Folsom Field

Folsom Field is at 2400 Colorado Avenue on the eastern half of CU Boulder’s main campus. Boulder lies about 30 miles northwest of Denver; US 36 is the principal approach, while Colorado 93 arrives from Golden and Colorado 119 connects Longmont. The stadium sits between Colorado Avenue, Folsom Street and the campus core, with limited road capacity and extensive pedestrian controls. Main-campus parking is scarce, so remote parking or regional transit is often the calmer plan.

Driving & Parking

• From Denver
  Take US 36 northwest into Boulder and follow electronic signs toward the assigned parking area. The highway and 28th Street back up sharply near kickoff.
• From Golden or the west Denver suburbs
  Colorado 93 enters Boulder from the south and can avoid part of US 36, but Broadway and Baseline Road still carry heavy event traffic.
• Main-campus public parking
  Available spaces are limited, first-come and currently $35 through text-to-pay after parking. Lots open five hours before kickoff and no earlier than 8 a.m.
• East Campus
  Remote public inventory east of the main campus connects to Folsom Field by free Buff Buses. This is the best default if no donor permit is attached to the trip.
• Donor lots
  Central lots near the stadium require the matching digital or physical permit. Download mobile passes before entering Boulder because cellular service strains as crowds arrive.
• RV parking
  Game-day RVs use Lot 544 on East Campus under current guidance, with a $120 credit-card fee paid on arrival. Overnight campus parking is prohibited.
• Accessible parking
  Lot 204 at 18th Street and Euclid Avenue costs $35 through text-to-pay and requires a valid placard or plate. An accessible shuttle runs to the southwest entrance from three hours before kickoff through one hour after the game.

Public Transit

• RTD Flatiron Flyer
  Regional buses connect Denver Union Station and other US 36 corridor points with downtown Boulder. Transfer to a local route or walk from the downtown station.
• AB airport bus
  RTD’s AB route links Denver International Airport and Boulder. It is useful for a car-free weekend, though event schedules and luggage make a same-day game arrival risky.
• Buff Buses
  CU’s free shuttle from East Campus begins three hours before the stadium gates open and runs until about one hour after the game.
• Walking from downtown
  Pearl Street is roughly 1.5 miles from Folsom Field. The walk is manageable and scenic but gains elevation; allow 30–40 minutes amid game-day crowds.
• Cycling
  Boulder has extensive paths and racks around campus. Use a sturdy lock and dismount in dense pedestrian zones near the stadium perimeter.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Primary zone
  The designated pickup and drop-off point is at Euclid Avenue and 18th Street, near accessible Lot 204 and west of the stadium.
• Alternates
  Current guidance identifies the Safeway on Arapahoe Avenue and University Avenue near Macky Drive as overflow meeting points.
• Postgame strategy
  Walk toward downtown or east beyond Folsom Street before requesting a car. The Euclid zone is orderly but heavily queued immediately after the final whistle.
• Denver return
  Surge pricing can make a direct rideshare expensive. A local ride to downtown Boulder followed by the Flatiron Flyer is often more predictable.

Colorado game day begins the night before on Pearl Street and resumes on campus around Duane Field, Franklin Field and the donor lots. The formal pregame is easy to sample without a reserved space: Fan Fest is open to everyone, the Buff Walk occurs on Franklin Field and the stadium gates open two hours before kickoff. Exact team-arrival times vary by kickoff, so check the weekly “Know Before You Go” notice.

Tailgating

• Buffs Fan Fest
  The official public tailgate occupies Duane Field beside the stadium, with cashless food, drinks, merchandise and a family area. Opening time is announced for each game.
• Chip’s Kids Club area
  Inflatables and games share Duane Field with Fan Fest and generally close at sunset. It is the easiest family-oriented stop before entry.
• Buff Walk
  The team arrives along Franklin Field on the east side. Gather well before the posted time to welcome players, coaches and the spirit groups.
• Benson Field spaces
  Reserved tailgate areas may be sold through the Buff Club. They offer an organized setup close to the stadium when inventory remains.
• Donor lots
  Traditional parking-lot tailgates fill central campus. Lots open five hours before kickoff, and all equipment must remain within the assigned footprint and comply with university fire and alcohol rules.
• East Campus
  Remote parking is practical for transportation but less immersed in the central tailgate scene. Ride the Buff Bus early and spend pregame around Duane or Franklin Field.
• Altitude and weather
  Hydrate more than usual, use sunscreen and carry layers. Boulder can shift from intense sun to wind, rain or snow in a single game window.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• The Sink
  Open since 1923 on University Hill, Boulder’s oldest restaurant is covered in distinctive artwork and serves burgers, pizza and beer. It is the classic walkable CU pregame stop.
• The Dark Horse
  South of campus on Baseline Road, this eclectic bar is packed with memorabilia and known for burgers and inexpensive specials. It is close enough to walk, though the route crosses busy streets.
• Avanti Food & Beverage
  The Pearl Street food hall combines several kitchens, two bars and a rooftop with Flatirons views. It is ideal for groups on Friday night or before the downtown walk.
• West End Tavern
  A long-running Pearl Street option for barbecue, burgers, whiskey and a rooftop patio. Build in walking time to campus.
• Illegal Pete’s
  The Pearl Street location offers burritos, bowls and a full bar in a fast-casual format, useful when the group wants speed before the Stampede or game.
• The Buff Restaurant
  This Boulder brunch institution on Canyon Boulevard serves hearty breakfasts and is best for an early kickoff day; waits grow quickly on football weekends.
• Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant
  The Walnut Street restaurant is known for Mexican fare, margaritas and a rooftop. Treat it as a Friday destination or very early pregame rather than a last stop before Ralphie.

• Pearl Street Stampede
  At 7 p.m. Friday, the Golden Buffalo Marching Band, spirit squad, Chip and other CU groups parade west from the 1300 block of Pearl Street. It turns downtown into the opening act for game day.
• Buff Walk
  The team arrival on Franklin Field brings fans close to players on the east side of Folsom. Weekly kickoff time determines the schedule.
• Ralphie’s run
  Shortly before kickoff, Ralphie charges in a horseshoe pattern around the field with five handlers and leads Colorado through the north-end entrance. No first visit is complete without seeing it live.
• Second-half run
  Weather, field and animal considerations permitting, Ralphie returns before the second half. Her welfare team can cancel any run if conditions are unsuitable.
• “Shoulder to Shoulder”
  Colorado’s fight song, drawn from the lyric “shoulder to shoulder, we will fight,” follows scores and major moments. The phrase also anchors the program’s fan identity.
• Golden Buffalo Marching Band
  The band powers the Friday Stampede, Buff Walk and stadium pregame, connecting downtown and campus traditions across the weekend.
• Chip the Buffalo
  The costumed mascot handles crowd interaction, dances and family events that a live animal cannot. Chip is particularly visible at Fan Fest.
• Black and gold themes
  Colorado frequently assigns Blackout, Gold Rush or white themes. Check the game notice; the contrast is striking in the open bowl.
• Student section
  Students enter from the south side and occupy sections near the southeast part of the bowl. They arrive early for major games and stand throughout.

• Flatirons backdrop
  The jagged sandstone formations southwest of campus dominate views from the east and north portions of the bowl. Late-afternoon light makes them especially dramatic.
• Ralphie facility and tradition
  The live buffalo program involves student handlers, veterinary oversight and specialized transportation. The run is carefully managed rather than a casual mascot stunt.
• Historic horseshoe
  Waldo E. Brockway designed the original north-facing bowl in 1924 to fit the sloping campus. Stonework helps it blend with CU’s Tuscan-inspired architecture.
• UCHealth Champions Center
  The 2016 addition at the northeast corner integrates football operations, performance and sports medicine with the stadium.
• South videoboard
  The larger board installed in 2024 anchors the open end and improves replay visibility from the north half of the stadium.
• Zero-waste legacy
  CU launched a pioneering stadium zero-waste program in 2008. Concourse bins separate compost, recycling and landfill material; follow the signage rather than guessing.
• High elevation
  At roughly 5,440 feet, Folsom sits higher than Denver. Visitors may feel the altitude on ramps and stairs before they notice it during the game.

History & Notable Moments

• Opening victory (1924)
  Colorado defeated Regis 39–0 on October 11 after the stadium was built in only 271 days.
• Folsom name (1944)
  The university honored former coach Frederick Folsom, whose early teams established Colorado football.
• Nebraska breakthrough (1986)
  Colorado upset No. 3 Nebraska 20–10, validating Bill McCartney’s rebuilding program.
• Top-three showdown (1989)
  No. 2 Colorado defeated No. 3 Nebraska 27–21 during a Big Eight championship season.
• 62–36 against Nebraska (2001)
  The Buffaloes overwhelmed No. 2 Nebraska in one of the loudest and most consequential games in stadium history.
• Attendance record (2005)
  A crowd of 54,972 watched Mason Crosby’s late field goal beat Colorado State 31–28.
• Baylor Hail Mary (2024)
  Colorado forced overtime with a last-play touchdown and won 38–31, instantly adding a Big 12-era classic.
• Return to synthetic turf (2025)
  AstroTurf replaced natural grass after 26 seasons, allowing broader stadium use while retaining an organic infill system.

Folsom’s bowl runs north–south, with the old west stands, premium-heavy east side, closed north end and lower south seating below the videoboard. The afternoon sun generally favors the west side for earlier shade, while east-side spectators look directly toward the Flatirons but endure more glare. Upper seats offer the grandest scenery; lower rows feel close but can lose the mountain horizon.

• West sideline
  Better shade potential, historic character and direct Flatirons views across and beyond the stadium. Some routes pass through Balch Fieldhouse.
• East sideline
  Home to suites, clubs and elevated premium seating. Afternoon sun can be strong, but upper positions provide excellent field and campus perspectives.
• North end zone
  Close to the team entrance and first Ralphie run, with the south videoboard straight ahead. The end-zone angle compresses distant action.
• South end/student area
  Energetic and near the large videoboard. Students use a dedicated south-side entrance and families cannot sit in student sections without the correct ticket.
• Byron R. White Club and suites
  East-side premium areas provide chairbacks, indoor hospitality and climate relief. Access uses Buff Walk East.
• Crawford, Touchdown and Rooftop areas
  Northeast premium products enter near the Champions Center and combine social space with end-zone or corner views.
• Flatirons Club
  West-side hospitality offers a premium experience with convenient southwest or Porter entry.
• Accessible seating
  Routes and entrances depend on section. Coordinate tickets in advance, use Lot 204 and its shuttle when needed, and enter through the recommended accessible gate.

Folsom Field is fully cashless, with stands in Balch Fieldhouse, the southwest plaza, east concourse, rooftop and premium levels. Service begins when gates open two hours before kickoff and ends with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Colorado permits one factory-sealed nonalcoholic drink up to 51 ounces or one empty approved plastic bottle of that size per ticket holder.

• GQue BBQ
  Available near Gate 12 and in Balch Fieldhouse, this Colorado barbecue brand provides the strongest smoked-meat option.
• Colorado Cantina
  Near Gate 10, the stand offers tamales, nachos, salads, hot dogs and vegetarian or gluten-friendly choices.
• R&B Tacos and Flavor of Tabasco
  Plaza locations broaden the Mexican-food selection beyond the main cantina.
• Cluck City and Bowl Game Grub
  Chicken sandwiches, wings, rice bowls and other handhelds appear near Gate 7 and inside the fieldhouse.
• Blackjack Pizza
  Cheese and other pizza choices are sold at the Gate 8 brewery stand and northwest plateau near Gate 19.
• Local beer
  Breckenridge and other Colorado products are joined by canned, gluten-free and nonalcoholic options. Identification is required, and outside alcohol is prohibited.
• Desserts
  Dippin’ Dots, Scrumptious Ice Cream, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Kona Ice appear at specified plaza, fieldhouse or gate locations.
• Dietary planning
  The official food guide identifies vegetarian, vegan and gluten-friendly items and exact stands; consult it before climbing to an upper section.

• Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags may not exceed 12 by 6 by 12 inches. A one-gallon or smaller clear freezer bag is also accepted.
• A small clutch may be no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches, with or without a handle or strap.
• Medically necessary items are allowed after inspection. Standard diaper bags, backpacks and similar non-clear bags are prohibited.
• One factory-sealed nonalcoholic beverage in a plastic container of 51 ounces/1.5 liters or less is permitted per ticket holder. Alternatively, bring one empty nonmetal reusable plastic bottle within that limit.
• Seat cushions and chairbacks may be no wider than 18 inches and cannot have pockets, zippers or covers. Blankets must be no larger than 50 by 60 inches and may be unrolled for inspection.
• Umbrella strollers are permitted; full-size strollers and car-seat carriers are not. Umbrellas, metal bottles, laptops, tablets and professional camera equipment are prohibited.
• Folsom Field has no public bag check or rental lockers. Rejected items must return to a vehicle or will be discarded if left at an entrance.
• Gates open two hours before kickoff, CU recommends entry at least one hour early and reentry is not permitted.