Tennessee Volunteers Football Stadium

The University of Tennessee (UT) is represented by the Tennessee Volunteers football program, also known as the "Vols," "UT," and "Big Orange." Since 1891, the Vols have participated in 132 football seasons. Notably, they have won four Sugar Bowls, three Cotton Bowls, two Orange Bowls, a Fiesta Bowl, and a Peach Bowl. They are ranked fifth in bowl appearances (55) and eighth in bowl victories (30). They have claimed six national titles and 16 conference crowns.

The Vols play at Neyland Stadium, located on the Knoxville campus of the university. At its current home field, Tennessee has won 485 games, the most home-field victories of any school in college football history.

What is the name of the Tennessee Volunteers Football Stadium?

The name of the Tennessee Volunteer's stadium is Neyland Stadium. Officially, the stadium can accommodate 101,915. Built in 1921 as Shields–Watkins Field (now the name of the playing field), the stadium has had 17 extension projects. Its capacity of 104,079 was reached at one point, but changes made in the next ten years resulted in a minor reduction.

Neyland Stadium ranks as the second-largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference, the eighth-largest stadium globally, and the sixth-largest stadium in the United States. Robert Neyland, who coached football for the University of Tennessee for three stints from 1926 to 1952, is honored with the stadium's name.

Tennessee Volunteers Football Stadium construction and cost

The original construction cost of Neyland Stadium was $42,000 in 1921. The stadium has undergone many renovations and expansions since then. Its original design dates back to 1919.

The initial funding for the preparation and equipment of an athletic field came from Colonel W.S. Shields, a trustee of the University of Tennessee and president of Knoxville's City National Bank. Shields–Watkins Field was thus named in honor of the benefactor and his wife, Alice Watkins-Shields, when the old stadium, which is the lower level of the present stadium's West Stands, was finished in March 1921.

In honor of General Robert Neyland, the recently departed former coach and athletic director, the stadium was renamed Neyland Stadium in 1962. Neyland coached the Vols from 1926 to 1952, with two breaks for military service. He is recognized as the guy who turned the team into a national football power.

Tennessee Volunteers Football Stadium seating capacity

Tennessee Volunteers Football Stadium has undergone several significant changes in seating capacity since its construction in 1921. When the Shields-Watkins Field first opened in 1921, it had a single, 3,200-seat grandstand along the west sideline, which is the lower part of the present-day West Stands. Five years later, in 1926, the East Stands were erected, bringing the total capacity to 6,800. In 1930, the capacity of the West Stands was raised to 17,860 by expanding them from 17 rows to 42 rows.

In the 1960s, several expansions were made. First, a press box and 5,837 seats were added when the West Stands were double-decked in 1962. The North Stands, a grandstand with 5,895 seats, took the place of North Section X in 1966. The East Stands (6,307) were also double-decked in 1968, increasing the stadium's overall capacity to 64,429.

During the two extensions in 1972 and 1976, the two Upper Decks were joined to enclose the south end zone. With the installation of the 1972 Southwest Upper Deck, which added 6,221 seats to the south of the West Upper Deck, and the 1976 Southeast Upper Deck, which added 9,600 seats to the south of the East Upper Deck, the overall capacity was increased to 80,250 seats with contiguous upper seating on three sides.

Here is a list showing the seating capacity of Tennessee Volunteers Football Stadium over the years:

Tennessee Volunteers Football Stadium seating chart

Here is the Tennessee Volunteers Football Stadium seating chart as of 2024:

Tennessee Volunteers Football Stadium parking chart

Here is the Tennessee Volunteers Football Stadium parking chart as of 2024:

Tennessee Volunteers Football Stadium other events

Concerts, political rallies, and religious events are periodically held at Neyland Stadium. The Billy Graham Crusade in May 1970, which featured President Richard Nixon as a guest speaker, was one of Neyland Stadium's most prominent non-sporting events. During their Victory Tour, the Jacksons played three shows at Neyland Stadium in August 1984. In June 2003, Kenny Chesney, a native of East Tennessee, performed at Neyland Stadium.

The Washington Redskins' 1995 matchup with the Houston Oilers was the most recent NFL exhibition game to be held at Neyland Stadium. Up until 2013, the stadium hosted the annual Knox County Football Jamboree, a preseason competition for nearby high school teams.