Kroger Field

Kroger Field
C. M. Newton Grounds
The stadium during a night game, Kentucky v Georgia, 2012
Map
Kroger Field is located in Kentucky
Kroger Field
Kroger Field
Location in Kentucky
Kroger Field is located in the United States
Kroger Field
Kroger Field
Location in the United States
Former namesCommonwealth Stadium (1973–2017)
Location1540 University Drive
Lexington, Kentucky 40506
Coordinates38°1′22″N 84°30′19″W / 38.02278°N 84.50528°W / 38.02278; -84.50528
OwnerUniversity of Kentucky
OperatorUniversity of Kentucky
Capacity61,000 (2015–present)

Former capacity:

List
    • 62,093 (2014)[1]
    • 67,942 (2009–2013)
    • 67,606 (2003–2008)
    • 67,530 (1999–2002)
    • 55,453 (1998)
    • 57,800 (1991–1997)
    • 56,696 (1979–1990)
    • 58,000 (1973–1978)
SurfaceS5 Synthetic Turf (2015–present)[2]
Kentucky bluegrass (1973–2014)
Construction
Broke groundJuly 23, 1972[3]
OpenedSeptember 15, 1973; 51 years ago (September 15, 1973) [6]
Renovated2015
Expanded1999
Construction cost$12 million
($82.4 million in 2023 dollars[4])
ArchitectHNTB
RossTarrant Architects[5]
General contractorHuber, Hunt & Nichols[6]
Tenants
Kentucky Wildcats (NCAA) 1973–present
Website
ukathletics.com/kroger-field

Kroger Field, also known as Commonwealth Stadium, is a stadium in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, located on the campus of the University of Kentucky that primarily serves as the home field for the Kentucky Wildcats football team. The stadium is located at the corner of Alumni Drive and University Drive in Lexington. The playing surface is named C. M. Newton Grounds in honor of the late UK athletic director and former baseball and basketball player C. M. Newton. Built in 1973, it is the newest football stadium in the Southeastern Conference, as measured by date of original construction. The original capacity for the stadium was 57,800. In the stadium's first game, played on September 15, 1973, the Wildcats defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 31–26.

  1. ^ "2014 Kentucky Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Kentucky Department of Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  2. ^ "University of Kentucky Selects UBU Sports Synthetic Turf for Their New Stadium Improvements". UBU Sports. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  3. ^ "Commonwealth Stadium 35th anniversary". Kentucky Sports Network. July 28, 2008. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  4. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "RossTarrant Architects".
  6. ^ a b "Commonwealth Stadium". University of Kentucky Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012.