Memorial Stadium
Bloomington, IN · College Football
Founding membership for Hoosiers fans. Free, verified, permanent.
- Member cap
- 52,656
- Cost to join
- Free
- Verification
- Email + Phone
- Status
- Open
— verified members.
Venue encyclopedia
Independent, no paid placements
What attending a college football game at the Bloomington, IN venue is actually like: seating, arrival, weather, food, and the seats we'd point a friend toward (or away from).
- Opened
- 1960
- Capacity
- 52,656
- Roof
- Open-air
- Orientation
- Open-air, horseshoe-style bowl nicknamed The Rock, with the field running roughly north-south and a large videoboard anchoring the north end. The seating wraps the sidelines and both ends in a continuous bowl, keeping the crowd noise low over the field.
Neighborhood
On the south end of Indiana University's campus in Bloomington, part of the athletics cluster with Assembly Hall next door and the academic core a short walk north. Bloomington is a classic college town, so Kirkwood Avenue's bars and restaurants near campus are the pre-game and post-game destination, about a 15-to-20-minute walk or a short rideshare from the stadium. This is an on-campus, walk-and-tailgate stadium rather than a downtown venue.
What it feels like
A Big Ten Saturday with a relaxed, friendly Midwestern edge. Tailgating spreads across the surrounding campus lots and grass through the morning, the student section brings the energy when the team is rolling, and the marching band and the traditional entrance set the tone. The bowl is intimate for its conference, so even mid-tier crowds feel close to the action. Basketball may be the bigger religion here, but a good football Saturday turns the south campus into a full tailgate scene.
Seating tiers
Lower bowl (sidelines)
Rows 1-40Closest to the field along both sidelines. The chairback and premium seats sit here at midfield.
Club / premium
Enclosed and outdoor premium areas with padded seats, indoor access, and shorter lines; concentrated toward the west side.
Upper deck / upper bowl
Rows 1-25Elevated sideline seating with a clean full-field view. Strong value and the best vantage for following the whole game.
End zone
The horseshoe ends, including the student section end; loud and lively but a flatter angle to the far end of the field.
Sections we'd pick
- West sideline lower bowl at midfield for the straight-in view and afternoon shade as the sun drops behind the stands
- Upper deck along the sidelines for the best price-to-sightline ratio and a full view of both end zones
- The student-section end zone for the loudest atmosphere on a big Big Ten Saturday
Sections we'd skip
- Front rows in the end-zone corners, where the angle across the field flattens and sightlines get obstructed by the near end zone
- East sideline lower rows for early-afternoon kicks if you want shade, since that side takes direct sun longer
Arrival
- Primary route
- State Road 37 (I-69) reaches Bloomington from Indianapolis; from there, Third Street and Fee Lane feed the campus and the stadium lots.
- Rail / transit
- No rail service. This is a drive-in and campus-shuttle venue; IU and the city run game-day shuttles from remote lots and campus points.
- Rideshare
- Designated drop-off and pickup zones near the stadium on the campus edge. Walking a few minutes toward the main campus streets for a pickup beats the immediate post-game crush.
- Parking
- 15,000 spots across 20 lots , median $25 . Prepay recommended.
- Walk to gates
- ~10 minutes (median)
- Notes
- Campus lots ring the stadium and most premium lots require a permit or pass; general and remote lots feed shuttles. Pre-pay or secure a permit for the closest lots on marquee dates and arrive early to tailgate.
Weather and timing
Roof
Open-air
Open-air with no cover. Early-September games can be hot and humid, while November games get cold and windy; layer for late-season Saturdays. Bring sun protection for early-afternoon kicks.
Food inside
Indiana tailgate-style fare leads the concourses: bratwurst and Italian sausages, pork tenderloin sandwiches (the breaded Indiana staple), and a solid Indiana craft-beer selection alongside standard stadium food. The pork tenderloin and bratwurst stands are the local picks.
Food and pre-game outside
The tailgate lots are the pre-game food scene, with grills and coolers across the surrounding campus. Kirkwood Avenue near campus, a short walk or rideshare north, has a dense row of college-town bars and restaurants for before and after.
Accessibility
ADA seating with companion seats on multiple levels and accessible routes from the main gates. Accessible parking in campus lots near the entrances; request the closest when you secure a permit. Elevators serve the upper levels and premium areas, and guest services can point out sensory-friendly resources.
Worth knowing before you go
- Arrive early to tailgate; the south-campus lots fill and the pre-game scene is the point on a Big Ten Saturday.
- There are only about six or seven home Saturdays a year, so parking and hotels around Bloomington go fast on marquee dates.
- College stadiums enforce a clear-bag policy; check the current sizing on the team site before you go.
- Cashless throughout the venue.
What Hoosiers fans get
- A permanent member number that reflects when you joined. The lower the number, the higher your standing — forever.
- Priority access to seat opportunities at Memorial Stadium. Seniority determines order. No luck involved.
- First look at every new perk, partner offer, and member event — founding members always hear before anyone else.
- Founding Member status. This tier closes when the roster fills at 52,656. It doesn't reopen.
Hoosiers fans: your spot is waiting.
Free founding membership. Verified by email and phone. Your member number is permanent — the earlier you join, the higher your standing. One College Football membership per fan.
Claim my founding spot →Free forever · Verified members only · One per sport