Upcoming Texas Tech Red Raiders 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.
Lubbock seat strategy in one paragraph
For Texas Tech football, aim for a sideline seat inside the 30s, about 15 to 35 rows up, on the west side of Galaxy Stadium. You get a full view, the afternoon sun stays at your back, and because the field is sunk well below grade, those mid-level rows feel closer than they would elsewhere. On a budget, take the south end zone over the north. If you want noise, sit near the students; if you want to sit down, do not.
A sunken bowl with four distinct sides
Its first game came on November 29, 1947, when it carried the names of Clifford B. Jones, Texas Tech's third president, and Audrey Jones. Sponsors added SBC in 2000 and AT&T in 2006. When AT&T chose not to renew, the university signed Galaxy Digital to a 15-year deal, announced July 17, 2026, and the building became Galaxy Stadium. Plenty of fans still say "The Jones," and older ticket listings may use the old name. The field itself is Cody Campbell Field.
The playing surface runs north to south about 30 feet below street level. Fans enter on a concourse at the rim of the lower bowl and step down to their seats, which keeps stair climbs short for most lower-level seats.
- West: the press box building, finished in 2003, with suites and club seats.
- East: a Spanish Renaissance facade completed in 2010, with more suites and club seating.
- North end zone: a high-definition video board added for 2013, set within a colonnade.
- South end zone: a premium-seat and athletics complex that went up between late 2022 and 2024, crowned by a new edition of the Double T scoreboard, a landmark here since 1978.
Sources differ on capacity. Wikipedia gives 60,229, and the attendance high of 61,836 came when Oklahoma State Cowboys Football visited in 2013.
West for shade, south for replays, students for noise
Sun
With a north-south field, the west stands around the press box keep the afternoon sun behind you, and east-side fans look into it. That gap matters most at early-season day games on the South Plains. At night it disappears.
Students
The student section is big: 13,750 seats across 14 sections at the last published count, and ESPN once rated it the Big 12's top student section. Expect anyone nearby to stand all game.
End zones
Both ends are value seats. At the south end, the Double T scoreboard is behind you; at the north end, the main video board hangs overhead. That makes the south end zone the better place to watch replays.
Premium
Club and suite seats on the west, east and south sides are sold mostly as season packages and turn up on resale only now and then.
When Lubbock sells out: rivals and big visitors
- Baylor Bears Football: Tech's most frequent opponent, first played in 1929 and every season since 1956.
- TCU Horned Frogs Football: the West Texas Championship and its Saddle Trophy, revived in 2017 for a series that began in 1926.
- Houston Cougars Football: a Southwest Conference rivalry that came back to life once both schools landed in the Big 12.
- Texas Longhorns football and Texas A&M Aggies football: historic rivals that went quiet after both moved to the SEC. Any return to Lubbock would be a heavy-demand date.
The largest crowds turn out for ranked Big 12 visitors such as UCF Knights Football or Oklahoma State in a strong year, Baylor or TCU, Homecoming and night kickoffs. Season tickets sold out for the first time in 2014, and good seasons since have pushed demand past what the athletic department offers for single games.
Red Raider Club giving and the resale route
Prime sideline seats and reserved parking go to season ticket holders who give to the Red Raider Club, and larger gifts unlock better locations. Students get a large university allotment. For the most popular games, the athletic department usually has only a small number of single-game seats.
That makes resale the main door into big games in Lubbock. Season holders list games they cannot attend, so supply depends on the matchup. Rivalry dates and ranked opponents draw the strongest demand, while softer non-conference games often see prices fall as kickoff nears. Every Reserved Seat order comes with a 100% guarantee.
Gameday in Lubbock: Masked Rider, lots and bags
- The Masked Rider: the school's longest-serving mascot and the nation's first official mascot on horseback. A rider first galloped around the field before games in 1936, the role was made official at the 1954 Gator Bowl, and the horse and rider still charge out ahead of the team, guns up, before every home game.
- The Goin' Band from Raiderland: roughly 450 musicians wearing matador-inspired capes and gaucho hats. The nickname dates to 1926, when it became the first college band to go to an away game, a trip to Fort Worth for TCU that Will Rogers helped pay for.
- Raider Red: the costumed mascot, introduced in 1971 and based on a character drawn by alumnus Dirk West.
Parking and access
As of the 2026 season, gameday lots open at 7:30 a.m., RV areas open the Friday evening before, and a Citibus shuttle starts three hours before kickoff. Three hours out, Wes Kittley Drive of Champions shuts to vehicle traffic, so plan your route around it. Lubbock is a long drive from the state's other big cities; book a hotel early for high-demand weekends.
Bags and seat cushions
As of 2026, the approved carry options are a see-through tote (plastic, vinyl or PVC) of 12 x 6 x 12 inches or less, a gallon-size clear freezer bag, or a clutch about as big as your hand. Leave backpacks, fanny packs, camera cases and diaper bags behind. Seat cushions and seatbacks can be up to 16 inches across if they have no arms or pockets, and blankets get the green light on cold days. Check the Texas Tech clear bag policy before you go.
From the Matadors to a Big 12 title
Texas Tech first played in 1925 as the Matadors, a name picked to suit the campus's Spanish Renaissance buildings. In 1934 a Los Angeles sportswriter described the team's scarlet satin uniforms in a way that produced "Red Raiders," and the name became official in 1937. Tech won nine Border Conference titles, began Southwest Conference play in 1960 and helped found the Big 12 in 1996. Winning the 2025 Big 12 Championship Game gave Tech its first Big 12 crown and 12th conference title overall.
The modern identity is the passing game. Mike Leach, who coached from 2000 through 2009 and owns the school record for wins, made Tech a bowl regular. Four Tech quarterbacks took home the Sammy Baugh Trophy (Kliff Kingsbury, B.J. Symons, Graham Harrell and Patrick Mahomes), and Michael Crabtree became the first receiver to win the Biletnikoff Award in consecutive seasons.
Frequently asked questions
Why do some listings still say Jones AT&T Stadium?
That was the name from 2006 until 2026. AT&T did not renew, and Texas Tech announced a 15-year deal with Galaxy Digital on July 17, 2026, so the stadium is now Galaxy Stadium.
Which end zone is better at Galaxy Stadium?
The south end zone. The main video board hangs over the north end, so replays are easier to watch from the south, where the Double T scoreboard sits behind you.
Where is the shade at Texas Tech football games?
On the west side, around the press box, for afternoon games. The east stands face the sun because the field runs north to south.
How big is the Texas Tech student section?
At the last published count it had 13,750 seats across 14 sections, and ESPN once rated it the Big 12's top student section. Expect to stand if you sit nearby.
Are seat cushions allowed at Galaxy Stadium?
Yes. As of 2026, cushions and seatbacks up to 16 inches across are allowed as long as they have no arms or pockets, and blankets are fine on cold days. Confirm the rules with Texas Tech before kickoff.
When do parking lots open for Texas Tech home games?
As of the 2026 season, gameday lots open at 7:30 a.m., and RV areas open the Friday evening before. A Citibus shuttle begins three hours before kickoff.