Army Black Knights Football Tickets and Seating

By the Reserved Seat editorial teamUpdated October 1, 2026How we research

Upcoming Army Black Knights Football dates

Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.

Before you pick a Michie seat: the numbers changed

The first thing to know about Army tickets for 2026 is that Michie Stadium's sections were renumbered and its rows switched from letters to numbers. A seat you sat in two seasons ago, or one described on an old chart or forum, may now carry a different label. Work only from a current seating chart.

With that settled, the choice is simpler than at a big conference stadium. Army plays at Michie Stadium on the U.S. Military Academy campus at West Point, New York, from early September through November, in a venue that holds well under 40,000. Most seats are close to the field. Your real decisions are sun versus shade, old stands versus new, and how much of the Corps of Cadets you want between you and the action.

West side, East Stands and the Corps

The field runs north to south, and the press box sits above the west sideline. For a day game, west-side seats keep the sun at your back, which makes them the comfortable choice from September into October.

The East Stands are new. The Preservation Project replaced the 1962 structure with a 160,000-square-foot building holding premium seating, hospitality spaces, improved accessibility, and the stadium's newest restrooms and concourses. The trade-off is the sun: east-side fans face it during afternoon games.

Sitting near the cadets

The athletics department describes the Corps of Cadets section as running from end zone to end zone, so the cadets frame the game. They stand for all four quarters. That is a big part of the spectacle, but if your seat sits directly behind them, plan to stand as well or pick a row high enough to see over.

Rows for the view

The setting is the reason many fans come. Higher rows look past Lusk Reservoir toward the Hudson Valley, with Fort Putnam above the stadium, and Sports Illustrated once ranked Michie the third-best sports venue of the 20th century for exactly that view. If the scenery matters to you, buy height over a front-row seat.

Air Force years and other big dates

The Army–Air Force game is the hottest home ticket in years when it comes to West Point. It is usually played on the first Saturday in November, and Air Force hosts in odd-numbered years, so Army hosts in even years, including 2026. The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, decided among the three service academies, is often on the line; Army has won it 10 times, most recently in 2023. For the Falcons' side of the series, see Air Force Falcons Football.

Notre Dame is the other historic rival, and many of those meetings have been neutral-site games, so check where a given year's game is played (see Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football). A ranked conference opponent can also fill the stadium.

The Army-Navy Game is a separate purchase. It is played on the second Saturday of December at a neutral NFL stadium, with the 2026 edition at MetLife Stadium. West Point has hosted it only twice, in 1943 and in 2020, when pandemic limits moved it to campus.

Getting onto the post on gameday

West Point is an active military installation, and entering it is the part of an Army trip most visitors underestimate. For its December 2024 conference title game, the Academy required every fan 17 and older to show a valid ID at the gate, ran shuttles from remote lots including H Lot and Buffalo Soldier Field, sent accessible parking through Stony Lonesome Gate, and urged fans to arrive early. Procedures can vary by game, so read the Academy's community notices for your date.

Inside, the six concession stands that opened in 2026 are all cashless; bring a card or phone wallet. The project also added a fan store and moved the Army Athletic Hall of Fame to Victory Plaza. Get to your seat before the Corps marches in, one of the best moments of the day.

Clear bags and screening for 2026

As of the 2026 season, ticketed events at Michie Stadium use a clear-bag policy (bags must be transparent):

one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or
one clear gallon-size or smaller plastic freezer bag, plus
one small clutch or wallet, no handle or strap, up to 8 by 5 by 2 inches.

Leave backpacks, coolers, fanny packs, umbrellas, outside food and drink, water bottles and non-approved seat cushions behind. Each gate uses walk-through weapons screening, and most fans can keep phones, keys and watches in their pockets. Stadium Bag Policies compares these rules with other venues, and the Army athletics announcement has the current version.

Season, single-game and resale seats

Army's athletics department sells season tickets, single-game tickets and, since the East Stands opened, premium seats. The cadets attend as a unit rather than through a student ticket lottery, but they take up a large part of a small stadium, which tightens the supply left for everyone else.

An early-season game against a smaller opponent rarely needs an early purchase. The Air Force game in even years, a Notre Dame visit or a ranked conference opponent can sell out, and resale becomes the main way in. Resale prices on those dates follow the stakes, how many fans the visitor brings and the forecast. Every Reserved Seat order is backed by a 100% guarantee, and Are Resale Tickets Legit? explains how secondary-market tickets work.

Blaik, Blanchard and the Black Knights story

Army football began in 1890 when Navy challenged the cadets to a game of the new sport, which started one of college football's oldest rivalries. Dennis Michie organized and coached that first team, and the stadium named for him opened in 1924 with a 17–0 win over Saint Louis University. The field has been Blaik Field since 1999 and the venue now carries the name Michie Stadium Preserved by USAA.

The program peaked under Earl Blaik, coach from 1941 to 1958, with claimed national titles in 1944, 1945 and 1946 to go with earlier claims in 1914 and 1916. Doc Blanchard (1945) and Glenn Davis (1946) won back-to-back Heisman Trophies, and Pete Dawkins won a third in 1958.

Army spent most of its history as an independent, apart from Conference USA from 1998 to 2004. It joined the American Athletic Conference, now the American Conference, as a football-only member in 2024 and won the title that first year with an 8–0 league record. The bowl record stands at 9–3, the Black Knights name dates to 1999, and the mule has been the mascot since 1936.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn't my old Michie Stadium seat number match the chart?

The 2026 renovation renumbered the sections and replaced lettered rows with numbered rows. Use a current seating chart when you buy.

Which side of Michie Stadium gets shade?

The west side, under the press box. The field runs north to south, so west-side seats have the sun behind them for day games, while the East Stands face it.

When does Army host Air Force?

In even-numbered years, including 2026. Air Force hosts in odd years, and the game is usually on the first Saturday in November.

Do adults need ID to get into West Point for a game?

For its December 2024 title game the Academy required valid ID for every fan 17 and older. Check the Academy's notice for your game, since rules can vary.

How many fans does Michie Stadium hold now?

Wikipedia lists about 36,000 for 2026 and Army's athletics site cites 38,000. During construction in 2024 and 2025 it held about 30,000.

Can I see the Army-Navy Game at Michie Stadium?

Usually not. The game is played at a neutral NFL stadium in December, and West Point has hosted it only in 1943 and 2020.

Army Black Knights Football Tickets