In America, they love to organize everything as big and as well as possible. And if there is one sport where everything is pulled out to achieve this, it is American Football! In the NFL the facilities are huge and the games are spectacular, and in College Football they certainly do not know downgrades. Many universities have absolutely top-notch facilities for their student-athletes and often share football facilities with other sports. Check below which American Football facilities are the best of the best.
10. Texas Longhorns – University of Texas
The home of the Texas Longhorns is located in Austin and is the Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The stadium has a capacity of 100,199. The stadium opened on Nov. 8, 1924. So next year, the Longhorns will play their 100th season at their home stadium. A major expansion project began back in May 2019. The stands on the south side of the stadium have been expanded by an additional 4.500l seats and the Athletic facilities had a major upgrade. The cost? More than $175 million.
9. Northwestern Wildcats – Northwestern University
The Northwestern Wildcats play their games at the stadium called Ryan Field. The stadium seats 47,130 and is located in Evanston, a suburb north of Chicago. The Wildcats’ athletic facilities underwent a major renovation between 2015 and 2018 and are currently among the best college football facilities in America. The new complex, with views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, offers opportunities to compare themselves with the other Big Ten football teams.
8. LSU Tigers – Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University’s American football team plays its home games at Tiger Stadium located in Baton Rouge, near New Orleans. The stadium was built in 1924 and has a capacity of in 102,321 visitors. Since 2019, the American football team has had a renovated athletic center whose cost was $28 million. In this same season, the Tigers achieved instant success by reaching the playoffs undefeated.
7. South Carolina Gamecocks – University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina Gamecocks have played their home games at William-Brice Stadium since 1934. The stadium seats 77,559 spectators. In recent years, significant investments have been made to renovate athletic facilities. An entirely new athletic center was opened in January 2019 at a cost of up to $50 million. Features of the center include a large weight room, a luxury locker room with jacuzzi and pool and a large meeting room where all the players discuss tactics. Do you want to see what some of the players’ reactions were when they first saw the renovated athletic center? Then click on this link.
6. Ohio State Buckeyes – Ohio State University
The Ohio State Buckeyes play their home games at Ohio Stadium. The Ohio Stadium seats 104,944, what makes it the largest stadium of these top 10. However the Michigan Stadium is still the biggest in US. The Buckeyes practice at The Woody Hayes Athletic Center. The athletic center has been renovated several times and, in recent years, has expanded the players’ lounge. Players can entertain themselves between workouts by playing basketball, using the golf simulator, getting a haircut, and playing various arcade games. Are you tired? No worries, each player has their own sleeping pod.
5. Georgia Bulldogs – University of Georgia
The champion of ’21 and ‘22 play their home games at Sanford Stadium. This stadium has a capacity of 92,746 and is located in Athens, Georgia. The Bulldogs’ Athletic facility, Georgia’s Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall, has undergone a major renovation ($80 million) and currently features a three-story sports complex. Among other features, the sports complex features a large fitness room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the football fields.
4. Clemson Tigers – Clemson University
The Clemson Tigers play their home games at Memorial Stadium, a stadium with a capacity of 81,500. Clemson Football received a huge boost from renovating the Allen N. Reeves Football Complex back in 2017. Consideration was also given to the players during the remodel, which will have a basketball court, a miniature golf course and multiple bowling alleys after the renovation.
Fun fact: To save the players some energy, there is slide from down from the 1st floor.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide – University of Alabama
The University of Alabama American football team plays all of its home games at Bryant-Denny Stadium. This stadium has a capacity of 101,821 and is located in Tuscaloosa. The players practice at the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility. This athletic center is considered one of the best facilities in the country. One of the facilities is a new Sports Science Center, which includes rooms for cryotherapy, chiropractors, massage treatments, relaxation room and mental health recovery for the players. “The health and safety of our student-athletes is a top priority. The new Sports Science Center will take our medical care to the next level and help separate us from our competition.” – Jeff Allen, Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine.
2. Texas A&M Aggies – Texas A&M University
The Aggies of Texas A&M is one of the oldest stadiums of this top 10, along with the Longhorns. Kyle Field opened on Sept. 24, 1927 and today has a capacity of 102,733. Texas A&M’s sports complex, Bright Football Complex, was once called a “five-star resort” by Wake Forest Coach Dave Clawson. The sports complex underwent a major renovation to modernize the entire complex and create the most progressive, technologically advanced sports complex. They created something magical, check this video to see the whole facility!
1. Oregon Ducks – University of Oregon
The Oregon Ducks are at the top of the list for good reason. Despite opening nine years, the Ducks’ then-$68 million, 145,000-square foot football nest hasn’t aged a bit. The locker room features Ferrari leather chairs, marble showers and self-cleaning lockers. The players’ lounge has furniture made of Italian leather, custom-made PlayStation consoles with, of course, the Oregon Ducks’ logo and a football table in which Oregon players compete against Pac-12 rivals (opponents of Oregon). The stadium in which the Oregon Ducks play, Autzen Stadium, is a bit smaller and seats 54,000.
This facility is something you need to check out! Chech the video here.
Do you want to play your sport at a top notch facility in America? Then you should start thinking about the student-athlete life! Check out this form and let’s meet.
