Editing Kroger Field

{{short description|Stadium at the University of Kentucky}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name      = Kroger Field
| nickname          = C. M. Newton Grounds 
| logo_image        = 
| logo_size         = 70
| image             = Commonwealth Stadium of Kentucky - Kentucky Wildcats v.s. Georgia Bulldogs - SEC football, October 2012 (2012-10-20 by Navin75).jpg
| image_size        = 250
| image_map         = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=300|zoom=15|type=point|marker=stadium}}
| caption           = The stadium during a night game, Kentucky v Georgia, 2012
| location          = 1540 University Drive<br>[[Lexington, Kentucky]] 40506
| coordinates       = {{coord|38|1|22|N|84|30|19|W|type:landmark|display=it}}
| pushpin_map       = Kentucky#USA
| pushpin_relief    = 1
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kentucky##Location in the United States
| broke_ground      = July 23, 1972<ref>{{cite web|title=Commonwealth Stadium 35th anniversary|url=http://www.kentuckysportsnetwork.com/forum/topics/2148737:Topic:4427|work=Kentucky Sports Network|date=July 28, 2008|access-date=September 4, 2012}}</ref>
| opened            = {{start date and age|September 15, 1973}} <ref name="UK Athletics">{{cite web|title=Commonwealth Stadium|url=http://www.ukathletics.com/athletic-dept/commonwealth-stadium.html|publisher=University of Kentucky Department of Athletics|access-date=July 28, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903195908/http://www.ukathletics.com/athletic-dept/commonwealth-stadium.html|archive-date=September 3, 2012}}</ref>
| expanded          = 1999
| renovated         = 2015
| closed            = 
| demolished        = 
| owner             = University of Kentucky
| operator          = University of Kentucky
| surface           = S5 Synthetic Turf (2015–present)<ref>{{cite web |title=University of Kentucky Selects UBU Sports Synthetic Turf for Their New Stadium Improvements|url=http://www.pr.com/press-release/601764|publisher=UBU Sports|access-date=August 27, 2015}}</ref><br />[[Kentucky bluegrass]] (1973–2014)
| construction_cost = $12 million<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|12000000|1973}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect         = [[HNTB]]<br />RossTarrant Architects<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rosstarrant.com/ |title = RossTarrant Architects}}</ref>
| general_contractor= [[Hunt Construction Group|Huber, Hunt & Nichols]]<ref name="UK Athletics" />
| former_names      = Commonwealth Stadium (1973–2017)
| tenants           = [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky Wildcats]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) 1973–present
| seating_capacity  = 61,000 (2015–present)
'''Former capacity''':
{{collapsible list|
* 62,093 (2014)<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 Kentucky Football Media Guide|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/kty/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/prospectus/prospectus.pdf|publisher=University of Kentucky Department of Athletics|access-date=July 28, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115759/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/kty/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/prospectus/prospectus.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 67,942 (2009–2013)
* 67,606 (2003–2008)
* 67,530 (1999–2002)
* 55,453 (1998)
* 57,800 (1991–1997)
* 56,696 (1979–1990)
* 58,000 (1973–1978)
}}
| website = {{URL|https://ukathletics.com/facilities/kroger-field/|ukathletics.com/kroger-field}}
}}
'''Kroger Field''', also known as '''Commonwealth Stadium''', is a stadium in [[Lexington, Kentucky]], United States, located on the campus of the [[University of Kentucky]] that primarily serves as the home field for the [[Kentucky Wildcats football]] team. The stadium is located at the corner of Alumni Drive and University Drive in Lexington.  The playing surface is named '''C. M. Newton Grounds''' in honor of the late UK athletic director and former baseball and basketball player [[C. M. Newton]]. Built in 1973, it is the newest football stadium in the [[Southeastern Conference]], as measured by date of original construction. The original capacity for the stadium was 57,800. In the stadium's first game, played on September 15, 1973, the Wildcats defeated the [[Virginia Tech Hokies football|Virginia Tech Hokies]] 31–26.

==History==

Since 1999, fireworks have been shot from atop the suites whenever the Wildcats take the field, as well as after every Wildcat score and win.
[[File:KentuckyCommonwealthStadium-EZInterior.jpg|thumb|center|600px|Pregame of 2005 Kentucky vs. Auburn game]]

===Renovations===
Both ends of the stadium were enclosed in 1999 and 40 suites were added, 10 in each corner of the stadium, resulting in a symmetrical oval bowl seating 67,530. The total cost of the expansion was $27.6 million. Seating adjustments over the next decade brought capacity to 67,942.  During the 1999 season, Kentucky's average home attendance for football games was 67,756. Attendance for the game against [[Tennessee Volunteers football|Tennessee]] that year was 71,022, which remained the record attendance until the Wildcats' [[2007 Kentucky Wildcats football team|2007]] game against [[2007 Florida Gators football team|Florida]] drew 71,024. For much of the next decade, Wildcat football games frequently attracted crowds in excess of 70,000.

{{multiple image
|align  = left
|direction = 
|perrow = 
|total_width = 400
|image1 = KentuckyCommonwealthStadium-Exterior.jpg
|caption1 = Exterior view, 2005
|image2 = CommonwealthStadium2.jpg
|caption2 = Grandstands in 2008
|footer = 
}}
The University of Kentucky announced an audio and video upgrade to the stadium in July 2011.  These upgrades included two LED video boards each measuring approximately {{convert|37|ft|m}} high by {{convert|80|ft|m}} wide (2,960 square feet), making each display the 20th-largest scoreboard in the country. Combined, the {{convert|5,920|sqft|m2}} make the new video boards one of the largest scoreboard systems in the country. Additionally, a new custom audio system and over 1,800 linear sq/ft of video ribbon board were implemented by September 10, 2011. The approximate cost of the upgrades totaled close to $6 million.

The stadium underwent a $110 million renovation in 2015. The renovation included a new press box, loge box seats, club seats, recruiting room, suites, concourses, bathrooms, lights, and exterior facade while reducing capacity to around 61,000. The project was completed before the start of the 2015 season. It was referred to as "The New Commonwealth Stadium". On May 1, 2017, the university, along with marketing partner JMI Sports, announced the stadium's name change to Kroger Field, part of a 12-year, $1.85 million per year [[naming rights]] deal with [[Cincinnati]]-based retailer [[Kroger]]. This agreement makes the University of Kentucky the first school in the Southeastern Conference to enter into a corporate partnership for the naming rights to their football stadium.<ref name="HL20170501">{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Jennifer|title=After 44 years, Commonwealth Stadium has a new name: Kroger Field|url=http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-football/article147836744.html|access-date=May 1, 2017|newspaper=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]]|date=May 1, 2017}}</ref>

In 2022, as part of a $30 million athletics facilities project, new video boards were installed measuring 37 feet (11m) high by 100 feet (30m) wide, along with significant upgrades to the adjacent Nutter Field House, the team's indoor practice facility.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hale |first=Jon |date=September 2, 2022 |title=What to know about Kentucky football's new 'unbelievable' Kroger Field scoreboards |url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-football/article265240231.html |website=Lexington Herald Leader}}</ref> In 2023, a new turf playing surface was installed, replacing the existing one installed in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roush |first=Nick |date=April 19, 2023 |title=LOOK: The New Kroger Field Turf is Ready for some Football |url=https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/look-the-new-kroger-field-turf-is-ready-for-some-football/ |website=KSR}}</ref> In 2024, as part of another $7 million upgrade, new video ribbon boards and LED stadium lights were installed, the latter of which allows for light shows to be performed during breaks and after scores, enhancing the fan experience.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 26, 2024 |title=Improved Lighting and Ribbon Boards Coming to Kroger Field |url=https://ukathletics.com/news/2024/02/26/improved-lighting-and-ribbon-boards-coming-to-kroger-field/ |website=UK Athletics}}</ref>

=== KHSAA Football Championship ===
Since 2017, Kroger Field has been the site for Kentucky's [[KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl|high school football championship games]]. The event was moved from [[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football|Western Kentucky University's]] [[Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium]] due to conflicts with WKU's hosting of two recent [[Conference USA]] [[Conference USA Football Championship Game|championship games]] ([[2015 Conference USA Football Championship Game|2015]] and [[2016 Conference USA Football Championship Game|2016]]), which led to rescheduling of high school title games on short notice. The 2017 championships were the first held in Lexington since 1976.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://khsaa.org/051017-board-of-control-addresses-championship-sites-for-football-girls-basketball-dance/ |title=Board of Control Addresses Championship Sites for Football, Girls' Basketball, Dance |publisher=Kentucky High School Athletic Association |date=May 10, 2017 |access-date=May 10, 2017}}</ref>

==Concerts==
The stadium hosted no concerts in its first 47 years of use. The first concert was scheduled for 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the concert was rescheduled and took place on April 24, 2022.<ref name="kentucky.com">{{cite web |last1=Patton |first1=Janet |title=Same time next year: Chris Stapleton concert at Kroger Field rescheduled on April 19, 2025 Kroger field hosted Wynonna and Tyler Childers|url=https://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/music-news-reviews/article241643651.html |website=Kentucky.com |access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chris Stapleton's Kroger Field concert lays blueprint for future music shows at stadium |url=https://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/music-news-reviews/article260630837.html |date=April 25, 2022 |work=Kentucky.com |author=Wickstrom, Matt |access-date=April 27, 2022}}</ref> The concert featured [[Chris Stapleton]], [[Willie Nelson]], and [[Sheryl Crow]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-17 |title=Chris Stapleton concert at Kroger Field postponed again to April 2022 |url=https://www.lex18.com/news/coronavirus/chris-stapleton-concert-at-kroger-field-postponed-again-to-april-2022 |access-date=2022-12-17 |website=LEX 18 News - Lexington, KY (WLEX) |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Bluegrass Miracle]]
*[[2003 Arkansas vs. Kentucky football game]], a game at Commonwealth that took seven overtime periods to decide
*[[Stoll Field/McLean Stadium]]
*[[List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums]]
*[[List of American football stadiums by capacity]]
*[[Lists of stadiums]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{official website}}

{{Kentucky Wildcats football navbox}}
{{University of Kentucky}}
{{Southeastern Conference football venue navbox}}
{{Kentucky college football venues}}
{{Fayette County/Lexington, Kentucky}}

[[Category:Buildings at the University of Kentucky]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats football venues]]
[[Category:1973 establishments in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1973]]
[[Category:Kroger]]