Constructed in 1973 at a cost of $12 million by Huber, Hunt, and Nichols, this 61,000-seat stadium has been the home of University of Kentucky Wildcats football for more than five decades. Originally called Commonwealth Stadium, the facility sits on an 86-acre plot that was once part of the UK Experimental Station Farm Grounds at 1540 University Drive in Lexington. The stadium officially opened on September 15, 1973 with a 31-26 victory over Virginia Tech, as quarterback Ernie Lewis ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to christen the new venue. Kentucky had spent the previous 48 years at Stoll Field and McLean Stadium across from Memorial Coliseum, and the move to a purpose-built facility marked a significant step in the program's ambitions. In 1999, both ends of the bowl were enclosed and 40 suites were added, raising capacity to 67,606. A $126 million renovation in 2015 reshaped the gameday experience, adding a new press box, loge and club seats, a recruiting room, updated suites, widened concourses, modern restrooms, stadium lighting, and a refreshed exterior facade. Capacity was trimmed to approximately 61,000 to improve comfort and sightlines. Two LED video boards measuring 37 feet high by 80 feet wide were installed during an earlier $6 million audio-visual upgrade in 2011, making each display among the largest in the country at the time. The playing surface is named C. M. Newton Grounds after the former UK director of athletics, a designation that was retained when the stadium was renamed Kroger Field in 2017 under a naming-rights agreement. A Bermuda grass surface installed in 2005 replaced the original turf. Attendance across more than 200 games at the venue has averaged over 56,500, with total attendance exceeding 12 million. The stadium is accessible from downtown Lexington via University Drive and is surrounded by tailgating lots and campus facilities that make gameday a significant community event in the Bluegrass region.

Type: Stadium / Arena

Address: 1540 University Dr, Lexington, KY, United States, 40506

Website: https://ukathletics.com/facilities/kroger-field/

Capacity: 61000

Opening Date: 15/09/1973