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Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium - home of Oklahoma in Norman, OK
NCAA FBS

Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial StadiumNorman, Oklahoma

Oklahoma

👥
Capacity
80,126
🏆
Conference
SEC
📅
Opened
1923
🌱
Surface
Grass

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📖About Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, known as the "Palace on the Prairie," holds 80,126 and is the largest sports venue in Oklahoma. Named to honor those who died in WWI, it hosted its 100th season in 2024. OU boasts a .820 all-time home record and seven national championships.

🏛️History

Origins

Dedicated November 7, 1925 at a cost of $293,000, honoring University personnel who died in WWI. The playing surface is named Owen Field for Coach Bennie Owen. Originally 16,000 seats with grandstands on east and west sides.

Major Renovations

1950North end enclosed
1975Upper tier added to west stand
2006$54M east upper deck with club seating and 27 suites (86,112 capacity)
2017South corners built out; bowl fully enclosed

Notable Moments

Nov 11, 2017Record crowd of 88,000+ for Top 10 matchup vs TCU
Oct 12, 2024First SEC home game at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
2024100th season celebration with "Stadium Scrapbook" campaign

🎟️Visitor Guide

Best Seats

Sections 127-130 offer club amenities, 50-yard line views, and chairbacks. West side has afternoon shade. Sections 104-106 provide midfield views with shade. Visitor sections are in 226-228, 233-235 (upper) and rows at back of 19-22 (lower). Student section is the loudest.

Parking Tips

Public parking is $30, first-come basis. Use Waze app—other GPS won't show road closures. Arrive 3-4 hours early for big games. Free shuttle from Lloyd Noble Center runs starting 3 hrs before kickoff. North Oval is the official tailgate destination.

Game Day

Campus Corner north of campus is gameday central—restaurants, bars, Sooner merch. Watch for the Sooner Schooner pulled by ponies Boomer and Sooner after every TD! Gates open 2 hrs early. Clear bag policy (12" x 6" x 12"). No re-entry allowed. Enter via Gates 14-17 by southeast practice turf.

🗺️Local Recommendations

🍺Bars & Drinks

O'Connell's Irish Pub

$$

"Ground central" in Norman with great gameday burgers. Wide beer selection and many screens.

📍 0.3 miles777 W Boyd St

💡 Gets packed early. The burgers are legendary.

Logie's on the Corner

$$

Vibrant sports bar on Campus Corner with numerous TVs and gameday drink specials.

📍 0.3 miles323 White St

💡 Great for watching other games before or after the Sooners play.

🍽️Restaurants

Louie's Bar & Grill

$

Gameday tradition on Campus Corner. Family-friendly with sports bar attached. Affordable sandwiches and pizzas.

📍 0.3 miles121 E Main St

💡 Most items under $10. Two patios and 21+ sports bar area.

The Standard

$$

Spacious restaurant and beer garden in historic Coca-Cola plant. 48 beers on tap.

📍 0.5 miles104 W Main St

💡 Dog-friendly patio. Great for families. Big TVs for games.

Ted's Escondido

$$

Popular Mexican spot known for their salsa and family-style platters. An Oklahoma tradition.

📍 2.5 miles1212 24th Ave NW

💡 The complimentary tortillas and salsa are worth the drive.

🏨Hotels

NOUN Hotel

$$$

Boutique hotel with ONE Bar rooftop offering panoramic campus views.

📍 0.2 miles700 Asp Ave

💡 Rooftop bar has fire pits and 14 large screens. Best gameday views.

Embassy Suites Norman

$$$

Full-service hotel with free breakfast and evening reception, close to the interstate.

📍 3 miles2501 Conference Dr

💡 Great for families staying for the weekend.

🎭Attractions

Party at the Palace

$

Free pregame festival with food trucks, music, and games. Opens 3.5 hours before kickoff.

📍 0.1 milesNorth of stadium

💡 Official team fan zone. Free activities for all ages.

Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

$$

World-class museum featuring dinosaur exhibits and Oklahoma cultural history.

📍 1 mile2401 Chautauqua Ave

💡 Check out the world's largest Apatosaurus skeleton.

🅿️Parking Options

🎉

North Oval

$30
Tailgate📍 0.3 miles

💡 Official tailgate destination. Arrive 3-4 hours early.

🅿️

Lloyd Noble Center

Free shuttle
Lot📍 2 miles

💡 Free shuttle starts 3 hours before kickoff.

🏢

Asp Avenue Parking Garage

$40
Garage📍 0.2 miles

💡 Next to the stadium. Reserved for permit holders usually, but some game-to-game spots.

Suggest a Tip

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Stadium Rankings

🏟️
#18 Largest Stadium
View top 50 by capacity
🏛️
#26 Oldest Stadium
View top 50 oldest
Learn more on Wikipedia→

🔥Rivals

→

Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium

Missouri

Columbia, MO

→

Memorial Stadium, Tom Osborne Field

Nebraska

Lincoln, NE

→

Boone Pickens Stadium

Oklahoma State

Bedlam

Stillwater, OK

→

Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium

Texas

Red River Rivalry

Austin, TX

Stadiums Near Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

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Boone Pickens Stadium

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Tulsa

Tulsa, OK106 mi
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DATCU Stadium

North Texas

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Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium

East Texas A&M Lions

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Gerald J. Ford Stadium

SMU

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AT&T Stadium

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References

Content sourced from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and official team sites. Additional information verified against public sources.