Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium - A War Memorial That Roars

Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium - A War Memorial That Roars

Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 4.0 (cropped)

A stop on UT Austin Campus Walk, a free self-guided tour.

Stand outside the west side of the stadium and look up at the stands. It opened in 1924 as a memorial to Texans who served in World War I, with seats for about 27,000. Today its official capacity is more than 100,000, which makes it one of the largest stadiums in the country.

The name honors Darrell K Royal, the coach who led Texas to national championships in the 1960s and 1970, added in 1996. In 2020 the field itself was named for the university's two Heisman Trophy winners, running backs Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams.

On game days this corner of campus fills with burnt orange, and after big wins the Tower across campus glows to match. On a quiet day you can walk along the outside and imagine the sound of 100,000 people. Stadium tours and access to the inside vary, so check with Texas Athletics before you plan on going in.

Getting here: Cross back over Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and walk east to San Jacinto Boulevard. The stadium's west side rises along it.

Did you know?: The stadium's record crowd is 105,215, set on October 19, 2024, for a game against Georgia.

Photo op: From San Jacinto Boulevard, frame the towering west stands with the burnt orange stadium signage.

More on Wikipedia: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium · Darrell Royal · Earl Campbell · Ricky Williams

Stops on this tour

  1. Main Building and UT Tower - The Campus Landmark
  2. Battle Hall - The Building That Set the Style
  3. Texas Union - The Living Room of Campus
  4. Harry Ransom Center - Treasures in the Lobby
  5. Littlefield Fountain - The Gateway to the Tower
  6. Ellsworth Kelly's Austin - A Chapel of Light
  7. Blanton Museum of Art - Petals on the Plaza
  8. Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium - A War Memorial That Roars
  9. LBJ Presidential Library - Travertine Monument
  10. The Seven Mustangs - Proctor's Last Great Herd
  11. Turtle Pond - The Shadiest Spot on Campus
  12. Tower Garden - A Place to Remember