Stanford Stadium is the home of Stanford Cardinal football, located on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California. The stadium is one of the largest college football venues on the West Coast and also hosts international soccer and other major events.
Overview
Stanford Stadium has a long history on the Stanford University campus, with the original stadium opening in 1921. The current structure was rebuilt from the ground up in 2006 on the same site, with a capacity of approximately 50,000. Located at 625 Nelson Road on the Stanford campus in the San Francisco Bay Area, the stadium is easily accessible from Highway 101 and El Camino Real. Levy Restaurants became the stadium’s hospitality partner starting in 2025, bringing Bay Area food partnerships and upgraded premium experiences.
Fast facts
- Location: Stanford, California (625 Nelson Rd)
- Teams: Stanford Cardinal (NCAA)
- Capacity: 50,424
- Original opened: 1921
- Rebuilt: 2006
- Reconstruction cost: ~$90 million
- Surface: Natural grass
- Hospitality: Levy Restaurants (from 2025)
Architectural Features
The rebuilt Stanford Stadium features an open-air bowl design that takes advantage of the mild Bay Area climate:
- A horseshoe-shaped lower bowl with a natural grass field
- Covered upper deck providing shade for most seats
- The Archway — a new destination beneath the iconic arches in the north end zone for eating, drinking, and socializing
- Modern premium seating and club spaces integrated into the main structure
Food & Dining
Levy Restaurants brought significant upgrades to the game day experience starting in 2025:
- Cashless concessions with service team members keeping lines moving
- Local Bay Area restaurant partnerships curated by Levy
- New technology integrations for faster ordering and checkout
- Elevated premium hospitality with chef-crafted menus
- Chick-fil-A added to concession options
Major Events
- Annual home games of the Stanford Cardinal football program
- The Big Game — the annual rivalry game against UC Berkeley (Cal), one of the oldest rivalries in college football
- 1994 FIFA World Cup — Stanford Stadium hosted matches as a World Cup venue
- International soccer friendlies and special events
- The stadium also hosted the 1984 Summer Olympics field hockey competition