Top 15 College Football Stadiums

Capacity: 88,548; Surface: Grass; Opened: Oct. 27, 1930; Nickname: The Swamp

Football at the University of Florida began in 1906, led by coach James Forsythe. Towards the end of the 1920s, the University of Florida decided to build a new stadium for its football team.

On Apr. 16, 1930 construction on the stadium began and was completed by Oct. 27, 1930, when the Gators played their first game.

Originally known as Florida Field, the stadium had a capacity of 21,769. The original section of seating now encompasses the lower half of the current stadium. By 1950, the first of many additions to the stadium was in the works and by the start of the 1950 season 10,000 bleachers were built on the west side. The Gators also hosted the first night game at Florida Field on Sept. 23, 1950.

15 years later, an additional 10,000 seats were added to the east side and bleachers were constructed on the south end-zone, bringing the capacity to 62,800. In 1991, Florida Field was named after Ben Hill Griffin, a donor to the University of Florida. The stadium was renamed Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field.

Once again in 1991, construction was completed on the north end-zone, bringing the capacity to 83,000. The most recent addition to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium came in 2001, when $50 million was spent expanding the press box, installing chair back seats on the club level, and building new luxury suites.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is now the largest stadium in the state of Florida, with a capacity of just over 88,548.

3. Shields-Watkins Field at Neyland Stadium, University of Tennessee

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