Folsom Field: A Century of Colorado Buffaloes Football and More
Folsom Field, an outdoor college football stadium, is located on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. Situated on the University of Colorado Boulder’s campus, Folsom Field has been the home of the Colorado Buffaloes for a century. This stadium is the home field for the Colorado Buffaloes team. Bordering the mountain range of Boulder Mountain Park, the venue’s majestic views set a perfect backdrop for nights full of action on the field.
Early History and Construction
Folsom Field opened 100 years ago in Boulder, Colorado on October 11, 1924. Before Folsom Field, the Colorado football team played at Gamble Field. Folsom Field was constructed as a replacement for CU football’s original home, Gamble Field, which could no longer meet the university’s rising interest in intercollegiate athletics with its temporary bleachers. CU chose Folsom Field’s site because it required limited excavation. The site, suggested by engineering professor Whitney Huntington, was a natural ravine next to the new gymnasium. CU law professor Fred Folsom (who just so happened to have been the greatest football coach in school history to that point) came up with a financing plan, and work began on the stadium in January of 1924.
It was originally known as Colorado Stadium before being renamed in 1944 following the death of University of Colorado Coach Fred Folsom. Constructed in a single-deck horseshoe design, it was originally called Colorado Stadium, and sometimes referred to as Norlin Stadium. It took its modern namesake in 1944 as an homage to the late coach Fred Folsom. After excavating over 110,000 cubic yards of earth, construction crews installed wooden bleachers on regularly spaced concrete supports in the horseshoe-shaped amphitheater. When Folsom Field first opened in 1924, it could hold 26,000 people.
Design and Features
Folsom Field has a special horseshoe shape that opens towards the north. Its horseshoe design, built into a natural ravine, echoes the classic Greek architecture of the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. Its sandstone exterior matches the beauty of the surrounding campus. The east side stands are built up higher than the west side; offering spectacular views of the front range and the high Rockies. So, too, do the views from the east side of the stadium, where from high up fans have a clear view of the Flatirons and, beyond that, the Rocky Mountains.
The playing field is made of natural grass. From 1924 until 1970, Folsom Field had natural grass. In the summer of 1971, AstroTurf was installed. The first game on the new turf was a big win against Wyoming. After 28 years of AstroTurf, Folsom Field returned to natural grass in 1999. In March 2025, Colorado announced another change. The natural grass surface will be replaced with AstroTurf 3D3 for the next season. This change helps Folsom Field host the College Football Playoff in winter. It also makes it easier to host concerts outside of summer.
Read also: Finding Affordable Tuition in Colorado
It sits very high up, at about 5,360 feet (over a mile) above sea level. Folsom Field is one of the highest college football stadiums in the FBS.
Expansions and Renovations
A big expansion in 1956 made the stadium taller and increased the seating to 45,000. CU added a second deck in 1956, bumping up the capacity to 45,000. In 1967, a running track was removed, adding another six thousand seats. In ’68, the Flatirons Club on the west side was built. In 1968, a large, six-story press box was built on the west side. This is where reporters and broadcasters sit. A new, two-level press box was affixed to the fieldhouse in 1954 to accommodate the growing number of writers who traveled to Folsom on Saturdays. Later, in 1976, the old wooden seats were replaced with new aluminum ones.
More changes happened in 2003. Luxury suites and special club seating areas were added to the east side. This increased the capacity to 53,750. By 2003 the stadium was at a 53,750 capacity. In 2014, more construction began. This included a new indoor practice area and a high-performance sports center. Extra seating was also added in the northeast corner. Before the 2016 season, the north endzone was completely rebuilt. The most recent update was before the 2024 season. The video board in the south endzone was replaced with a much larger one.
Memorable Moments in Football
Folsom Field opened as Colorado Stadium on October 11, 1924. It has been the home of the Buffaloes football team ever since. Every game held at the stadium since 1967 opens with an event called “Ralphie’s Run,” in which the team’s mascot - Ralphie the Buffalo - charges ahead of the CU team alongside five handlers. In order to be a handler, university students try out, complete physical exams, driving tests and background checks before being selected.
There was Byron “Whizzer” White’s coming-out party on Nov. There was CU’s triumph over Nebraska on Oct. 25, 1986, when the Buffs upset the third-ranked Huskers 20-10 for their first win over their rival since 1967 in what is widely considered the turning point in McCartney’s tenure. There was CU’s 41-20 win over Iowa State on Nov. 19, 1994, when soon-to-be Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam hit the 2,000-yard rushing mark in the fourth quarter. And, of course, there’s 62-36. For many CU fans, that demolition of then-No. 2 Nebraska on Nov.
Read also: Study Abroad with CSU: Semester at Sea
The biggest crowd for a Colorado Buffaloes football game at Folsom Field was 54,972 people. This happened in 2005 during a game against Colorado State.
Concerts and Other Events
Folsom Field isn't just for football! Many famous bands have played concerts here. Big names in music have been taking to the stage at Folsom Field for decades. The Grateful Dead, Fleetwood Mac, the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones the Eagles and many other bands and artists have drawn crowds to stadium over the years.
The Grateful Dead played several times, including in 1972 and 1980. The Dave Matthews Band had a concert here in 2001. It was even recorded for an album and DVD! More recently, Dead & Company has played many shows at Folsom Field. They hold the record for the most performances at the venue, with 13 shows. Other artists like Tyler Childers and Odesza have also performed. The University of Colorado took a 15-year hiatus from hosting concerts at Folsom Field starting in 2001, but in 2016, an epic Dead & Co. show marked the triumphant return of concerts to Folsom Field.
Folsom Field is the finish line for the Bolder Boulder. This is a very popular 10K running race. The largest crowd ever at Folsom Field was for a rock concert in 1977.
Sustainability Efforts
In 2008, Folsom Field became the first "zero-waste" stadium in the NCAA.
Read also: The history of Colorado Mesa
Fan Experience
Folsom Field has space for 50,183 fans. Folsom’s grandstands have only metal bleachers, but fans can rent cushioned seatbacks for $8 outside the stadium’s southeast entrances. The best view of Ralphie as she leads the team onto the field is from sections 119, 120 and 121. The seats on the east side of Folsom Field face the mountains to the west, providing a dramatic backdrop to the action on the field. Seating on the west side of the stadium is good for those who might want to take cover in the adjacent Balch Fieldhouse, where concession stands and big-screen televisions broadcasting the game are all situated under one roof. The visiting team’s fans and band typically sit in Sections 101, 102 and 103. There are several options for VIP seating available, including the Crawford Club, the Touchdown Club, the Byron R. Folsom Field offers several “grab and go” concession stands where fans can get a quick bite to take back to their seat. These concession stands are located in Balch Fieldhouse, behind the west grandstand and behind the grandstand on Folsom’s east side. Some vendor options include hot dogs, nachos, pizza and burrito bowls. There are accommodations for gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan diets as well as various dietary restrictions and allergies. Folsom Field also has a signature lager, developed by Boulder’s Avery Brewing Company.
Parking lots on campus open for football game parking six hours prior to kick-off. All public parking lots on the main campus are $30/per game, and can be paid via Text to Pay after you park. Parking lots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Main campus public parking is very limited and will fill each game. Parking on east campus, off Colorado Avenue and Discovery Drive, is $20/per game and can be paid via Text to Pay after you park. A free shuttle to/from the stadium begins three hours prior to kick-off and runs for one hour after the game ends. Call 303-492-7384 or visit ucbparking.colorado.edu for more info. Parking lots on campus situated closer to the stadium are reserved for donors to the Buff Club and are controlled by the university’s Athletic Department. Gates open 120 minutes prior to kick-off. Folsom Field has a clear bag policy. Bags should be no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ inches.
The Future of Folsom Field
Folsom Field could soon be coming into the modern stadium age. This week, the university took a step in that direction with the announcement of a new video board on the south end, which at 136-feet wide by 36-feet high will be more than five times the surface area of the old board. It will be ready by the 2024 season opener. There’s long been discussions on what to do with the west side of the stadium, most notably rebuilding Balch Fieldhouse. That west-side renovation would keep the stadium’s capacity roughly the same while morphing the fieldhouse into a multi-use area with quick-service restaurants and improved concessions. We need to fix the west side of Folsom and make it a place that generates revenue, and generates some premium opportunities for our fans, alumni and businesses in the community. Of course, keeping Folsom Field as electric as it’s been in 2023 circles back to Coach Prime, and the university’s ability to keep him on campus.
tags: #Colorado #University #stadium #history #and #facts
