In recent years, soccer has surged in popularity across the United States, climbing to become the nation's third‑most watched sport and surpassing baseball in viewership. Between 2018 and 2024, the sport's audience grew by roughly 60 percent, signaling a shifting sports landscape that now sees more fans tuning in for the beautiful game than for America's pastime.
A Stadium Ready for the Global Game
Boise State University is charting an ambitious course to make Albertsons Stadium a true FIFA‑regulation venue. The plan calls for precise field dimensions — at least 109 yards in length and 70 yards in width — while preserving the stadium's existing width to accommodate the sport's requirements. To achieve this, the university will add overbuilds on the east side, boosting seating from the current 36,360 to more than 40,000.
The renovation comes with a price tag. Installing a natural‑grass soccer surface is estimated at around $300,000, while an alternative iron deck solution would require an additional $250,000 to $300,000. University officials stress that these investments are designed to keep ticket prices low, ensuring that games remain family‑friendly and accessible to the broader Boise community.
Beyond the numbers, the initiative reflects a broader vision: to generate revenue from soccer events that can be funneled back into campus projects and community programs. By scheduling professional matches on a recurring basis — not just once every five years but roughly every few years — Boise State hopes to create a sustainable model that benefits both the university and local fans.
The concept is not entirely new. In 2015, the stadium hosted a high‑profile exhibition featuring Spain's Athletic Bilbao and Mexico's Club Tijuana, drawing crowds that proved the venue's potential for international play. Building on that precedent, university leaders are now laying the groundwork for a regular slate of matches that could put Boise on the map as a soccer destination.