. Football lots open five hours before kickoff and require a parking pass, and gates open 1.5 hours before kickoff on the 2026 Georgia Tech gameday page.
Stanford Stadium Gameday Guide (2026 Season)
- Bag policy: Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″, or a small clutch or purse up to 4.5″ x 6.5″; one-gallon clear resealable bags are also listed in the fan policies.
- Gates open: 1.5 hours before kickoff on the 2026 Georgia Tech gameday page (Gates 2, 4, 5, 10 and 12); check the gameday page for each game.
- Parking: Every football lot requires a valid parking pass. General Lots #7 and #8 and IM South Lot #4 also sell entry on-site, with no cash accepted.
- Tailgating: Allowed in any designated football parking lot around the stadium; in the Sunken Diamond Lot (Lot #1), fans are asked not to take up additional parking spaces.
- Payments: Concessions are cashless (Cash App is accepted); day-of parking payments do not accept cash.
- Re-entry: Allowed through all gates until the end of the 3rd quarter with a valid ticket scan and security screening.
Policies checked against the official team and stadium pages in September 2026. Rules can change game to game, so confirm on the official football gameday guide and the official fan and clear bag policies before you go.
Stanford Stadium Bag Policy (2026)
Stanford Athletics uses a clear bag policy. Approved bags are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″, and small clutch bags or purses no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″. The Stanford Athletics fan policies page (clear bag policy effective September 1, 2023) also lists one-gallon clear Ziploc-style bags.
Diaper bags and medically necessary items may be brought in non-clear bags, but both get additional screening, and an infant must be present when a diaper bag is screened. The prohibited items list includes alcohol, weapons, animals other than service animals, fireworks, artificial noisemakers, banners and signs, balloons, open umbrellas (closed umbrellas are not on the list), strollers and portable chairs (unless ADA compliant), poles and selfie sticks, video cameras, cameras with lenses longer than six inches, and tobacco products. The gameday page has the full list.
If your bag does not qualify, you can return it to your vehicle, move your items into an approved clear bag, or use bag check. The 2026 gameday page places bag drop at Sunken Diamond and the north end near Gate 10. It opens 30 minutes before gates and closes 1 hour after the game.
Gates and Entry
For the 2026 Georgia Tech game, the gameday page lists Gates 2, 4, 5, 10 and 12 opening 1.5 hours before kickoff, with expanded entry plazas at Gates 5, 10 and 12. Times can differ by game, so confirm on the official gameday page.
All mobile tickets should be added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet before you arrive. Stanford’s 2026 stadium update says OpenGate security screening at every entry gate lets fans walk through at normal speed without removing keys, phones and wallets. The fan policies page still asks fans to remove metal objects, so plan to have them easy to reach.
Re-entry is permitted through all gates until the end of the 3rd quarter, with a valid ticket scan and another security screening. Water bottles must be empty on entry, hard plastic and reusable, 32 oz or less.
Parking at Stanford Stadium
Every vehicle entering a football lot needs a valid parking pass for that lot. General Lots #7 and #8 and IM South Lot #4 also let you pay for entry on-site, and cash is not accepted for day-of transactions. The official page does not list parking prices, so check it for current rates.
Lots open five hours before kickoff. Lot #2/El Camino Grove opens at 6:00 AM PT on game day, and overnight pass holders can enter at 3:00 PM PT on the Thursday before a Saturday home game. The official page mentions an ADA shuttle service with motorized carts but does not list ADA lots or RV parking, so ask the ticket office or check the gameday page for those.
Tailgating Rules
The football gameday page says patrons may park and tailgate in any of the designated football parking lots around Stanford Stadium. In the Sunken Diamond Lot (Lot #1), fans are asked not to take up additional parking spaces while tailgating. The official football pages do not list grill, tent or alcohol rules for lots, so check the gameday page before you pack.
Stanford also partners with RevelXP for reserved tailgate packages that include tents, tables, chairs, coolers with ice, TV packages, coordination of food and non-alcoholic beverages, and bellhop service. Stanford’s own pages name different locations for these packages (Maloney Field and Avery Plaza on the gameday page, Ueland Field in the 2026 stadium update), so confirm the location with RevelXP before booking.
Fan Fest is free and sits at the Hammer Throw Area of Cobb Track and Angell Field. It opens three hours before kickoff and closes 30 minutes before, with food vendors, beer, games and live entertainment. The vendors are 100% cashless.
Getting to Stanford Stadium
The official gameday page says the Palo Alto Caltrain Station is a short walk to the stadium and also lists BART, VTA and SamTrans as regional options. The free Marguerite shuttle runs a Stanford campus loop.
Waymo operates a designated drop-off and pick-up location at the Oval, and rides are ordered through the Waymo app. For fans who need assistance, the ADA shuttle service begins 30 minutes before gates open, with pickup at select locations near the stadium and drop-off primarily at Gate 4.
Food and Drink
The 2026 gameday page lists Chick-fil-A, Silva Sausage, Blue Line Pizza and Rita’s Italian Ice among the concessions. There are grab-and-go stands behind Sections 103 and 213 and a Just Walk Out beverage market behind Section 118. All concession locations are cashless, and Cash App is accepted throughout the stadium.
Beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails are sold, with wristbands issued after age verification. Alcohol sales end at the end of the 3rd quarter.
Stanford Stadium Gameday FAQ
What is the bag policy at Stanford Stadium? Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″ are allowed, along with small clutch bags or purses up to 4.5″ x 6.5″. The fan policies page also lists one-gallon clear resealable bags. Diaper bags and medically necessary items may be non-clear but get extra screening. Bag drop is at Sunken Diamond and the north end near Gate 10.
When do gates open at Stanford Stadium? For the 2026 Georgia Tech game, Gates 2, 4, 5, 10 and 12 open 1.5 hours before kickoff. Check the official gameday page for each game.
Where can I park for a game at Stanford Stadium? Any designated football lot works with a valid parking pass for that lot. General Lots #7 and #8 and IM South Lot #4 also sell entry on-site, with no cash accepted. Lots open five hours before kickoff, and Lot #2/El Camino Grove opens at 6:00 AM PT on game day.
Can you tailgate at Stanford Stadium? Yes. Patrons may park and tailgate in any of the designated football parking lots around the stadium. In the Sunken Diamond Lot (Lot #1), fans are asked not to take up additional parking spaces. Reserved tailgate packages are available through RevelXP, and Fan Fest is a free alternative that opens three hours before kickoff.
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.
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.
12 x 10.5 x 6 in. — built to the common stadium clear-bag size. Check your venue's rules.
USB-charged warmers for cold night games — no disposable packets.
Keeps chili hot from the tailgate to the fourth quarter.
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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