Floyd Stadium - Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
- David Welch
- Oct 4
- 6 min read
Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.28
Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium 1500 Greenland Drive Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Year Opened: 1933
Capacity: 27,303
‘Boro Built, Middle Made
Football has been played at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro since 1911. The program found its permanent home in 1933 with the opening of Horace Jones Field, later renamed Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium, which has hosted the Blue Raiders for more than nine decades. The team’s golden years came under Charles “Bubba” Murphy (1947–1968), who produced four undefeated seasons and established the program as a powerhouse in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1950s and 1960s, winning seven titles in ten seasons.
MTSU remained in the OVC until 1999, when they moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision. After a brief stint as an independent, the Blue Raiders joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2001, eventually settling in Conference USA in 2013, where they continue their pursuit of a league title. With more than a century of history and plenty of change along the way, football at Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium has remained a constant in the program’s history.
Food & Beverage 4
The traditional concession stands do not bring much by way of originality, sticking mostly to hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels with cheese, peanuts, chips, and candy. Drinks feature Pepsi products, Aquafina, and Gatorade, with a fairly light alcohol lineup of Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Bud Light Seltzer, High Noon, and Nutrl seltzers. Blue Raider Beer Garden does offer a stronger beer selection, however, with local options like East Bank Citra IPA, Landslide IPA from Cedar Grove Brews, and Sun Kiss Amber Ale.
Where Floyd Stadium really delivers is with the food trucks, trailers, and tents abounding on the west side concourse. Fans can grab Domino’s pizza, barbecue from Meat Sweats BBQ, and chicken or pork sandwiches, nachos, wings, or tenders from Creative Culinary Creations. The most popular stop seems to be Chicken Shack Express, known for its plates of fried chicken tenders, shrimp, catfish, and wings with fries on the side. For those with a sweet tooth, Dippin’ Dots remain a staple, while Whisk and the Whims serves up ice cream and cake creations that add a local touch.
Atmosphere 3
Game day in Murfreesboro kicks off in Walnut Grove with the Blue Raider “Party in the Grove” – this center of tailgating comes alive about three hours before kickoff. The Band of Blue makes its march down Normal Way to the Lucky Bud Horseshoe in front of Peck Hall, where the band and spirit squads line the walkway, and fans gather to cheer the Blue Raiders on as they give the Blue Horseshoe a rub for luck. Activities in the Grove include live music, inflatables, face painting, caricature artists, photos, and craft stations.
Floyd Stadium has taken on a bit of a facelift in recent years, but much of the stadium’s bones have remained the same. The facility is a fully enclosed venue mostly made up of aluminum bleachers, with a second tier rising on the east side. There is a small strip of chairbacks between the 40-yard lines to add a touch of comfort, but the overall setup leans heavily toward a no-frills, old-school experience. The new Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center in the north end zone gives the stadium a welcome modern polish, as well.
During the game, an in-game host helps keep the energy up with interactive scoreboard features, while the Band of Blue fills in downtime between possessions. A large videoboard in the south end zone handles replays and live action, topped with a ribbon for game information; the east-side ribbon board supplements this with stats, out-of-town scores, and closed captioning, rounding out the in-game presentation.
Neighborhood 3
Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium sits at the southwest edge of Middle Tennessee’s campus, tucked between Murphy Center (basketball) and Reese Smith Stadium (baseball). For fans looking to grab a bite or drink before kickoff, Campus Pub and Boro Bar & Grill deliver a classic dive bar feel within walking distance, with Boro doubling as a late-night music spot for post-game entertainment. As an alternative, on the opposite side of campus along East Main Street, Boulevard Bar & Grille provides a more family-friendly option.
Those wanting a livelier scene will find it a few minutes away in Murfreesboro’s town center, where bars, restaurants, and shops surround historic Rutherford County Courthouse. Beyond food and drink, Murfreesboro also carries plenty of local history – Stones River National Battlefield, less than five miles from campus, marks one of the Civil War’s pivotal clashes, while the nearby Middle Tennessee Museum of Natural History showcases fossils, minerals, and regional relics.
Fans 2
In 2024, the Blue Raiders averaged just 13,000 fans per game, a figure that placed them near the bottom of Conference USA. Their rivalry matchup with Western Kentucky tends to draw the best atmosphere, but most games struggle to generate that same level of energy.
The liveliest section is the Blue Raider Beer Garden in the south end zone, where fans crowd the fence and pound against it to rattle visiting teams. Still, the smaller overall turnout limits the noise level inside Floyd Stadium. Midweek kickoffs, a regular feature of Middle Tennessee’s schedule, only add to the challenge of building consistent crowds.
Access 3
Middle Tennessee’s campus sits less than four miles from I-24, which connects Chattanooga and Nashville. While the stadium is not directly off the interstate, local streets make it easy enough to reach. Parking is well distributed across campus, with pay lots near the north end of the stadium and multiple free lots within reasonable walking distance. Shuttles are also available from the free lots for added convenience.
Outside the stadium, staff stationed in distinctive blue lifeguard chairs make it easy for visitors to find help and directions. Entry is smooth, with five gates spread around the venue to keep lines short, and the concourses are generally wide enough to handle the crowd. The main flaw comes in the upper deck: with no concessions on that level, fans in the highest seats must trek all the way down to field level for food or drink, a hassle that undercuts the otherwise efficient layout.
Return on Investment 4
End zone seats start at $22, making Floyd Stadium one of the more affordable tickets in Conference USA. Concessions here have seen recent price hikes, but overall remain reasonable and will not strain most budgets.
Parking is a mixed bag: spots directly around the stadium run $20, while nearby lots and garages cost about $10. The tradeoff is that MTSU also offers at least five free lots, including the Livestock, Lightning, Founders, Corlew, and Bell Street lots, all within a manageable walk for most fans. That balance of paid and free options helps keep the overall cost of gameday down.
Extras 4
MTSU makes an effort to build out the game day experience beyond just the action on the field. The organized on-campus tailgate, pregame pep rally, and Raider Walk all add energy leading up to kickoff.
The north end zone concourse has a series of inflatables set up to help keep younger fans occupied throughout the game.
Lightning, the school’s royal blue and silver horse mascot, plays a visible role on game day, mingling with fans at the Walnut Grove tailgate and helping to keep the crowd engaged once the action starts. While not the most distinctive mascot in college football, Lightning adds a steady presence to the Blue Raider experience.
The Blue Raiders showcase their history with banners hung along the lower walls and seating sections, honoring conference championships, bowl appearances, and former players who went on to win Super Bowl rings.
Final Thoughts
Even though crowds here may be on the smaller side, the overall game day experience in Murfreesboro does not suffer for it. The festive mood is set early in Walnut Grove, where pregame traditions and tailgates create a welcoming atmosphere for fans. The Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center adds both polish and functionality to Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium, giving the venue a more modern touch.
While on-field inconsistencies in recent years have dampened some of the buzz, the Blue Raiders still provide an engaging college football outing. From traditions to affordable tickets and a fan-friendly setting, a Saturday at Middle Tennessee captures the kind of charm that makes the sport such a special experience.
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