Designing football stadiums is no easy task. Architects must take several factors into consideration, including a stadium’s location, the fan experience, and accessibility. They must also ensure the stadium is measured accurately for fair play. Texas is well known for its football culture and is home to many professional and collegiate football teams. Here, we will take a look at some of the biggest football stadiums throughout the Lone Star State and the characteristics that make each stadium unique.
Kyle Field
Kyle Field Stadium, home of the Texas A&M Aggies, is the largest stadium in Texas. This stadium has a length of 750 feet and a width of 600 feet and features a seating capacity of over 102,000. While the permanent seating on the west and east sides of this stadium was added in 1927, the school expanded the stadium in 1967 to make way for two decks of grandstands. The third decks were added in 1980. Although A&M switched to artificial turf in the 1970s, they switched back to grass in 1996.
AT&T Stadium
Once known as the Cowboys Stadium, the AT&T Stadium is located in Arlington and is considered the third-largest football stadium in Texas. While the playing field is a standard size for the NFL, the stadium measures 3.1 million square feet. This stadium is home to the Dallas Cowboys as well as the Cotton Bowl Classic. While it has an official seating capacity of 80,000, it can expand to hold up to 100,000 spectators for larger events.
NRG Stadium
NRG Stadium (formerly known as Reliant Stadium) has a maximum capacity of over 72,000 and is home to the Houston Texans football team. This stadium spans 12 acres and features a playing field of 97,000 square feet. NRG Stadium was built in order to replace the Astrodome in 2002 and has since hosted two Super Bowls. It also features the largest digital displays in any professional sports venue at both end zones. These displays total over 14,000 square feet.
Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
Known as the second largest stadium in Texas, the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is located in Austin and is the home field for the University of Texas Longhorns football team. With an official seating capacity of over 100,000, it is also among the largest football stadiums in the country and one of the largest in the world. This stadium has a gross square footage of over 430,000 feet and features 52 suites. While it was originally called the Memorial Stadium, the university changed its name to honor legendary coach Darrell K Royal, who led the Texas Longhorns to receive three national championships during his tenure.
Regardless of size, these Texas venues have a rich history and plenty of character that makes each stadium unique in its own way. One thing every football stadium has in common is that it was built using accurate measurements. While the measurements differ in size and stadium layout, each stadium must be built on correct measurements and calculations.
