• Loading stock data...
Sunday, May 25, 2025

The Most Expensive College Football Stadiums by Total Construction Cost

  • Three schools from the Big Ten are among the most expensive stadiums.
  • Kyle Field and Notre Dame Stadium are the only stadiums that cost over $500 million.
Sep 2, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; An aerial view of Notre Dame Stadium during the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Temple Owls. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

College football fans are celebrating the new 12-team playoff structure for the 2024 season. 

Additionally, the slew of schools joining new conferences and the return of EA Sports College Football 25 make this season one of the most intriguing in recent history.

The race to capitalize on new opportunities is most evident in the number of major renovations happening across college football.

For example, the University of Tennesee increased its budget by $49 million to total $337 million with the renovations scheduled to finish up in 2026. This will land them among the most expensive college football stadiums upon completion.

Currently, Kyle Field in College Station, TX is the most expensive college football stadium. It cost a combined $650.4 million in inflation adjusted dollars to originally build in 1929 and later renovate in 2015.

Home of Texas A&M, Kyle Field is the fourth largest stadium in the country with a seating capacity of 102,733.

The latest renovations included lowering the playing field by seven feet to add six rows of seats, new strength and conditioning training areas, and new interior scoreboards.

It remains the most expensive college football stadium, at least until Northwestern completes its estimated $800 million new stadium in 2026.

Second on the list is Notre Dame Stadium, with construction costing a total of $572.41 million in inflation adjusted dollars.

“The House that Rockne Built” was constructed in 1930 for $750K, which comes to $14.1 million today. In 2017, Notre Dame decided to modernize the stadium in its largest building project in school history. 

The 2017 project surpassed renovations made in the 90s that cost $53 million to add new seating, permanent lighting for two new scoreboards, and a new press box. 

The University of Minnesota, Baylor University, and Colorado State University made the list as the only colleges with recently constructed stadiums. Combined, their construction costs total $1.08 billion in inflation adjusted dollars.

With billions of dollars expected to flow into the sport through media rights deals, college football stadiums are on track to approach construction costs of NFL stadiums.

Ranking The Most Expensive College Football Stadiums

Here is the list of the top 10 most expensive college football stadiums, adjusted for inflation, compiled with historical cost reports from CNN, the NCAA, Texas A&M Athletics, University of Washington Magazine, and more.

  • Updated: December 27, 2024
RankStadiumCollegeLocationOriginal Construction CostsRenovation CostsTotal Construction Cost (Inflation Adjusted)
1Kyle FieldTexas A&MCollege Station, TX$365K (1929)$485 million (2015)$650.4 million
2Notre Dame StadiumNotre DameSouth Bend, IN$750K (1930)$400 million (2017)$527.4 million
3California Memorial StadiumUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CA$1.4 million (1923)$321 million (2012)$466.2 million
4Huntington Bank StadiumUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN$303 million (2009)$444.2 million
5Alaska Airlines Field at Husky StadiumUniversity of WashingtonSeattle, WA$565K (1920)$280 million (2013)$386.9 million
6Sun Devil StadiumArizona State UniversityTempe, AZ$1 million (1958)$300 million (2019)$380 million
7Ohio StadiumOhio State UniversityColumbus, OH$1.3 million (1922)$194 million (2001)$368.9 million
8McLane StadiumBaylor UniversityWaco, TX$266 million (2014)$353.4 million
9Michigan StadiumUniversity of MichiganAnn Arbor, MI$1.1 million (1927)$226 million (2010)$346.5 million
10Canvas StadiumColorado State UniversityFort Collins, CO$220 million (2017)$282.3 million

Related lists:

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

New CFP Seeding Rewards Rankings, Not Titles—Except on the Paycheck

Last season, only conference champions could earn first-round byes.
Jim Irsay

Colts Owner Jim Irsay Dies at 65

Irsay had taken over the Colts from his father in 1997.
Feb 2, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; NFC running back Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons (7) carries the ball against AFC linebacker Zaire Franklin of the Indianapolis Colts (left) and cornerback Marlon Humphrey of the Baltimore Ravens during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium.

Everything You Need to Know About Olympic Flag Football

The league will allow active players to compete in 2028.

Featured Today

How Rolex Paved the Way for Luxury’s Love Affair With Tennis

The gold crown logos are ubiquitous in the professional tennis world.
Mar 23, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Alexandra Eala (PHI) reacts after winning a point against Madison Keys (USA)(not pictured) on day six of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.
May 24, 2025

Alex Eala Is Defying Her Country’s Odds to Make French Open History

The Philippines native has overcome a unique set of financial odds.
May 24, 2025

Indiana Is the Center of the Basketball Universe—Thanks to Both Pro Teams

The Fever and Pacers are thriving at the same time.
Around the Horn - October 26, 2020
May 23, 2025

‘Quirky, Nutty, Bombastic’: 10 ‘Around the Horn’ Faces on Their Top Moments

“A quirky, nutty, bombastic, mostly wrong, sometimes right, crazy sports family.”
Gillette

Boston NWSL Team to Play at Gillette After Legal Fight Delayed Own..

The team beat a lawsuit from locals against their stadium in April.
May 18, 2025

Final Preakness Stakes at ‘Pimlico As We Know It’ Delivers High Drama

The Baltimore horse racing track is set for a $400 million renovation.
Sep 25, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A general view of Soldier Field before a game between the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans. Chicago defeated Houston 23-20.
May 19, 2025

Bears Pivot to Suburbs As $4.7B Downtown Stadium Plans Dim

The NFL team has reversed course on its lavish plans.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
May 16, 2025

Public Funding for Arenas Is Failing Everywhere—Except Oklahoma City

Voters chose to fund $850 million for a new Thunder arena.
Gianni Infantino
May 14, 2025

Rights Groups Sound Alarm on Saudi Worker Deaths Ahead of World Cup

Saudi Arabia promised construction of 11 stadiums for the 2034 World Cup.
Boomstick Burrito
May 11, 2025

The Arms Race to Create the Wildest Ballpark Concessions

Forget the score—did you see the milkshake?
May 6, 2025

Trump Gets Another Golf Win With Euro Tour’s Scottish Championship

Trump International Golf Links Scotland will host a tournament in August.