Athletic Director, Chris Petersen, in a press conference today announced the final completion of Simplot Memorial Stadium, just thirty years after the expansion arches on the south side of what was once known as Bronco Stadium. The final phase is now complete and the stadium will seat just over 75,650. Ryan Clady Field is set to have new turf installed just before the season begins. After many public hearings on the subject and despite an unexpected public opposition, the field will remain Blue as the staple of a Boise University tradition. The new field will be Astro Play IV and is the safest and most reliable turf in the world.
Stueckle Sky Center East has under gone extensive remodeling and has a new look and feel inside similar to the smaller Stueckle Sky Center West. The Carl’s Jr. parking garage and “Tailgate Terrace” will have a new skyway bridge to the SSC-West from the top level terrace. However the availability of reserved Tailgate Terrace spaces still has a three year waiting list.
Boise University enters their ninth season as a member of the Pacific Athletic Conference – Western Mountain Division and will be in pursuit of its seventh National Championship in the Obama Bowl Championship Series. The Broncos have held the OBCS titles in 2012, 2013, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2025. Winning traditions continue at Boise State and with the final enclosure of the north horseshoe, the chance to get in to see a game has greatly increased. The 8,500 new seats in the north will become available next week to the season ticket waiting list first, then to the general public. Petersen expects the tickets to sell out within a few days.
Simplot Memorial Stadium has become a premier facility in college football and a beacon for the success of a program that entered Division I thirty years ago. Coach Marcel Yates has indicated the team is ready for the season home opener with the USC Trojans and has all but guaranteed a victory. Nebraska Cornhuskers will be visiting the blue turf for the first time on October 17th, Homecoming.
Non-conference travel dates to Texas and Miami are still in final negotiations with ESPNDirect and should be announced within the next few days. The other key non-conference match up will be with Mountain West Conference Champion, University of Montana-Missoula as they visit Simplot Memorial Stadium for the final home game on November 29th. Coach Yates has continued his successful one-game-at-a-time concept as the Broncos enter “PAC down on the Blue.”
Yes, 2027 will be an exciting year for the Broncos and the new look, all orange Reb-ke uniforms will be on display at the home opener. On hand for the honorary coin toss in the season opener will be former Bronco great and retired three time NFL Super Bowl champion Kyle Efaw. Kyle has also donated the resources (approximately 2 million) for the new scoreboard that will be installed before the 2028 Les Schwab Commercial Tire Humanitarian Bowl. I’m guessing he may even become a member of the Humanitarian Hall of Fame very soon.
