University Stadium sits on the south campus of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where it has served as the home of New Mexico Lobos football since it first opened its gates in September 1960. Built for just over $4 million, the stadium replaced the much smaller Zimmerman Field and debuted with a lopsided 77-6 win over the National University of Mexico Pumas.
Over six decades the stadium has grown into a 37,440-seat venue that also hosts the annual New Mexico Bowl. It briefly carried the sponsored name Dreamstyle Stadium from 2017 to 2020 before reverting to its original University Stadium title, and its playing surface has been known as Turner & Margaret Branch Field since 2012.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): New Mexico Lobos football (Mountain West Conference)
- Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Opened: September 1960
- Capacity: 37,440
- Playing Surface: FieldTurf (Turner & Margaret Branch Field)
- Notable Fact: Elevation of 5,100 feet makes it one of the highest-altitude stadiums in FBS football
Game Day in Albuquerque
On fall Saturdays, University Stadium fills with Lobos fans for Mountain West Conference matchups, and the venue has also been a postseason fixture, hosting the New Mexico Bowl every year since the game’s debut in 2006. The stadium’s all-time attendance record of 44,760 came against New Mexico State in 2005, back when temporary bleachers pushed capacity above 40,000.
The synthetic playing surface, installed in 2012 after 52 seasons of natural grass, got a fresh design update in 2021. A north end zone video board added in 2013 was, at the time, the largest in the Mountain West Conference.
Built for High-Altitude Football
At 5,100 feet above sea level, University Stadium is one of the highest-elevation venues in major college football, trailing only fellow Mountain West members Wyoming and Air Force among FBS programs, along with Colorado. Visiting teams often cite the thinner air as a factor in a sport already defined by physical endurance.
The stadium’s name has shifted with the times but its identity has stayed rooted in the university: after a stint as the sponsored Dreamstyle Stadium, it returned to being called University Stadium in September 2020, restoring the name it carried for its first 57 years.
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University Stadium FAQs
When did University Stadium open?
University Stadium opened in September 1960 on the University of New Mexico’s south campus, replacing the smaller Zimmerman Field.
What is the capacity of University Stadium?
UNM lists the stadium’s capacity at 37,440 for New Mexico Lobos football games, though temporary bleachers once pushed attendance above 44,000 for a 2005 game.
Why was the stadium called Dreamstyle Stadium?
From 2017 to 2020, the venue carried the name Dreamstyle Stadium under a 10-year, $10 million naming-rights deal with Dreamstyle Remodeling before reverting to University Stadium.
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Photo: Quintin Soloviev / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.