Got a ticket in Boise State’s North End Zone? Here’s what game day will look like
Close your eyes and fast-forward six months.
It’s a warm September afternoon in Boise. After nine months of waiting, you’re finally enjoying a burger or brat in the parking lots surrounding Albertsons Stadium.
Thousands of Boise State football fans create a permanent buzz of chatter and excitement as the Broncos prepare to host Memphis in the first home game of the 2026 season.
The last time you were in the stadium, a gigantic red crane was standing in front of a construction zone on the north side of the stadium. Workers in luminous yellow jackets sat on bare concrete slabs during games, occasionally fetching footballs that flew through the uprights and bounced around.
But things look different now. You’re right in the thick of it and in possession of a ticket to sit in the brand-new North End Zone area, which has been under construction since January 2025.
Boise State is nearing completion of its $70 million project, which will seat approximately 1,600 and feature amenities for student-athletes, such as a nutrition center and a lounge.
The structure is actually scheduled to open to the public for the first time during the Banana Ball World Tour games on July 31-Aug. 1. The Memphis football game, which does not have a kickoff time yet, is set for Sept. 12.
Here’s what a gameday experience in the North End Zone will look like.
Getting to the North End Zone
After finishing up your tailgate food and drinks, you’ll have to head to the northwest corner of the stadium, below the Stueckle Sky Center and next to the Caven-Williams Sports Complex.
You may be enticed by a new set of stairs on the northeast side, next to the Bleymaier Football Center, but those are for people sitting in the eastside stands. All North End Zone ticketholders must pass through the northwest doors.
Upon entering, you’ll see a reception area with a ticket-scanning desk to the right and a long wall with Boise State graphics and halo-backlit decor to the left. From Monday to Friday, the reception area will serve as a nutrition center for athletes, offering smoothies, protein shakes, granola and anything else an athlete could need.
After scanning your ticket and picking up a flute of champagne, following a line of LED lights will take you into the semitruck tunnel — this is the giant tunnel in the northwest corner that can not only fit such trucks (and monster trucks), but it’s where Boise State’s players will run to and from the locker room.
Fans will have to cross the tunnel to reach the lounge, so they may sometimes have to wait while players run through. Boise State Senior Associate Athletic Director Nathan Burke told reporters during a tour Friday that the department wanted to give fans a “behind the scenes” experience, and that’s why the tunnel crossing is part of it.
Once you’ve avoided being tackled by a linebacker or pancake-blocked by an offensive lineman, you can step into the main lounge.
The North End Zone lounge and suites
The field-level floor of the North End Zone will introduce fans to a classier, more neutral part of the structure.
The walls and ceilings are decorated with wood, stone and steel — with elements that resemble Idaho, according to Burke. The area will still be decked out in Boise State decor for gamedays, but otherwise it will serve as a lounge for athletes and it can host other events, such as weddings and fundraisers.
Twelve field-level suites will line one side of the lounge. Each suite, which is nearly identical in size to those in the Stueckle Sky Center, has large sliding doors leading out to the field, as well as windows that look back into the lounge.
These windows will be covered with translucent film of different Idaho mountain ranges, giving those inside privacy while allowing natural light to flow through into the lounge, which can hold up to 500 people.
The other side of the lounge will feature numerous food options that will rotate throughout the season, including classic American game day food, Asian food, BBQ, and vegetarian options.
And then there is the pièce de résistance: the player tunnel.
Two grand staircases leading to the upper floor frame an entryway that will be covered with a movable wall. As kickoff approaches, a runway down the middle of the lounge will be cut off, and fans can gather to cheer on their Broncos, who will emerge from the tunnel amid flashing lights and smoke as they head to the field.
Outdoor areas of North End Zone
If you’re not in the mood to sit inside, there are two open-air bars on the top level of the structure.
The first, accessible only to those with North End Zone tickets, is called the Foothills Club. A more laid-back bar, it will serve beverages and classic game fare like hot dogs and popcorn, and it looks out upon The Blue. Large garage-style doors can be rolled up during the warmer months to create an open-air bar, or can be closed when it’s colder.
Stepping just outside, you’ll find the 360-degree bar. Three sides of the bar are open to the general public, who can walk around the backside of the North End Zone concourse and still enjoy the new view of the field.
But one side of the bar and the front part of the concourse are restricted to North End Zone ticketholders, providing a quick and easy way to grab a drink and get back to your seat in time for kickoff.
