Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is the on-campus home of Ole Miss Rebels football in Oxford, Mississippi, and one of the oldest, loudest venues in the Southeastern Conference. Fans know it simply as ‘The Vaught,’ and every gameday there revolves around The Grove, the shaded tailgating grounds just outside the gates.
This guide answers the questions fans actually search for — the stadium’s real name and nickname, its current seating capacity, whether the field is grass or turf, and the century-plus history behind it — on top of a full practical visit guide covering the clear-bag policy, parking passes, tailgating, gates, best seats, getting there, concessions, alcohol rules and accessibility.
Quick Answer
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium — nicknamed ‘The Vaught’ — is Ole Miss Rebels football’s on-campus stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. It seats 64,038, making it the largest stadium in the state, and the field inside it, Hollingsworth Field, has had a natural grass playing surface since 2016.
What Is Ole Miss’s Stadium Called?
The official name is Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, honoring two figures: Judge William Hemingway, the law professor and athletics committee chair for whom the venue was named when it opened in 1915, and legendary head coach Johnny Vaught, whose name was added in 1982 in recognition of the most successful era in Ole Miss football history. Locals and fans almost universally shorten it to ‘The Vaught’ in conversation, so if you hear someone say they’re headed to a game at ‘the Vaught in Oxford,’ this is the stadium they mean.
It sits on the University of Mississippi campus a short walk from the Oxford Square, and because the Rebels play all of their home games there, it’s also commonly referred to in casual shorthand as simply ‘Ole Miss Stadium.’
Ole Miss Stadium Capacity (2025-26 Season)
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium’s official seating capacity is 64,038, the figure Ole Miss Athletics has used since the stadium’s 2016 bowl-completion expansion and the number that applies for the current 2025 and 2026 seasons. That expansion closed in the north end zone, added premium club seating, and made Vaught-Hemingway the largest stadium in Mississippi.
Announced attendance can run higher than the listed capacity once standing-room areas and the north plaza are counted; the stadium’s attendance record stands at 70,033, set during a sold-out 2026 night game against LSU.
Hollingsworth Field: The Field’s Name — and Is It Grass or Turf?
The playing surface has its own name, separate from the stadium itself: Hollingsworth Field, honoring longtime Ole Miss supporter Dr. Jerry Hollingsworth. So the full answer to ‘what is Ole Miss’s football field called’ is two names stacked together — Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is the building, Hollingsworth Field is the turf inside it.
Ole Miss plays on natural grass. The surface has changed several times over the decades — it was artificial turf for stretches in the 1970s and 1980s and again with FieldTurf from 2009 through 2015 — but the 2016 stadium expansion brought natural grass back to Hollingsworth Field, and it has remained grass ever since.
History & Architecture
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium opened on October 1, 1915, originally carrying only Judge Hemingway’s name. Johnny Vaught’s name was added on October 12, 1982, cementing the dual name fans use today. The venue has been renovated repeatedly since, including lights installed in 1990 and a videoboard added in 1997.
The most significant change came with the 2016 expansion, which closed in the north side of the bowl for additional student seating and transformed it into a new ‘front door,’ complete with the Lloyd Bell Tower, the north plaza and the Jake Gibbs Letterwinner Walk, both added in 2017.
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Bag Policy
Ole Miss Athletics permits three kinds of bags: clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags not exceeding 12″ x 6″ x 12″, one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (a Ziploc bag or similar), and small clutch bags not exceeding 4.5″ x 6.5″. Anything outside those dimensions won’t be allowed past the gate, so plan to carry only what fits one of those three options.
Medically necessary items are allowed after inspection at a gate designated for that purpose. Outside food, beverages, coolers and containers are prohibited, with one exception: a single sealed water bottle or empty drink container no larger than 20 oz. Rules can shift game to game, so confirm current details on the official Ole Miss Gameday site before you leave home.
Parking & Tailgating
All campus parking on gameday is reserved and requires an Ole Miss Athletics Foundation (OMAF)-issued parking pass; only vehicles with a campus residential pass or a specific athletics gameday pass are allowed on campus, and each vehicle must park in its assigned lot. Campus parking typically opens around 7 a.m. on gameday, well ahead of kickoff. ADA parking requires both a valid gameday parking pass and a state-issued ADA credential displayed in the vehicle.
RV parking is generally prohibited on campus outside of sporting events; season RV passes for designated lots are sold through the Athletics Foundation separately from single-game parking. The Grove — the shaded tailgating grounds at the heart of campus — is where most of the pregame scene happens, and turnkey tailgating packages bundling parking, food and a reserved tent in the north plaza are sold through the university’s gameday experience vendor. For current lot assignments, prices and tailgating rules, check the official OleMissGameday.com site, which Ole Miss updates before each home game.
Gates, Entry & Security
Gates typically open about 2 hours before kickoff, though exact times vary by game and are confirmed on the official gameday page. Entry is assigned by ticket type: students use a block of gates on the north/student side, while general and premium ticket holders enter through gates matching their seating level, and an ADA access elevator serves the east side of the stadium near the lower-numbered gates in that section.
Re-entry is not allowed once you leave the stadium unless you’re holding a valid, unscanned ticket, so plan bathroom and concession runs before you settle in for good. Concession stands are cashless, so bring a card or mobile payment rather than cash.
Best Seats, Sightlines & Shade
The stadium’s bowl runs roughly northeast-to-southwest, which matters for sun exposure on hot early-season Saturdays. The west sideline and south end zone pick up shade earliest in the afternoon, while the east sideline and north end stay sunniest the longest — a real consideration for September kickoffs. Sections in the lower bowl near midfield, roughly 20-30 rows up, offer an elevated but still close view of the 50-yard line.
Visiting teams’ fans are typically seated on the east side of the stadium, which is also the sunnier side, so if you’re rooting for the Rebels and want shade, look toward the west and south sideline sections instead. Covered club seating behind the south end zone and on the sideline is the most weather-protected option in the building, for fans willing to pay a premium.
Getting There
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium sits on the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford, a short walk or rideshare from the Oxford Square and nearby hotels. Traffic around campus gets heavy well before kickoff, and some streets around The Grove close to through traffic or shift to drop-off-only lanes on gameday — University Avenue, Jackson Avenue and Grove Loop are the main corridors affected, with specifics changing from year to year. Rideshare pickup and drop-off zones are typically staged a short walk from the stadium rather than directly at the gates.
Because street closures and detours are adjusted before every season, confirm the current gameday traffic map on OleMissGameday.com rather than relying on a prior year’s route.
Concessions, Alcohol & Accessibility
Concession stands throughout the stadium are cashless. Beer and other alcohol sales require fans to be 21 with valid ID; many stadiums in the conference, including Vaught-Hemingway, use a wristband-style age verification system so you aren’t carded at every single purchase, and alcohol sales typically cut off by the end of the third quarter.
ADA seating is available in multiple areas of the bowl and requires a ticket specifically designated for an accessible section, available through the Ole Miss ticket office. Elevator access, accessible restrooms and assistive listening devices are provided, and an on-campus ADA shuttle runs fans to gates near the stadium on gameday. Only certified service animals are permitted inside.
Tickets & Planning Your Visit
Single-game and season tickets are sold through Ole Miss Athletics, with pricing tiers that vary by opponent, seating level and whether the section includes club or suite access; premium and club seats carry the highest prices, with general-admission sideline and end-zone seats priced lowest. Secondary marketplaces also list tickets for sold-out or high-demand games, typically at a markup over face value.
Because kickoff times, gate hours, parking prices and policies can all change from week to week during the season, use the official Ole Miss Athletics facilities page and OleMissGameday.com as your source of truth before each visit.
Keeps chili hot from the tailgate to the fourth quarter.
Team-color face paint in a twist-up stick — no brushes, no mess in the car.
Sized to the NFL's 12x6x12 clear-bag rule. Fits snacks, a jacket and a rally towel.
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium FAQs
What is Ole Miss’s football stadium called?
It’s officially Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, named for coach Johnny Vaught and Judge William Hemingway. Fans almost always call it ‘The Vaught’ for short.
What is Ole Miss’s football field name?
The playing surface is called Hollingsworth Field, honoring longtime Ole Miss supporter Dr. Jerry Hollingsworth. It sits inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Is Ole Miss’s football field grass or turf?
Grass. Hollingsworth Field has had a natural grass surface since the 2016 stadium expansion, after years of FieldTurf and earlier artificial turf.
What is Vaught-Hemingway Stadium’s capacity in 2025?
64,038, the official capacity used since the 2016 expansion and the figure that applies for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, making it the largest stadium in Mississippi.
Where is Vaught-Hemingway Stadium located?
On the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford, Mississippi, a short walk from the Oxford Square and adjacent to The Grove tailgating grounds.
What bags are allowed into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium?
Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″, one-gallon clear freezer bags, or small clutches up to 4.5″ x 6.5″. Medically necessary items are allowed after inspection at a designated gate.
Do I need a parking pass to park on campus on gameday?
Yes. All campus gameday parking is reserved and requires an Ole Miss Athletics Foundation-issued pass; campus lots generally open around 7 a.m. on gameday.
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