Falcon Stadium - Lacrosse - Facilities - Air Force Academy Athletics

Falcon Stadium - Lacrosse

A picturesque setting at the base of the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains and boasting some of the grandest pageantry in all of college football, Falcon Stadium is without a doubt one of the premier college football stadiums in America.

Sitting at 6,621 feet above sea level, the thin air has been kind to the Falcons. Falcon Stadium’s elevation is the second-highest of any Division I-A stadium in the nation. The stadium’s current capacity is 46,692.

Falcon Stadium, built in a natural bowl in the foothills, was built in the fall of 1962 at a cost of $3.5 million. Falcon Stadium opened on Sept. 22, 1962, when a then-overflow crowd of 41,350 saw Air Force defeat Colorado State, 24-0. AFA held a formal dedication on Oct. 20, 1962, when Air Force hosted Oregon. The Ducks won the game, 35-20. The stadium was originally built solely for football, but several non-athletic events, such as the Academy’s annual graduation, are conducted there.

Since 1962, the stadium has seen several significant upgrades. In 1991, the Academy installed nine skyboxes and remodeled the existing press box. The facility currently seats 450 people indoors, along with 88 in the skyboxes. In addition to its game-day uses, the press box is also used by the athletic department as a banquet/meeting room.
Throughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s, the stadium’s capacity was 52,480 but in 2005, the stadium’s capacity was reduced to 46,692 (the current capacity). The removal of the bleachers on the east side greatly increased the fan experience with additional food and beverage vendors and more room to move around the stadium.

In 2002, the Academy added permanent lights. The cost of just under $500,000 was at no expense to tax payers. The Air Force Academy Athletic Association picked up the tab. That same season, a school record crowd of 56,409 packed the stadium for a game against Notre Dame.

Prior to the 2016 season, two brand new scoreboards were installed, one in the north end zone and one in the south end zone. The video board in the south end zone was the largest in the Mountain West and among the service academies (at the time of installation). The board is over 2,500 square feet of HD video display (dimensions are 31-2 by 82-8) and includes a state-of-the-art audio system.

Prior to the 2018 season, the turf was replaced, the home locker room was completely renovated, along with new medical rooms, coaches room and media room.

The scenic backdrop, the game-day experience and the recent upgrades have ensured that Falcon Stadium is among the best venues in all of college football. The proof is in the ranking as CBS Sports (March 2011) ranked Falcon Stadium the 22nd best in college football, higher than any other Mountain West institution.