The smallest stadium in the SEC! Did you get it? Yes, we are talking about Vanderbilt’s home turf, FirstBank Stadium. It was the first stadium constructed specifically for college football in the South, where Commodores first played on October 14, 1922, against Michigan Wolverines. However, at that time, there weren’t nearly enough seats in the tiny stadium. Are you excited to know the exact number?

Well, the capacity was twenty thousand at first. Thanks to multiple upgrades, which helped the FirstBank Stadium to give space to approximately 41,000 people on game days today. However, the most remarkable thing is that the $33 million renovation of Vanderbilt’s home stadium was finished in just nine months. Along with that, it offers several seating choices, like VIP seating, club seating, chair-back, suites, and more. On top of that, similar to its seating capacity, its name progressively evolved.

The stadium was formerly named for football activist and Medical College dean Dr. William Dudley. After that, the venue was known as Vanderbilt Stadium for a hundred years. Finally, in August 2022, FirstBank bought the naming rights from the university, and the stadium was renamed FirstBank Stadium. Despite having a small size, the stadium holds a number of important games and events. Additionally, it offers a captivating ambiance to its fans or followers. Let’s have a quick look at that.

Get more information on FirstBank Stadium

FirstBank Stadium offers supplementary fill speakers, 24 L-Acoustics K2 Line Array speakers, a variety of concession options, a climate-controlled lounge, a parking lot, and so on. On game days, all of these aid in drawing spectators. However, the stadium holds well-known concerts in addition to games.

Luke Bryan’s Dust Up Tour performance made a visit at Vanderbilt Stadium. In the spring of 2009, the Dave Matthews Band played to a sold-out audience at Vanderbilt Stadium. Additionally, Billy Graham’s event attracted more than 65,000 people and lit up the former Vanderbilt Stadium.

Now, come to its game hosting. On September 12, 1981, FirstBank Stadium reached its highest-ever attendance during a game between the Commodores and the Maryland Terrapins, which the Commodores won 23–17. Recently, on August 31, 2024, the Commodores defeated Virginia Tech 34–27 in overtime, drawing a large crowd to the stadium. This was the 2024 college football season opener for the Vanderbilt Commodores. The stadium appears to be fortunate for the initiative. Hope, it will carry its momentum for the following days. The following time you will see them at FirstBank Stadium on October 19, 2024, against Ball State. Until then, be patient and relish your gaming days.