"The Blue"
Capacity: 36,363
Opened: 1970
Albertsons Stadium is the home of Boise State University football and the annual Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The home of Boise State football has seen many changes. Growing from an original seating capacity of 14,500 and a green AstroTurf field, to a current capacity of 36,360 and the now famous Blue field.
The venue opened in 1970 with 14,500 seats at a cost of $2.2 million. In 1974, the east side upper deck was added, increasing the seating capacity to 20,000. Portable end zone seating had the capacity of the stadium at 22,600 through the 1996 season.
Boise State established a first in 1986 by installing blue AstroTurf as its playing surface. The second blue AstroTurf was installed in 1995 and a third prior to the 2002 season. A blue FieldTurf surface was installed in 2008. It was replaced in 2010 and again in 2019. Other schools had special color projects in the end zone area prior to the Broncos, but Boise State was the first to have the entire field produced in a special color. There were two green AstroTurf fields installed prior to 1986. The first was during the original construction of the current stadium in 1970, with the second installed prior to the 1978 season.
The second major expansion came in 1997 when capacity was increased to 30,000 seats. Included in the $10 million project was the additional seating in the southwest and southeast corners, construction of the Allen Noble Hall of Fame Gallery and completion of the Larry and Marianne Williams Plaza.
Prior to the 2008 season, the stadium received its third major expansion with the completion of the Stueckle Sky Center. The four-level, $35.9 million facility includes loge boxes, club and luxury suite seating, along with a state-of-the-art press box. Additionally, five individual banquet style or meeting room spaces are located throughout the 131,000-square-foot facility. With the opening of the Stueckle Sky Center, the capacity increased to 32,000.
Temporary mobile seating was added in the north and south end zones prior to the 2009 campaign and 3,500 permanent seats were added to the area in summer 2012.
In 2014, after being known for the past 44 years as Bronco Stadium (II), one of the great home fields in college football was changed to Albertsons Stadium. The change was made after Albertsons LLC committed $12.5 million over 15 years for the naming rights to the stadium. Prior to the 2023 season, a new videoboard was installed in the south end zone, as well as new LED lights.
While the name on the outside of the stadium has changed, the name on the field remains the same. Lyle Smith Field is named after the undisputed “father” of Bronco football. From 1946 through 1967, Lyle Smith built one of the top junior college programs in the country. When he retired from his head coaching position to become the athletic director at Boise State, Smith had produced a record of 156-25-6 (.850).
Visiting "The Blue"
You can view the turf by entering through the Allen Noble Hall of Fame in Southwest corner of Albertsons Stadium. Visit THE BLUE, one of the most visited sites in Idaho, and take a photo from the view of our Hall of Fame patio, one of the most popular selfie spots in the state, while learning more about the history of Boise State Athletics. You can see THE BLUE Monday through Friday from 10 am – 4 pm.*
Metered Parking available in the west lot in front of the Bronco Shop. For questions or more information on availability, please contact the Hall of Fame at (208) 426-3556 or email baa@boisestate.edu.
ALBERTSONS STADIUM FACTS
- Groundbreaking: 1969
- Stadium Dedication: Sept. 11, 1970 (49-14 win over Chico State)
- Renamed Albertsons Stadium: 2014 (previously Bronco Stadium [II])
- Seating capacity: 36,363
- All-time attendance record: 37,663 (Oct. 8, 2022 vs. Fresno State)
- First Addition: 1975 (East Side Upper Deck)
- Second Addition: 1997 (Southwest and Southeast Corners)
- Allen Noble Hall of Fame Gallery
- Larry and Marianne Williams Plaza
- Third Addition: 2008 (Stueckle Sky Center)
- Loge Boxes (48)
- Club Seats (832)
- Sky Suites (39)
- Gameday media operations
- Fourth Addition: 2012 (North and South End Zones)
- Permanent seating (3,500)
- Special features
- Videoboards (Bronco Vision) in north and south end zones
- Ribbon boards on east and west sides
- Allen Noble Hall of Fame Gallery in southwest corner
- NCAA Track & Field Outdoor Championships site, hosted by Boise State in 1994 and 1999
| TIMELINE |
|---|
 1940 In 1940, Boise Junior College moved to this airport site adjacent to the beautiful Boise River.
|
| Top 10 Albertsons Stadium Crowds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Att. | Opponent | Date | Winner | Score |
| 1. | 37,711 | Washington State | Sept. 28, 2024 | Boise State | 45-24 |
| 2. | 37,663 | Fresno State | Oct. 8, 2022 | Boise State | 40-20 |
| 3. | 37,491 | San Jose State | Oct. 7, 2023 | Boise State | 35-27 |
| 4. | 37,426 | Nevada | Nov. 2, 2021 | Nevada | 41-31 |
| 5. | 37,264 | Oregon State | Nov. 29, 2024 | Boise State | 34-18 |
| 6. | 37,210 | Utah State | Oct. 5, 2024 | Boise State | 62-30 |
| 7. | 37,143 | Nevada | Nov. 9, 2024 | Boise State | 28-21 |
| 8. | 36,972 | Portland State | Sept. 21, 2024 | Boise State | 56-14 |
| 9. | 36,902 | Hawaii | Oct. 12, 2019 | Boise State | 59-37 |
| 10. | 36,864 | BYU | Sept. 20, 2012 | Boise State | 7-6 |
| Boise State's Year-by-Year Record in Albertsons Stadium: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970: 5-1 1971: 7-0 1972: 4-1 1973: 6-0 1974: 6-0 1975: 6-2 1976: 4-2 1977: 5-0 1978: 6-1 1979: 5-1 |
1980: 6-1 1981: 5-2 1982: 5-1 1983: 5-1 1984: 3-4 1985: 5-1 1986: 4-2 1987: 5-2 1988: 5-2 1989: 5-2 |
1990: 7-1 1991: 7-0 1992: 3-3 1993: 3-4 1994: 10-0 1995: 5-2 1996: 1-6 1997: 3-2 1998: 4-3 1999: 8-0 |
2000: 6-0 2001: 5-1 2002: 7-0 2003: 6-0 2004: 7-0 2005: 6-1 2006: 6-0 2007: 7-0 2008: 6-0 2009: 7-0 |
2010: 6-0 2011: 5-1 2012: 5-1 2013: 6-0 2014: 7-0 2015: 4-2 2016: 6-0 2017: 6-1 2018: 5-2 2019: 7-0 |
2020: 2-1 2021: 3-3 2022: 5-2 2023: 5-1 2024: 7-0 |
| Totals: 295-63 (.824) |
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