Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium History

The home stadium of the Texas Longhorns, Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial, proves everything is bigger in Texas!

Texas Longhorns Stadium: Founding
As one of the first concrete stadiums in the Southwest, Memorial Stadium became a landmark for the entire state of Texas after it was constructed in 1924. In the beginning, it was a relatively simple design that allowed an unheard-of 27,000 fans with Texas Longhorns tickets to view the action. Texas Longhorns tickets sold well, even in the face of the tough economic times of the day, providing an escape from people’s troubles. Texas Longhorns tickets sold so well that Memorial Stadium had to have sections added on only two years later to raise the capacity to 40,000.

As economic and enrollment factors enabled the University of Texas to grow, so did Texas Memorial Stadium. By the 1950s, the rapid sale of Texas Longhorns tickets had encouraged the growth of Texas Memorial Stadium into a superstructure that allowed 60,000 fans with Texas Longhorns tickets to crowd in! The 1970s saw the introduction of Astroturf and the home stadium of the Texas Longhorns became a multi-sport facility that also hosted track and soccer. All the Texas Longhorns history in the stadium eventually led to many more improvements and a name change.

Texas Longhorns Stadium: Mack Brown
The success of the Texas Longhorns football team in the Mack Brown era was joined by the growth of the presently named Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The dangerous artificial turf was replaced by beautiful Bermuda grass, and the capacity was ratcheted up to over 94,000. Modern electronics and displays were added to the Texas landmark to make it as much modern as it was historic. Texas Longhorns tickets consistently sold out the stadium, and the demand steadily increased as the University of Texas Longhorns football team racked up wins.

No player in Texas Longhorns football history could get Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium jumping like QB Vince Young. As a full-time starter, Vince Young never lost a game at home and the cheers of fans with Texas Longhorns tickets would echo for miles. The 2005 Texas Longhorns football team set scoring records inside Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium en route to the BCS National Championship. During and after this run, the stadium received even more improvements and rivals any stadium in the NFL.

Texas Longhorns Stadium: 2008
Under the leadership of QB Colt McCoy and DE Brian Orakpo, the 2008 University of Texas Longhorns football team would set even more attendance records than the 2005 team. As the Texas Longhorns steadily climbed the BCS rankings, more and more Texas Longhorns tickets sold, and soon it was evident that Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium would be sold out. Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium set the record for game attendance in the state of Texas with over 98,000 fans showing up three times in 2008 as the Texas Longhorns football team pushed to No. 1 in the nation.

As Colt McCoy and the Texas Longhorns try to rebound after a loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, fans are sure to break more records inside Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium with fans from all over the Burnt Orange Nation flocking to Austin with their Texas Longhorns tickets. The Big 12 and the BCS Championship are on the line and the Texas Longhorns need the support of every fan to help them regain the No. 1 ranking in college football.

Texas Longhorns Stadium: The Future
As the University of Texas Longhorns become one of the biggest college football teams in the nation, Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium must grow to meet the demands for Texas Longhorns tickets. A construction plan is currently underway to make Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium the largest football stadium in all of North America. With plans to house over 110,000 fans eventually, the Texas Longhorns football team will play before the biggest college football audience ever assembled.

Texas Longhorns Stadium: Notes
Darrell K. Royal is the winningest coach in Texas Longhorns football history and was responsible for making the University of Texas the sports program it is today. Darrell K. Royal spent 19 years as the coach of the Texas Longhorns and won three National Championships while he was there. Texas Memorial Stadium became Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in 1996, and the Texas Longhorns continue the winning tradition of the Hall of Fame coach.