Upcoming Stanford Cardinal 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.
Choosing a Stanford Stadium seat: the quick verdict
For the best all-around view of a Stanford game, sit on a sideline between the 30-yard lines, ideally on the southwest side for an afternoon kickoff so the sun stays behind you. If you want to spend less, the end zones at Stanford Stadium are a better bargain than at most big college venues, because they are shallow and keep you close to the action.
Three facts drive almost every seat decision here:
- Size: the stadium holds 50,424, small by major-conference standards, so even upper rows feel connected to the field.
- Depth: the sidelines rise 43 rows, while the end zones stop at 22 rows.
- Elevation: the field sits 29 feet below ground level, so you walk in at the concourse and step down to most seats rather than climbing.
How the rebuilt Farm stadium shapes your view
Stanford tore down its original 1921 bowl after the 2005 season. That stadium had held more than 85,000 and hosted Super Bowl XIX in 1985, but a running track kept fans far from the play. The replacement opened on September 16, 2006, without the track and with roughly 35,000 fewer seats. The trade-off works in your favor: the building is a tight rectangle, and nearly every seat faces the field squarely.
Sideline seats
The 43-row sidelines are the premium real estate. Lower rows put you at field level for the sound and speed of the game, while rows in the upper half give the cleaner tactical view, where you can watch a route develop or a pocket collapse. Below the skybox, the sideline sections run 30 rows, which keeps those seats under the press level rather than beneath a deep overhang.
End zone and corner seats
With only 22 rows, the end zones never get far from the goal line. You will see scoring plays up close and the far 30 yards of the field at a distance. Corners in the lower sideline rows split the difference on both view and cost, and they are often the smartest middle-ground buy.
Premium spaces
Director's Level seats, Field Boxes, Archway Cabanas for groups of up to 20 and the Sky Deck Lounge for larger parties are sold mainly through the athletics ticket office. Expect them to appear on the resale market only occasionally.
Sun exposure on the northeast and southwest sides
The field runs northwest to southeast. During an afternoon game, fans on the southwest side have the sun at their backs, and fans on the northeast side look into it. Early-season afternoons in the Bay Area can run warm, so a northeast-side ticket for a September day game calls for a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. For night games and late-autumn kickoffs, the difference fades and you can choose on view alone.
This orientation note is drawn from the stadium layout, not from a published sun chart, so treat it as a planning guide rather than a guarantee for every row.
Which Cardinal home games are hardest to get into
The Big Game against California Golden Bears Football is the date that fills the stadium. First played in 1892, it is the oldest rivalry in the western United States, and the winner has taken home the Stanford Axe since 1933. Hosting alternates: Stanford hosts in odd-numbered years, Berkeley in even years, with kickoff traditionally in late November or early December. Rally week includes the Gaieties, a student stage show that mocks the rivalry, and the 1982 meeting gave the sport "The Play," Cal's five-lateral kickoff return through the Stanford band.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football is the other big draw. The two programs play for the Legends Trophy and have met nearly every season since 1988. Since joining the ACC in 2024, Stanford's protected annual opponents are Cal and SMU Mustangs Football, and the league moved to nine conference games in 2026. Old series with USC Trojans Football, Oregon and UCLA no longer come around every year.
- Plan early: the Big Game in odd years and any Notre Dame visit.
- Moderate demand: Homecoming and strong ACC opponents.
- Easy to find: early non-conference games.
Caltrain, campus lots and the tailgate window
Few college stadiums are this easy to reach without a car. The Palo Alto Caltrain station is a short walk away, the free Marguerite shuttle circles campus, and BART, SamTrans and VTA all feed the area. Rideshare drop-off is set up near the Oval. If you drive, you need a valid parking pass, and some general lots do not take cash.
According to Stanford Athletics, designated lots open five hours before kickoff for tailgating, and group tailgate packages are offered on Maloney Field and Avery Plaza. Gates open about 90 minutes before kickoff. Beer, wine and canned cocktails are sold inside through the third quarter; outside alcohol is not permitted.
Inside, watch for the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band, founded in 1893 and largely student-run since the 1960s. It calls itself "The World's Largest Rock and Roll Band," plays rock instead of marches and brings along its mascot, the Stanford Tree.
Clear bags, mobile tickets and the gates
As of the 2026 season, Stanford allows clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a small clutch up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches, at all athletics events. Security uses metal detectors at entry. Tickets are mobile only, and screenshots are not accepted, so load your tickets into your phone's wallet before you leave home. Rules change from year to year; confirm the details on Stanford's gameday central page before you go.
Buying Cardinal seats: plans, donors and resale
The athletics department sells season tickets, a three-game flex plan, single-game seats and group tickets for parties of 15 or more. Donor giving through the athletics fund generally sets priority for the best season locations. Students attend through the Red Zone student program, and season ticket members get first access to road-game allotments before the public.
In a stadium this size, most games are easy to attend. Resale becomes the main route only for odd-year Big Games and Notre Dame visits, when sideline seats go quickly and prices tend to climb if both teams have something on the line. Every Reserved Seat order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
From Pop Warner to the ACC: Stanford's football story
Stanford fielded its first team in 1891 and played in the first Rose Bowl, against Michigan in 1902. It has made 15 trips to the Rose Bowl Game, the third-most of any school. Pop Warner's 1926 team and Clark Shaughnessy's unbeaten 1940 "Wow Boys," who popularized the T-formation, account for the two national titles the school claims.
The program is best known for quarterbacks. Jim Plunkett won the 1970 Heisman Trophy, still Stanford's only winner, and John Elway and Andrew Luck both finished second. Bill Walsh coached on the Farm twice, and Jim Harbaugh's 2007 team beat top-ranked USC as a 41-point underdog in what many call the sport's biggest upset. The 2010s brought three Rose Bowl trips in four years and a No. 3 finish in 2015.
The name changed too: the Indians from 1930 to 1972, the Cardinals through 1981 and the singular Cardinal from 1982. After more than a century in the Pacific Coast Conference and its successors, Stanford moved to the ACC in 2024.
Frequently asked questions
Which side of Stanford Stadium is in the shade?
The field runs northwest to southeast, so for afternoon games the southwest-side seats have the sun behind them and the northeast side faces it. At night games the difference largely disappears.
Are end zone seats at Stanford Stadium worth it?
They are better than at most large stadiums. The end zones are only 22 rows deep, so you stay close to the goal line, though the far end of the field is a long look away.
What year does Stanford host the Big Game?
Stanford hosts California in odd-numbered years, and the game moves to Berkeley in even years. It is traditionally played in late November or early December.
Is Stanford Stadium reachable by train?
Yes. The Palo Alto Caltrain station is a short walk from the stadium, and the free Marguerite shuttle also runs across campus.
How big is the current Stanford Stadium?
It seats 50,424. The stadium was rebuilt in 2006, replacing a 1921 bowl that once held more than 85,000.
Can I print or screenshot my Stanford football ticket?
No. As of the 2026 season, Stanford uses mobile-only tickets and does not accept screenshots, so add the tickets to your phone's wallet before you arrive.