There are a lot of things that go into ranking Mountain West Conference football stadiums. For starters, it is one of the most geographically diverse collection of schools in college football. Despite what SEC honks claim, the difference between places like Starkville, Lexington and Auburn is nominal. However, you can’t get any more different than Las Vegas and Logan.
The Mountain West Conference has a little bit of everything both in terms of locations and stadiums. Naturally, some are a lot better than others. And we are here to separate the good from the bad and the meh.
Before we begin, let’s briefly go over our methodology. Our rankings factor in a number of different things. There is, of course, the actual stadium. But the experience, fans and surrounding areas are also considered since they are all part of attending a game. With that out of the way, it is time to rank the Mountain West Conference football stadiums.
More College Football: Looking back at that one time Kansas football was really good
Ranking the Mountain West Conference football stadiums
Impossible to rank
San Diego State
San Diego State is currently playing in Carson, California until the new Aztec Stadium opens in 2022. It looks amazing but judging a bunch of renderings is impossible. As for their old digs, Jack Murphy/Qualcomm/SDCCU Stadium was pretty cool. People like hating on the multi-purpose stadiums of that era, but we’ll miss them when they all disappear.
The Bad Tier
Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex – Hawaii
Unlike San Diego State, it looks like Hawaii will be stuck at their temporary home for at least a few years. No plans have been agreed to regarding Aloha Stadium’s redevelopment which is bad news for Rainbow Warriors fans.
There is not a lot you can say about Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex. It was never designed to be an FBS stadium and looks wildly out of place.
Related: 5 Things You May Not Remember About Aloha Stadium
Albertsons Stadium – Boise State
As a graduate of Idaho, I possess a deep-laying hatred of Boise State. However, it is a subjective fact that Albertsons Stadium sucks. It’s dumpy, soulless and filled with inbred yokels cheering for a commuter college they aren’t smart enough to attend. Seriously, look at the winners in the above photo.
Also, let’s get one thing straight. The blue turf is dumb. Watching a game here is painful visually. It looks like someone forgot to clean up after a Blue Man Group performance. The real shame is that many of the greatest moments in Idaho football history have taken place on it.
Bulldog Stadium – Fresno State
Our Fresno State Bulldog Stadium review covers the venue in depth, so we’re just going to provide the Cliff’s Notes version here. This is an unmemorable venue in a dumpy city. If we were ranking the Mountain West Conference football stadiums based on the availability of Dippin’ Dots ice cream, Bulldog Stadium would finish in first place.
Falcon Stadium – Air Force
Colorado is filled with amazing places. Colorado Springs is not one of those places. In many ways, Falcon Stadium takes on the personality of the surrounding community. It’s just sort of there. Unless you’re some kind of military fanboy or super into the triple option, there’s no reason to watch a game from here.
The Meh Tier
Mackay Stadium – Nevada
Reno is pretty awesome. There is nothing better than enjoying a $15.99 prime rib and lobster dinner at the Cal-Neva before heading to the sportsbook and laying down some outlandish parlay bets. In all honesty, being in Reno does elevate Mackay Stadium to a certain extent. As does the nearby Raising Cane’s. The chicken finger chain is still a novelty out here on the west coast.
Mackay Stadium is commonplace at best. Nevada has made some improvements to it over the years, but nothing makes watching a game here all that memorable. It’s cool to see the Wolfpack play and then head down to The Row and hopefully cash in your winning bet.
Keep Reading: Mackay Stadium review is not quite Reno’s finest
Allegiant Stadium – UNLV
The issue here isn’t with Allegiant Stadium which is outstanding. The problem is that who wants to attend a UNLV game from this made-for-the-NFL venue. It’s like investing in an expensive home theatre to watch reruns of Mad About You. Seriously, what are we doing here? Seeing a few thousand people surrounded by huge swaths of seats takes something away from the presentation.
That being said, Allegiant Stadium is a massive upgrade over Sam Boyd Stadium which was flat out awful and located in the sticks.
University Stadium – New Mexico
It is easy to take one look at the photos of University Stadium and say it sucks. Sure, the facility is aging and lacks some bells and whistles. This isn’t the end of the world though. Not all new things are good. The ambiance here is nice and it’s easy to sit wherever you feel like.
The surroundings and experience of University Stadium are just as good, if not better, than what you’ll find at Arizona and Arizona State. Really, the only thing stopping most people from attending a game here is just how bad New Mexico football is.
Maverik Stadium – Utah State
People rave about the sights around Maverik Stadium. And I get that. The mountain backdrop is cool. Unfortunately, the majority of seats are on the other side of the venue or behind the end zone.
There is nothing bad about Maverik Stadium. The atmosphere, seating and amenities are all perfectly acceptable. But there is just something about that leaves you unimpressed. No one will ever brag about watching a game from here. Maybe that’s because you could look up the word meh in the dictionary and find a picture of Logan, Utah.
The Good Tier
CEFCU Stadium – San Jose State
Formerly known as Spartan Stadium, the placement of CEFCU Stadium on this list will draw a lot of flak. But hear me out. From a visual standpoint, this isn’t the most beautiful facility. Additionally, the massive dirt hill on one side is, in a word, lame.
That being said, if you attend a San Jose State contest at CEFCU Stadium, you’ll understand why it makes the good tier. It is just a chill place to watch some college football. In person, the venue has a lot of charm. Some of the views from the upper deck out towards the Santa Clara Valley are awesome. Watching a game here is a great all-around experience.
Plus, I got to take a picture of me doing ‘Horns Down’ next to the Mountain West Conference championship trophy. Suck on that Texas. Also, suck it Oklahoma.
Related: Spartan Stadium (CEFCU Stadium) review
Canvas Stadium – Colorado State
Fort Collins is such a cool city. Colorado State doesn’t get nearly enough love. And Canvas Stadium is a great venue. It opened in 2017 and manages to avoid some of the faults new stadiums can have. This is definitely worth checking out if you find yourself in Colorado during the fall.
War Memorial Stadium – Wyoming
War Memorial Stadium is simply beautiful. The Rocky Mountains are in the background with trees protecting one endzone and the other lined by the athletic center. It just feels so cozy. Additionally, the venue is a reflection of Laramie, a quaint town that is a neat place to visit.
Returning our focus to War Memorial Stadium, it boasts the coolest field design in the Mountain West Conference. Look, some of those bitterly cold November night games in Laramie are brutal to attend, but the pain is worth it given how great the stadium is.
