Arizona Stadium

Arizona Stadium

Home of the Wildcats
Arizona Stadium in October 2011
Location	545 N National Champion Dr Tucson, Arizona
Coordinates	32°13′44″N 110°56′56″W / 32.229°N 110.949°W / 32.229; -110.949Coordinates: 32°13′44″N 110°56′56″W / 32.229°N 110.949°W / 32.229; -110.949
Owner	University of Arizona
Operator	University of Arizona
Capacity	55,675 (2014–2016) 56,037 (2013) 51,811 (2012) 56,100 (2011) 57,400 (2007–10) 56,002 (2000–06) 56,500 (1999) 57,803 (1994–98) 56,167 (1990–93) 51,955 (1986–89) 52,000 (1982–85) 57,000 (1975–81) 40,000 (1965–74) 25,500 (1961–64) 26,700 (1953–60) 22,671 (1950–52) 17,000 (1947–49) 11,000 (1938–46) 8,000 (1934–37) 7,000 (1928–33)
Record attendance	59,920 (November 23, 1996 vs. Arizona State)
Surface	FieldTurf (2013– ) Grass (1928–2012)
Construction
Broke ground	December 1927
Opened	October 13, 1928
Renovated	2013
Expanded	1938, 1947, 1950, 1965, 1976, 1988, 1990, 2011–2013
Construction cost	$166,888 ($2.33 million in 2017 dollars)
Architect	Roy Place
Project manager	J. F. Garfield
General contractor	Orndorff Construction Co.
Tenants
Arizona Wildcats (NCAA) (1928–present) Copper Bowl (NCAA) (1989–1999) Arizona Bowl (NCAA) (2015–Present)

Arizona Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium in Tucson, Arizona. On the campus of the University of Arizona, it is the home field of the Arizona Wildcats of the Pac-12 Conference.

Originally constructed in 1928 to hold 7,000 spectators, the stadium's seating capacity has been expanded numerous times since. As of 2016, the stadium has a total capacity of 55,675. The facility also includes various academic offices, including the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab.

Located in central Tucson, Arizona Stadium has been home to University of Arizona Wildcats football since 1928. Initially, stadium capacity was 7,000, with the only seating located on the stadium's west side. Arizona's first game at the facility was October 12, 1929, when the Wildcats defeated Caltech 35-0. Capacity was increased to 10,000 in 1938 when seats were constructed on the stadium's east side. 4,000 seats were added to both end zones in 1947.

In 1950, a horseshoe configuration was constructed around the south end zone resulting in the addition of almost 8,700 seats. A multi-level press box and 10,000 seats were added to the west grandstand in 1965. The east side of the stadium received a second tier, consisting of 17,000 seats, in 1976, as the Wildcats prepared to leave the WAC for the Pac-8 in 1978.

In 1981, the track team stopped using the stadium and the track was removed. Permanent seating was placed at the north end zone in 1988. Following the 1988 season, a new press box with luxury sky boxes was built. The sky boxes include a 319 loge seats on the first level, 23 luxury suites between the 2nd and 3rd levels, and a media level on the 4th floor. Because the stadium was in place, the sky boxes are built so that the structure is cantilevered out over the western edge of the stadium seats, without actually touching the stadium. Prior to the 1999 season, a new scoreboard with a video monitor was installed.