Without a doubt, the 55,000-seat Jack Trice Stadium is one of the most beautiful nationally. Located on a 30-acre tract, the stadium is part of the ISU Center on the southeast corner of the Ames campus. The special football atmosphere at Jack Trice Stadium has been enhanced with the installation of a video/scoreboard and permanent lighting prior to the 2002 season. The stadium is named in honor of Jack Trice, Iowa State’s first African-American athlete. Trice died from injuries he received in a varsity football game in October 1923.

Jack Trice Stadium offers an unobstructed view of the playing field as well as remarkably easy access and parking. The stadium is part of the Iowa State Center, which includes James H. Hilton Coliseum, C.Y. Stephens Auditorium, J.W. Fisher Theater and the Carl Scheman Continuing Education Building, with lighted parking for 4,000 vehicles.

The stadium was completed in less than two years, from the ground breaking on Oct. 26, 1973, to the first game, a victory over Air Force, on Sept. 20, 1975. In late 1973 and spring of 1974, heavy earth-moving equipment shaped the embankments. A huge, movable form shaped the lower decks with thousands of cubic yards of concrete.

Originally, the stadium had a capacity of 42,500, all on the sidelines. In 1976, end zone bleachers were constructed to increase capacity to more than 46,000. Standing room tickets, sold for each game, brought the capacity to more than 50,000. An all-time record crowd of 54,475 (in the previous configuration) watched the ISU vs. Nebraska game on Oct. 27, 1990.

Completion of the Jacobson Athletic Building and the addition of permanent bleachers in the south end zone, as well as hillside seating in each of the four corners in the stadium changed the capacity to 55,000. A record 56,795 watched the Iowa State-Northern Iowa game Sept. 8 2007.

A $6.2 million, three-level press tower located on the west side was added to Jack Trice Stadium in 1997. The facility includes press and radio-television levels and 49 sky box suites that accommodate 18-32 people per suite.

With a new name and a new look, an overhauled and upgraded club section opened at Jack Trice Stadium at the beginning of the 2008 football season.  Now known as Jack Trice Club, the venue now rivals as one of the best premium seating venues in the Big 12. 

Jack Trice Club amenities include:

• Complimentary gameday buffet
• Private sports bar with beer and wine available for purchase
• Radiant heating in an open-air club section which provides comfort, along with the sounds of hard-hitting Big 12 football
• Air-conditioned and heated lounge
• Reserved parking close to the stadium
• Television monitors above the exterior seating

The renovated Ralph A. Olsen Building is adjacent to the north end of the Jacobson Athletic Building. The Olsen Building, named in honor of prominent Ellsworth, Iowa, farmer and alumnus, houses the strength and athletic training facilities.

The stadium complex was transformed in 1995-96 with the construction of the state-of-the-art Richard O. Jacobson Athletic Building. The home of Iowa State’s football program includes football offices, team meeting rooms, locker rooms, an auditorium and a natural grass field that debuted with the 1996 season opener.