August is upon us, and that means there is college football every month until January of 2018.
And along with watching this year’s new crop of stars and returning studs, the 2017 season will also debut five new college football stadiums at the FBS and FCS levels.
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What’s particularly interesting about this year’s new stadiums is that two went through huge reconstructions, including a Sun Belt squad that transformed the previous home of the Atlanta Braves (Turner Field) into its own glorious stadium.
Check out the five new college football stadium debuting in 2017 that should look fabulous on television and glorious in person.
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Colorado State – Sonny Lubick Field at Colorado State Stadium
Capacity: 41,200
Cost: $220 million
First home game: August 26 versus Oregon State
The Rams had played at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium since 1968, and despite much pushback from the community, Sonny Lubick Field at Colorado State Stadium will be open for business this month.
CSU will officially start the 2017 college football season on CBS Sports when it hosts the Beavers for a 12:30 PM MT kickoff. Make sure to check it out so you can see the new digs for yourself.
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Georgia State – Georgia State Stadium
Capacity: 23,000
Cost: $52.8 million
First home game: August 31 versus Tennessee State
Georgia State’s new stadium is the Atlanta Braves old stadium.
After playing in the Atlanta Falcons Georgia Dome since the program’s first year of action in 2010, the Panthers took over Turner Field, which served as the home diamond of the Atlanta Braves from 1997 to 2016.
The university acquired the stadium and surrounding parking lots to also build new student housing and academic space.
Check out the new stadium courtesy of this recently shot drone video.
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UMass – Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium
Capacity: 17,000
Cost: $20 million
First home game: August 26 versus Hawaii
UMass’ new stadium is its old stadium.
The stadium has seen major renovations since the Minutemen decided to join the FBS in 2011, including new press boxes and locker rooms. During the stadium’s makeover, UMass had played all or half of its home games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough some 95 miles away. Known more as the home field of the New England Patriots, UMass’ return to playing near campus full time should greatly increase home attendance.
When Coastal Carolina completes renovations to increase capacity to 20,000 in 2018 – and with Idaho leaving for the FCS after this season – UMass will possess the second-smallest stadium in terms of capacity in the FBS behind only Charlotte (15,314).
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Abilene Christian – Wildcat Stadium
Capacity: 12,000
Cost: $30 million
First home game: September 16 versus Houston Baptist
Abilene Christian is the first of two FCS squads that will be playing in a brand new house in 2017.
The new stadium brings the football team home to campus for the first time in 50 years, but fans will have to wait until mid-September to see it. The Wildcats open the season with two road games against FBS teams before making their debut at Wildcat Stadium.
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Abilene Christian Athletics[/credit]
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East Tennessee State – ETSU Football Stadium
Capacity: 10,000
Cost: $26.6 million
First home game: September 2 versus Limestone College
It’s been quite the return to action for East Tennessee State.
The Buccaneers played football from 1920 to 2003 before the school shuttered the program. Revived in 2015, ETSU had been playing its home games mainly at Kermit Tipton Stadium.
Currently featuring the working name ETSU Football Stadium (presumably until it decides upon a sponsor), the stadium will feature over 7,000 seats and standing room to accommodate another 3,000.
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ETSU Athletics[/credit]
