West Texas A&M University’s Buffalo Stadium creates strong visual and physical connections to its surrounding campus setting. The stadium, which replaces an aging off-campus venue, is sited in the north portion of campus and encourages visitors to park throughout the grounds and make their way to the stadium during events.
This strategy creates opportunities for those that might never have a reason to be on campus to experience firsthand all that WTAMU has to offer. Our design for the seating bowl strategically leaves both end zones open so that visual connections can be made into and out of the facility by students, fans, campus visitors, and the community at large. This approach solidifies the stadium’s status as an integral part of not only the WTAMU campus, but also the greater Canyon community.
Designers created welcoming entry plazas and a great lawn outside the stadium to enhance the game day experience for football fans, and to welcome visitors to campus for other events such as commencements and concerts. The stadium, with 8,500 seats and total capacity approaching 10,000, includes a grade-level concourse that encircles the lower seating bowl and provides access to both the upper and lower seating levels. A sideline tower includes concourse-level fan amenity spaces and eight, 12-person suites, while the elevated levels house a climate-controlled club lounge with a banquet capacity for 200 people that is accessible on non-football days for year-round use, and a press level with all facilities required to broadcast Buffalo games.
A locker facility in the north end zone allows for efficient game day operations, while also allowing WT to host high school rivalry and playoff games in a top-notch venue.
