Friday Five: Top 5 Mountain West Football Stadiums

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Hello western sports fans, happy World Cup Day to those who celebrate. The off-season presses on, the Mountain West is set to split this summer in just a few weeks, with the “departing five” leaving to create the reformed Pac-12. The Mountain West has added the likes of North Dakota State, Northern Illinois, and UTEP to fill the gaps. 

We at the Mountain West Connection intend to cover both conferences going forward. “Friday Five” will feature the five best of, well, anything leading into football season, alternating between each conference week-to-week. Best quarterbacks, stadiums, mascots, who knows. We’re open to your ideas! This week, we start off with Friday Five football stadiums in the Mountain West Conference. 

5. University Stadium, New Mexico (37,440)

Now one of the largest stadiums in the remainder of the Mountain West Conference, the home of the Lobos opened in 1960 with a 77-6 thumping of the University of Mexico. Yes, you read that correctly, an international opponent. University Stadium is also home to the Isleta New Mexico Bowl. The fast-growing student section, the Howl Raisers, are doing their best to bring the magic of The Pit over to the gridiron. With head coach Jason Eck in charge, this stadium’s best moments might be ahead.

4. Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium, Wyoming (25,500)

There has been a lot of construction happening up at 7,220 feet. Wyoming added a new scoreboard in the south endzone in 2016, along with an entirely brand-new football facility in the north endzone. The stadium itself went through a major facelift starting in 2023 with continued improvement through 2025. The Pokes have one of the strongest home field advantages in the conference over the years, many perceived superior foes have fallen there. Yes, there are Mountain West stadiums with larger capacities, but the constant renovations and improvements have this stadium cracking the top five.

3. Sun Bowl, UTEP (51,000)

You had to figure this one was coming. UTEP is brand-new to the Mountain West football scene, but its facility is no stranger in the lore of western football. UTEP plays their home games at the Sun Bowl, which famously features two top Power 4 opponents every year for the December “Sun Bowl” bowl game. While the Miners rarely fill the entire building, it does boast one of the largest capacities in the conference. With several impressive and iconic stadiums set to leave the conference this summer, the MWC is glad to be adding one as well.

2. Falcon Stadium, Air Force (39,441)

I can’t say it much better than the Air Force athletics website, “A picturesque setting at the base of the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains and boasting some of the grandest pageantry in all of college football, Falcon Stadium is without a doubt one of the premier college football stadiums in America.” The view is breathtaking regardless of where one sits in the stadium, with a unique atmosphere filled with cadets from the academy. Fit to host a large crowd in a beautiful setting in Colorado Springs, I won’t fight anyone who picks this stadium as the best in the Mountain West. Why isn’t it 1st? Well…

1. Allegiant Stadium, UNLV (65,000)

I went back and forth with this one. On one hand, Allegiant Stadium, the multi-purpose indoor stadium in Las Vegas that opened only soon-to-be six years ago, is home of the Las Vegas Raiders. It is clearly the most impressive venue in the Mountain West with no peer in its category. Much like the Pitt Panthers play in the Steelers’ stadium, or the Temple Owls play at Lincoln Financial Field, UNLV calls this incredible stadium home, but obviously they are not the primary tenants in the building. Should that knock them down a spot? Maybe, but the Rebels play their home games here and it is far and away the most impressive stadium in the conference, even if not solely owned by UNLV.

Others in consideration: Well, we know Hawaii isn’t cracking this top five right now, but we certainly hope New Aloha Stadium stays on schedule and opens in 2029. The Fargodome isn’t large by any means, but it seems like a cool venue to watch a game at. CEFCU Stadium has seen some upgrades in recent years; I don’t want to short the Spartans there. Whichever way you rank them, the Mountain West still has plenty of solid venues.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos