The Largest College Football Stadiums

In the United States and Canada, football refers to a sport that other parts of the world know as American Football. It is a different sport than soccer, which is also popularly known as football. The American Football is among the main sports in the US and attracts tens of thousands of fans to college and professional stadiums. This article discusses the largest football stadiums.

The Largest College Football Stadiums

Michigan Stadium

Michigan Stadium is the biggest stadium in the US and the second largest in the world. It is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has a capacity of 107,601, but it is known to have hosted more than 115,000 spectators at a time. It has been nicknamed "The Big House" and is home to the University of Michigan’s Wolverines. It was constructed in 1927 at a cost of $950,000, which is about $13.1 million today. The initial capacity was 72,000, but the architects designed it with footings which allow it to be expanded to a capacity of almost 150,000 if necessary.

Beaver Stadium

Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, is the second largest football stadium, with a capacity of 106,572. It is located at the Pennsylvania State University and acts as the home field to the Penn State Nittany Lions. It is known to be one of the toughest stadiums for opposing teams due to the harsh reception. It was voted the best college football stadium in 2016, and is the first stadium to have its interior mapped by Google Street View. Its record attendance level occurred in 2002, when it hosted 110,753 spectators.

Ohio Stadium

Ohio Stadium is popularly known as the Horseshoe. It is located in Columbus, Ohio, and is home to the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. It is the third largest football in the country, with a capacity of 104,944. In 2016, the stadium recorded an attendance of 110,045 during a game in which the Ohio State Buckeyes played the Michigan Wolverines. Before shifting to their current venue, Major League Soccer team Columbus Crew also used it as home stadium between 1996 and 1998. The stadium officially opened in 1922 with a capacity of 66,210, to replace the Ohio Field. Over the years reconstruction has been done, and additional seats were added to the current capacity.

Kyle Field

Kyle Field is located on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. It is the home field of the Texas A&M Aggie football team, and is popularly referred to as the "Home of the 12th Man." It is the fourth largest stadium in the US and the largest in the Southeastern Conference, with a capacity of 102,733. In 2014 it registered the largest attendance of 110,631, when the home team lost to the Ole Miss Rebels.

Neyland Stadium

The Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, is the fifth and the sixth largest stadium in the US and the world, respectively, with a capacity of 102,455. It is the home venue for Tennessee Volunteers football team. Its official capacity is 102,455, but its record capacity is 104,079. The stadium was built in 1921 as Shields-Watkins Field, but it has undergone major reconstructions to become what it is today.

Purpose of the Stadiums

A majority of the stadiums host the NCAA College Football league and the National Football league. They are also used to host major events such as NFL exhibition games and large conventions. The Michigan stadium is also used to host the main graduation and hockey games during winter.