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Folsom Field

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This article is about a football stadium. For other uses, see Folsom Field (disambiguation).

Folsom Field is an outdoor college football stadium located on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. It is the home field of the Colorado Buffaloes of the Big 12 Conference.

Folsom Field
Sold out night game with Utah in 2016
Map
Boulder is located in the United States
Boulder
Boulder
Location in the United States
Boulder is located in Colorado
Boulder
Boulder
Location in Colorado
Former namesColorado Stadium
(1924–1944)
Address2400 Colorado Avenue
LocationUniversity of Colorado
Boulder, Colorado, U.S.
Coordinates40°00′32″N 105°16′01″W / 40.009°N 105.267°W / 40.009; -105.267
Elevation5,360 feet (1,635 m) AMSL
OwnerUniversity of Colorado
OperatorUniversity of Colorado
Capacity50,183 (2014–present)[1]

Former capacities:

List
    • 53,613 (2010–2013)
    • 53,750 (2003–2009)
    • 50,942 (2001–2002)
    • 51,655 (1999–2000)
    • 51,808 (1996–1998)
    • 51,748 (1991–1995)
    • 51,463 (1979–1990)
    • 52,005 (1976–1978)
    • 50,516 (1967–1975)
    • 45,000 (1956–1966)
    • 26,000 (1924–1955)
Record attendance54,972
SurfaceNatural grass
(1924–1970, 1999–present)
AstroTurf (1971–1998)
Construction
Broke groundJanuary 14, 1924[1]
OpenedOctober 11, 1924;
100 years ago (1924-10-11)
Renovated1968, 1976, 2003
Expanded1956, 1967, 2003
Construction cost$65,000 (1924)
ArchitectWaldo E. Brockway[2]

Sink Combs Dethlefs (renovations)
Tenants
Colorado Buffaloes (NCAA) (1924–present)
Website
cubuffs.com/folsom-field

Opened in 1924, the horseshoe-shaped stadium has a traditional north–south configuration, opening to the north. The University's athletic administration center, named after 1950s head coach Dal Ward, is located at the north end.[3]

The playing field returned to natural grass in 1999 and sits at an elevation of 5,360 feet (1,635 m), more than a mile above sea level.[4] Folsom Field is the third highest stadium in FBS college football, behind only Wyoming and Air Force of the Mountain West Conference.

History

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Folsom Field in 1924 during a game against Utah

Gamble Field was the home of Colorado football for two decades, through the first game of the 1924 season. Opened as Colorado Stadium on October 11, Folsom Field has been the continuous home of Buffaloes football. Through the 2021 season, the Buffs have a home record of 323–181–14 (.637).

The stadium was also unofficially called Norlin Stadium, against the wishes of university president George Norlin himself.[5] Colorado Stadium was renamed Folsom Field in 1944, following the death of former head coach Fred Folsom. He led the Silver and Gold for fifteen seasons (1895–99, 1901–02, 1908–15), compiling an overall record of 78–24–2 (.760). The stadium was officially rechristened in the 1946 homecoming game.[5]

In 2008, Folsom Field became the first "zero-waste" stadium in the NCAA by instituting a rigorous recycling and composting program.

Expansions and renovations

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Folsom Field 135th commencement on June 9, 1967. 1,836 degrees were awarded

When opened in 1924, the horseshoe-shaped stadium had a capacity of 26,000; a major expansion in 1956 raised the height of the stadium, with a new seating capacity of 45,000. The removal of the running track in 1967 added six thousand seats; the track and field team relocated to Potts Field on the East Campus.[6][7]

A sizable, six-level press box was added in 1968 to the top of the west side grandstand, directly in front of Balch Fieldhouse, the former home of the basketball team. Renovations continued in 1976 when the old, rickety wooden bleachers were replaced with aluminum ones, raising the capacity to 52,005.

In 2003, suites and club seating were added to the east side of the stadium, raising the capacity to 53,750.[8] Since the 2003 renovation, 137 seats with obstructed views have been removed, lowering the seating capacity to 53,613.[9]

In 2014, construction for a further expansion started. This expansion included a new indoor practice facility, a high performance sports center, as well as extra seating on the northeast corner of the stadium.[10][11]

Before the start of the 2016 season, as part of a $156 million dollar initiative, the north endzone was completely rebuilt. Existing bleachers were renovated into large boxes, club level seating & areas.

The most recent renovation replaced the south endzone's video board, in addition to extending the ribbon board. Completed before the start of the 2024 season, the new video board is over five times the surface area of the previous video board.[12]

Playing surface

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From 1924 through 1970, the playing surface at Folsom Field was natural grass. In the summer of 1971, AstroTurf was installed and the first game played on the new surface was a 56–13 win over Wyoming on September 18.[13] Unranked in the preseason, the 1971 Buffs finished third in the AP Poll behind Nebraska and Oklahoma, for a sweep of the top three spots by the Big Eight Conference.[14][15] The synthetic turf was replaced in 1978 and again in 1989, with "Astroturf-8."[16]

After 28 years of AstroTurf, Folsom Field returned to natural grass in the spring of 1999.[17] The project, which included bio-thermal heating, drainage, and a sub-air system, cost $1.2 million.

Other uses

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Concerts

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The Grateful Dead played at Folsom on September 3, 1972 and as part of their 15th anniversary June 7 & 8, 1980. The September 1972 show has been partially released on Dick's Picks Volume 36.

The Rolling Stones were at the venue on July 16, 1978 and October 3 & 4, 1981.

The stadium played host to a concert, later released on DVD, by the Dave Matthews Band on July 11, 2001. The band were fined $15,000 for playing 15 minutes over the stadium's curfew time. Afterwards, no concerts were held at Folsom Field for fifteen years.[18]

The stadium hosted Dead & Company for two-night stands during their 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022 summer tours. The band holds the record for number of performances at the venue, with 13 shows after the three night stand at Folsom Field for their final Summer Tour in 2023.

Date Artist Opening act(s) Tour / Concert name Attendance Revenue Notes
September 7, 1969 Country Joe and the Fish Steve Miller Band
Buddy Guy 		[19]
September 3, 1972 Grateful Dead Summer '72 Tour Rained during show. Officially released on Dick's Picks Volume 36.
May 10, 1975 The Doobie Brothers Henry Gross,
Golden Earring,
War 		[20]
May 1, 1977 Colorado Sun Day Festival
Fleetwood Mac, Bob Seger, Firefall, John Sebastian 		[21]
May 13, 1978 The Beach Boys Journey [22]
July 16, 1978 The Rolling Stones US Tour 1978 60,000 / 60,000 $690,000
July 21, 1978 Fleetwood Mac Rumours Tour
July 29, 1978 Eagles Steve Miller Band [23]
May 13, 1979 The Doobie Brothers [24]
June 7, 1980 Grateful Dead Warren Zevon Summer '80 Tour
June 8, 1980
June 28, 1980 Eagles [25]
July 19, 1980 REO Speedwagon [26]
October 3, 1981 The Rolling Stones American Tour 1981 120,000 $1,920,000
October 4, 1981
August 21, 1982 REO Speedwagon [27]
October 17, 1982 The Who [28]
August 30, 1983 Simon & Garfunkel [29]
July 12, 1986 Colorado Sun Day Festival
Van Halen, Loverboy, Dio, Bachman-Turner Overdrive 		5150 Tour
August 13, 1989 The Who [30]
May 26, 1993 Paul McCartney The New World Tour 37,245 / 39,137 $1,210,463
July 11, 2001 Dave Matthews Band Angelique Kidjo
Wyclef Jean 		Summer 2001 Tour 43,041 / 43,041 $2,130,593 This show was recorded for the album and DVD entitled, Live at Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado.[31]
July 2, 2016 Dead & Company Dead & Company Summer Tour 2016 49,166 / 85,582 $4,179,233 Dead & Company holds the record for number of performances at the venue, with 13 shows[32]
July 3, 2016
June 9, 2017 Dead & Company Summer Tour 2017 55,882 / 86,982 $4,365,860
June 10, 2017
July 13, 2018 Dead & Company Summer Tour 2018 62,904 / 86,982 $5,369,669
July 14, 2018
July 5, 2019 Dead & Company Summer Tour 2019 67,835 / 86,982 $6,512,990
July 6, 2019
June 17, 2022 Dead & Company Summer Tour 2022 55,601 / 85,646[33] $6,112,360
June 18, 2022
July 1, 2023 Dead & Company Summer Tour 2023 131,450 tickets sold spanning all three shows[34] $13,371,629
July 2, 2023
July 3, 2023
August 17, 2024 Tyler Childers Mule Pull ’24 Tour [35]
June 29, 2024 Odesza Bob Moses

Big Boi

Golden Features

The Last Goodbye: Finale First EDM show at Folsom Field
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The south end zone was featured in the opening and closing credits of the late 1970s television show Mork and Mindy, which was set in Boulder.

Other events

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Folsom Field is also used as the finish line for the Bolder Boulder, a popular 10K run.

The first Promise Keepers stadium conference was held at Folsom in June 1992.

Attendance records

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The largest crowd for a CU football game at Folsom Field was 54,972 in 2005, against in-state rival Colorado State on September 3, in which the Buffaloes won with a 47-yard field goal by Mason Crosby with four seconds remaining.[36] This early-season, non-conference rivalry game, the Rocky Mountain Showdown, is more often played in neutral Denver at Mile High Stadium and its successor Empower Field at Mile High.[1]

The largest crowd ever at Folsom Field was in 1977 for a rock concert, one of the popular Colorado Sun Day concert series. The attendance on May 1 was an estimated 61,500 (exceeding the seating capacity by about 9,000) for a show featuring Fleetwood Mac, Bob Seger, Firefall, and John Sebastian.

 
The east side of the stadium with the newer club and suite level suites; "1990 National Champions" noted between the two suite levels
 
View to southwest & flatirons in 2008
Highest attendance at Folsom Field
Rank Attendance Date Game result
1 54,972 September 3, 2005 Colorado 31, Colorado State 28
2 54,954 September 4, 2004 Colorado 27, Colorado State 24
3 54,841 November 25, 2005 Colorado 3, Nebraska 30
4 54,646 November 16, 2024 #17 Colorado 49, Utah 24
5 54,215 October 25, 2003 Colorado 20, #1 Oklahoma 34
6 54,063 October 28, 1995 #7 Colorado 21, #2 Nebraska 44
7 54,032 September 30, 2023 Colorado 41, #8 USC 48
8 53,972 October 12, 2024 Colorado 28, #18 Kansas State 31
9 53,927 October 4, 2008 Colorado 14, #5 Texas 38
10 53,849 September 23, 1995 #7 Colorado 29, #3 Texas A&M 21
History of attendance of Folsom Field
Season Coach Games Sellouts W-L-T Attendance Average
1937 Oakes 6 6–0–0 46,826 7,804
1942 Yeager 4 4–0–0 15,796 3,949
1946 Yeager 5 4–0–1 53,000 10,600
1947 Yeager 4 2–2–0 54,000 13,500
1948 Ward 5 3–2–0 79,479 15,896
1949 Ward 5 2–3–0 98,776 19,755
1950 Ward 5 4–1–0 97,748 19,550
1951 Ward 5 5–0–0 107,121 21,424
1952 Ward 5 2 3–0–2 123,481 24,696
1953 Ward 5 3–2–0 113,640 22,728
1954 Ward 5 2 3–2–0 129,700 25,940
1955 Ward 5 1 4–1–0 113,500 22,700
1956 Ward 5 2 3–2–0 175,000 35,000
1957 Ward 5 3–2–0 152,500 30,500
1958 Ward 5 1 2–3–0 187,500 37,500
1959 Grandelius 6 3–3–0 177,903 29,651
1960 Grandelius 5 1 4–1–0 185,653 37,131
1961 Grandelius 6 1 5–1–0 199,987 33,331
1962 Davis 4 2–2–0 116,000 29,000
1963 Crowder 5 1–4–0 135,000 27,000
1964 Crowder 5 1–4–0 140,600 28,120
1965 Crowder 5 3–1–1 129,700 25,940
1966 Crowder 5 1 3–2–0 196,188 39,238
1967 Crowder 5 4–1–0 196,817 39,363
1968 Crowder 5 1 3–2–0 215,574 43,115
1969 Crowder 5 5–0–0 175,104 35,021
1970 Crowder 5 1 3–2–0 219,521 43,904
1971 Crowder 5 5–0–0 220,171 44,034
1972 Crowder 6 3 5–1–0 307,044 51,174
1973 Crowder 5 3–2–0 246,521 49,304
1974 Mallory 5 2 3–2–0 253,762 50,752
1975 Mallory 6 6–0–0 281,199 46,867
1976 Mallory 6 2 5–1–0 300,191 50,032
1977 Mallory 6 2 5–1–0 293,483 48,914
1978 Mallory 8 2 5–3–0 383,048 47,881
1979 Fairbanks 6 1–5–0 265,956 44,326
1980 Fairbanks 6 1 1–5–0 245,868 40,978
1981 Fairbanks 6 3–3–0 209,224 34,871
1982 McCartney 7 1 1–6–0 287,023 41,003
1983 McCartney 6 1 3–3–0 237,674 39,612
1984 McCartney 6 1 1–5–0 235,670 39,278
1985 McCartney 6 4–2–0 220,734 36,789
1986 McCartney 6 2 3–3–0 269,546 44,924
1987 McCartney 6 1 4–2–0 268,711 44,785
1988 McCartney 6 4–2–0 235,142 39,190
1989 McCartney 6 2 6–0–0 293,726 48,954
1990 McCartney 6 4 6–0–0 310,374 51,729
1991 McCartney 6 4 4–1–1 311,458 51,910
1992 McCartney 6 4 5–0–1 309,900 51,650
1993 McCartney 6 5 4–2–0 311,360 51,893
1994 McCartney 6 3 6–0–0 304,897 50,816
1995 Neuheisel 6 4 4–2–0 312,958 52,160
1996 Neuheisel 6 4 5–1 312,586 52,098
1997 Neuheisel 6 2 3–3 309,947 51,658
1998 Neuheisel 6 5–1 284,512 47,419
1999 Barnett 5 1 4–1 239,313 47,863
2000 Barnett 5 1–4 249,950 49,990
2001 Barnett 6 1 5–1 284,848 47,475
2002 Barnett 6 2 5–1 295,286 49,214
2003 Barnett 6 2 3–3 302,588 50,431
2004 Barnett 6 1 4–2 287,368 47,895
2005 Barnett 6 2 5–1 302,452 50,409
2006 Hawkins 6 2–4 276,286 46,048
2007 Hawkins 6 3–3 303,051 50,509
2008 Hawkins 6 1 4–2 296,858 49,476
2009 Hawkins 6 3–3 300,527 50,088
2010 Hawkins 6 4–2 281,182 46,864
2011 Embree 5 1–4 251,777 50,355
2012 Embree 6 0–6 273,235 45,539
2013 MacIntyre 6 3–3 230,773 38,462
2014 MacIntyre 6 1–5 226,670 37,778
2015 MacIntyre 6 2–4 236,331 39,389
2016 MacIntyre 6 1 6–0 279,652 46,609
2017 MacIntyre 6 3–3 282,335 47,056
2018 MacIntyre 6 3–3 274,852 45,809
2019 Tucker 6 2 3–3 297,435 49,573
2020 Dorrell 3 2–1 — —
2021 Dorrell 6 4–2 278,906 46,484
2022 Dorrell 6 1–5 257,084 42,847
2023 Sanders 6 6 2–4 319,081 53,180
 
View from the club level seats before the football Spring Game on April 14, 2007
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  •  
    Facade built prior to 2003 season on July 13, 2006
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    Interior view, 2007
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    View to the southwest of the Flatirons in 2016
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    A view of the north side of the stadium in 2016
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    New video boards were added before the 2012 season.
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    Folsom Field's east side as it looked in 2016 after the addition of the Champions Center.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Folsom Field Home". University of Colorado Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on October 20, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2007.
  2. ^ "Historic Building Inventory Record" (PDF). Colorado Historical Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 28, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  3. ^ Colorado.edu - CU campus map
  4. ^ Color aerial view (& topographic map) of CU campus from USGS via Microsoft Research Maps
  5. ^ a b "CUATL Ep. 9: The Man Behind Folsom Field". University of Colorado Boulder Libraries. University of Colorado Boulder. December 2, 2019.
  6. ^ "Folsom track goes". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. June 24, 1966. p. 26.
  7. ^ "New track ready for Colorado meet". Lawrence Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. April 28, 1967. p. 15.
  8. ^ "Folsom Field History". University of Colorado Department of Athletics. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  9. ^ "Game 2–California" (PDF). University of Colorado Department of Athletics. September 7, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 16, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  10. ^ Whitehair, Stuart (January 2, 2012). "Colorado Daily – January". CU at the Game. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  11. ^ "Fly through of the upcoming Colorado Buffaloes facilities upgrades". 14 April 2014.
  12. ^ "CU Boulder Folsom Field South Scoreboard Renovation". www.mortenson.com. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  13. ^ "Colorado rolls past Wyoming". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. September 19, 1971. p. 9, sports.
  14. ^ "Grid poll sweep for Big Eight; Huskers, Sooners, Buffs, 1, 2, 3". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 4, 1972. p. 12.
  15. ^ College FB Data Warehouse Archived 2012-11-14 at the Wayback Machine 1971 Final AP poll
  16. ^ CU Buffs.com Folsom Field playing surface
  17. ^ "Colorado stadium changing to grass". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. December 4, 1998. p. 2B.
  18. ^ Sounart, Christie (1 June 2016). "Return of the Dead". Coloradan Alumni Magazine. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  19. ^ "Paul Epstein's "Let Me Take You Down (to the basement)" #8 | Colorado Music Hall of Fame". March 14, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  20. ^ "The Doobie Brothers Setlist at Folsom Field, Boulder". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  21. ^ "Fleetwood Mac Setlist at Folsom Field, Boulder". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  22. ^ "The Beach Boys Setlist at Folsom Field, Boulder". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  23. ^ "Eagles Setlist at Folsom Field, Boulder". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  24. ^ "The Doobie Brothers Setlist at Colorado Sun-Day 1979 #1". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  25. ^ "Eagles Setlist at Folsom Field, Boulder". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  26. ^ "REO Speedwagon Setlist at Colorado Sun-Day 1980". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  27. ^ "REO Speedwagon Setlist at Folsom Field, Boulder". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  28. ^ "The Who Setlist at Folsom Field, Boulder". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  29. ^ "Simon & Garfunkel Setlist at Folsom Field, Boulder". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  30. ^ "The Who Setlist at Folsom Field, Boulder". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  31. ^ "DMBAlmanac entry for 7.11.01". Retrieved 2009-07-12.
  32. ^ "Dead & Company's Epic History, by the Numbers". Grateful Web. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  33. ^ "Pollstar 2022 Top 300 Concert Grosses" (PDF). Pollstar. December 12, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  34. ^ Allen, Bob (2023-07-13). "HOT TICKETS: JULY 13, 2023 - VenuesNow". Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  35. ^ "Tyler Childers to Bring Global "Mule Pull '24 Tour" to Folsom Field next August". University of Colorado Athletics. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  36. ^ "Colorado State – Three-Peat over the Rams – CU at the Game".
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