First Bank Stadium Nashville update: If you’ve been around Music City for a bit of a span, you might be able to recall that the FirstBank Stadium, located on the campus of Vanderbilt University, is more than a football stadium; it’s a part of history nestled within the midst of Music City itself. Well, as a long-time admirer of this location, there’s been a whole new feeling since it went through a huge makeover; to say it’s looking better than ever would be an understatement as of the end of 2025, and it would be a good idea to explore why that’s the case.
A brief history, as this stadium has a rich background. The stadium was opened back in 1922 with the name "Dudley Field." It was the first stadium to be constructed purely for college football games down in the South. More than a hundred years of football history! Later, the stadium changed names to become what we all know as Vanderbilt Stadium today. We’ve witnessed several historic games by the Vanderbilt Commodores, concerts featuring the Rolling Stones, and even a speech by former President John F. Kennedy back in the 1960s. Today, it changed names and started a fresh chapter with the help of local FirstBank in 2022.
However, the game-changer at this venue has been the current renovation work, which forms part of the big Vandy United project at Vanderbilt. Between the years of 2022 to 2025, they invested so much into renovating the stadium to make it more modern while still retaining its current charm. In the north end zone, a basketball practice facility has been included, while the south end zone, which was finished in FirstBank Stadium, Nashville, update: September 2025, has been fitted with an enormous new locker room for the football teams, dining space, premium box seats, as well as a complete circular concourse. In fact, the press box, sound systems, as well as some spots to watch the game from right on the playing field, have been incorporated.
What's also kind of cool about these updates is the fact that the attendance capacity was slightly reduced to 35,000, with the intention of comfort and luxury taking preference. However, it is still the smallest in the SEC, and this creates a very intimate and charged atmosphere—ideal for those heart-stopping matches.
And you must remember the shocker if you happened to be here in the Year of Our Lord 2024, where Vandy pulled off a massive upset victory over Alabama, which was ranked number 1 at the time! It is incidents like these that render this venue legendary!
“What can be seen inside is just amazing,” he said. “The field is looking fantastic, and these new premium sections, whether it's a loge seat or a field club, are very nice and still pretty college football-friendly,” said Matt.
Leaving aside the Commodores' games, the hosting capabilities of FirstBank Stadium are also on the rise. They are scheduled to host the NCAA Division I FCS Championship later in January 2026 (and also in 2025—the Music City is increasingly going to be a force in college play-offs). Even if large concerts are out of the question for the next year or so, hosting potential is definitely on the rise.
“If you’re visiting, be aware that due to recent renovation, they do not allow any outside food and beverages, including bottled water. You'd better come prepared to enjoy the concession options. Also, lines can be lengthy, so plan accordingly. It’s all about maximizing the fan experience, adding features such as sensory rooms and accessibility.”
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