Sports
Step Inside: Kyle Field – Home of the Texas A&M Aggies
Home of the Texas A&M Aggies
For Aggies fans, there’s no place like Home of the 12th Man, Kyle Field. Although Texas A&M University serves as the historical namesake of College Station, Texas, the surrounding host city might as well go by the common campus label of Aggieland for the fierce, local support of the Texas A&M Aggies football team on the historic home turf of Kyle Field. Find everything you need to know before saying “Howdy” to Kyle Field below.
Kyle Field History
The foundation of Kyle Field traces back to 1905, making the stadium the third oldest in Division I college football and oldest of any school in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Development began when horticulture professor Edwin Jackson Kyle donated a piece of land on campus for an athletic field and installed two bleachers that could seat a whopping 500 fans. A concrete stadium was constructed by 1929, and after years of informal recognition, the venue was dedicated to Kyle by the Texas A&M Board of Directors in 1956.
Second and third decks were added over the ensuing decades, while the Bernard C. Richardson Zone reshaped the entire north end of the stadium in 1999. At the same time, the field itself shifted from natural grass to AstroTurf and to its current bermuda grass composition. Most recently, Kyle Field underwent a $485 million renovation that was completed in two phases between 2013 and 2015 to avoid any football season disruptions. The project removed the last pieces of the original stadium shell, revamped the south end zone, lowered the playing surface and installed over 20,000 additional seats. With a higher headcount and seats closer to the field, the new stadium only intensified Kyle Field’s reputation as one of the loudest venues in sports.
The Texas A&M fanbase has no shortage of traditions born at Kyle Field, from the Midnight Yell to the dog mascot mantle of Reveille, the First Lady of Aggieland. Perhaps most notable among Aggies rituals is “The 12th Man,” which was inspired by a 1922 game in which the short-handed Texas A&M squad called upon student and former team member E. King Gill in the crowd to suit up. Nowadays, The 12th Man represents the student body, who show their readiness to join the team by standing for every game. Thus Kyle Field has earned the nickname “Home of the 12th Man.” When the game is over, guests can watch students shake the stadium as they sway to the Aggie War Hymn in victory or sing The Spirit of Aggieland when the team runs out of time (the word “lose” is forbidden).
Outside of football, Kyle Field also hosts local games, exhibition matches and events every year. In 2024, country legend George Strait headlined Kyle Field set the record for most-attended ticketed show in the U.S. of all-time with 110,905 fans in attendance. The show also set an overall attendance record for the venue, which had previously been set during a 2014 game against the Ole Miss Rebels.
Parking and Admission at Kyle Field
Kyle Field is located at 198 Joe Routt Boulevard in College Station, Texas. On game day, parking can be purchased ahead of time or upon arrival at certain locations. Advanced reserved parking is available in the West Campus Garage, Northside Garage, Southside Garage, Central Campus Garage and Gene Stallings Boulevard Garage. Parking at Kyle Field generally costs $25, though prices vary based on the event and location of the garage. Accessible parking is available for $25 at the University Center Garage and Lot 88 for $20. Purchase a parking pass or view an up-to-date parking map on the stadium’s website.
Parking lots open at 7:30 a.m. on game day, though guests with Resident or Non-Resident Permit Parking passes for the West Campus Garage can pick a space (on Level 5 or above) as early as the day before the game. Free shuttles begin running on campus three hours prior to kickoff.
Once parked, enjoy the team camaraderie at a tailgate party at either one of the reserved sites or open access areas. Tailgating opens at 7:00 a.m. on game day, with free spots available to claim in a Virtual Land Rush starting the Sunday prior at 6:00 p.m. The Aggie Fan Zone on the north end of the stadium launches three and a half hours before the game and features food and drink vendors, kids activities and more. With two and a half hours to go, fans assemble for the traditional Team Spirit Walk in which the Aggies football players, Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and Yell Leaders march down Houston Street to Kyle Field. Gates open to fans 90 minutes ahead of gametime.
To enter Kyle Field, every guest must have a ticket, including infants. Prohibited items include firearms, tobacco products, artificial noisemakers, umbrellas, strollers, lawn chairs and stadium seats exceeding 16 inches. As for the bag policy, Kyle Field follows the SEC’s 12-1-1 rule, which allows clear bags as large as 12″ x 6″ x 12″ or one clear 1-gallon plastic storage bag for one guest each. Small, non-clear bags no larger than the size of a hand and bags for medically vital items are permitted. View further details of the Kyle Field bag policy on the venue’s website.
Kyle Field Capacity & Seating Options
With a 102,733-seat capacity, Kyle Field stands as the largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference and fourth largest by capacity in the United States. However, many Aggies may never enjoy their seat as the student body is expected to stand the entire game as part of the 12th Man tradition.
Across four levels of seating, Kyle Field offers VIP seating access at The Zone Club, All-American Club North, All-American Club South, Legacy Club and the West Field Box. Guests within the first 10 rows of the first bowl should note that some parts of the field may be blocked by players on the sideline. Accessible seating is available across the venue for guests with disabilities and a companion, with ramps and elevators available to each deck. Check out the venue’s seating layout here.
Food & Beverage Options at Kyle Field
Levy Restaurants provide concessions for Texas A&M Athletics at Kyle Field. In addition, popular franchises such as Chick-fil-A, Freebirds, Johnny Rockets, Walk-On’s and McAlister’s also serve up meals within the stadium. Fans can access food, beer and liquor services on each deck of the venue, though all sales are cashless. No outside food or beverages are permitted inside Kyle Field aside from one clear, sealed plastic water bottle up to one gallon in size.
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