FROM CONVERSATION TO COMPLETION
A look at how the stadium was built, from a conversation between a former Rams quarterback and a now-former athletic director, to opening day Saturday.
Where is it located?
On the Colorado State University main campus in Fort Collins, at the intersection of Pitkin Street and Meridian Avenue. CSU’s previous stadium was more than 3 miles west of the main campus, below a dam of Horsetooth Reservoir. When are CSU’s home games this season?
The Rams open their new stadium Saturday against Oregon State. They also will host Abilene Christian (Sept. 9), Nevada (Oct. 14), Air Force (Oct. 28), Boise State (Nov. 11) and San Jose State (Nov. 28).
Where can I tailgate?
Tailgating rules differ pending parking lot location, which can be found online at csurams.com. In approved areas, tailgates can take place only within each space and tents must not exceed 10 by 10 feet. Tailgating begins four hours before the game’s start time and ends 30 minutes after kickoff.
How else can I get to the game? Vehicle traffic in and around the vicinity of the on-campus stadium is sure to be congested, and several neighborhoods in the area will be blocked from public travel. Encouraged alternative modes of transportation include bicycle (parking available throughout campus and near the stadium), pedicabs, ride-share services (Uber, Lyft, etc.), Max Bus (Prospect Station) and Transfort shuttle. Can I still buy tickets?
Tickets through CSU have been sold out for Saturday’s game, but seats are being offered on secondary online resale websites (stubhub.com, ticketmaster.com, etc.) starting at more than $100 per ticket.
How’s the cell service?
With an expected crowd of more than 40,000, it’s more than likely the signal will be affected. However, CSU’s on-campus stadium is equipped with free wireless internet, available on this network: CSUStadiumWifi.
What else will be happening at the new stadium?
Even before the first kickoff, CSU hosted about 20 special events in the on-campus stadium, and that will continue well into football season. On Monday, Sept. 4, the inaugural Fortitude 10K road race will finish at Sonny Lubick Field (visit fortitude10k.boulderboulder.com for more information). CSU also is hosting a free summer concert series at the venue that it’s calling “Stadium Sessions.” On Friday nights and in the hours leading up to Saturday home games, a total of 30 bands across three campus stages will perform throughout the fall, including The Patti Fiasco, Slow Caves, Danielle Ate the Sandwich, Flobots, In the Whale, Porlolo, Post Paradise, Edison, The Burroughs, Last Call Romance and others.
What should I wear?
The first kickoff of the season will be featured as a “Stripe the Stadium” game. Students and fans in odd sections (including Section 126) should wear green. Fans in even sections (excluding Section 126) should wear white. According to The Weather Channel, the high temperature Saturday in Fort Collins is expected to be 86 degrees, with mostly sunny skies.
What can I bring?
CSU has adopted the NFL’s “clear bag policy.” The only approved bags include: A clear plastic/vinyl bag that does not exceed 12 by 6 by 12 inches, 1-gallon reusable clear storage bags and small clutch bags of any color/type that do not exceed 4½ by 6½ inches. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, aluminum bottles, metal cans, artificial noisemakers, camera lenses larger than 4 inches, marijuana, tobacco products and video cameras.
Where can I park?
• Student parking lots: 115, 145, 170, 577
• $20 single-game parking lots: 725, 740, CSURF, NRRC A, NRRC D (cash only)
• Season-ticket holder lots (no donation): 325, 330, 332, 335, 440, 575, 620, 625
• $100 annual donation lots: 305, 310, 349, 350, 444, 445
• $500 annual donation lots: 180, 195, 215, 245, 540, 570
• $2,500 annual donation lots: 210G, 210R, 220, 230, 412, 425, 470
• $10,000 annual donation lots: 236, 475, 240
Note: Please reference campus parking map for lot number locations and shuttle information. What is the schedule of events for Saturday’s season opener?
• 8:30 a.m.: Parking lots open and pregame activities begin (alumni association tailgate at the Iris and Michael Smith Alumni Center / Ram Town on the practice fields west of the stadium / Ram partner tailgates on Meridian Avenue and Pitkin Avenue).
• 10 a.m.: Stadium gates open. • Noon: Stadium pregame show begins.
• 12:36 p.m.: Kickoff against Oregon State.
By the numbers
• 41,000: Stadium capacity (seating for 36,500)
• 884: Club seats
• 224: Loge box seats
• 23: Private suites
• 4,242: Square footage of the southside video board
• 17.56: Acres the facility covers on CSU’s campus
• 123: Building height (in feet) peak
• 9,100: Square footage of the Rams’ weight room
• 120: Individual lockers in the Rams’ locker room
• 150: Seats in the Rams’ theaterstyle team meeting room
• 10,000: Student section seats • 40,530: Cubic yards of concrete used in stadium construction • 6,640,000: Pounds of rebar used in construction
• 70,000: Cubic yards of dirt excavated in construction
• 12: Women’s restrooms on the concourse
• 10: Men’s restrooms on the concourse