Sun Bowl Stadium sits on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso, carved into a natural desert bowl at the base of the Franklin Mountains. Opened on September 21, 1963, it has served as the home field for UTEP Miners football ever since, with the inaugural game seeing Texas Western defeat North Texas State behind a 54-yard touchdown run by Larry Durham.
The stadium also lends its name to the Sun Bowl, one of the oldest college football bowl games in the country, which has been played at the site since the venue opened. Sitting at roughly 3,910 feet above sea level, the stadium offers views of the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert landscape along with its gameday action.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): UTEP Miners (NCAA football), Sun Bowl bowl game
- Location: El Paso, Texas
- Opened: September 21, 1963
- Capacity: about 46,000 (nominally listed at 51,500)
- Elevation: about 3,910 feet above sea level
- Notable fact: Carved into a natural desert bowl at the base of the Franklin Mountains
The Game-Day Experience
Fans at Sun Bowl Stadium take in UTEP football against a desert backdrop, with the Franklin Mountains rising beyond the stands. The venue has evolved from natural grass to AstroTurf to its current FieldTurf surface over the decades, while a 2018-2021 renovation project added roughly $15 million in luxury boxes and premium seating to modernize the fan experience without losing the stadium’s historic character.
A Bowl Game Tradition
Beyond hosting UTEP’s home schedule, the stadium gives its name to the Sun Bowl, an annual postseason game that has been played there since the venue opened in 1963, making it one of the longest-running bowl sites in college football. That dual identity, as both a campus stadium and a postseason bowl destination, has made it a fixture of El Paso’s sports calendar for more than six decades.
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Sun Bowl Stadium FAQs
When did Sun Bowl Stadium open?
It opened on September 21, 1963, with Texas Western defeating North Texas State in the first game played there.
What is the capacity of Sun Bowl Stadium?
The stadium’s current operating capacity is about 46,000, though it carries a nominal listed capacity of 51,500.
Who plays home games at Sun Bowl Stadium?
The UTEP Miners football team plays its home games there, and the stadium also hosts the annual Sun Bowl bowl game.
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Photo: Quintin Soloviev / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.