How high is Falcon Stadium?
| Reference | Elevation | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force Academy Athletics | 6,621 ft | The academy’s published stadium figure (≈2,018 m). |
| Stadium terrain lookup | 2,020 m ≈6,627 ft | A terrain-grid estimate at 38.997° N, 104.843° W; not a field survey. |
The two figures are within about six feet of each other. The lookup uses Open-Meteo’s Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation service; the stadium is built into a natural bowl, and nearby grid points on the slopes read higher, so we treat the academy’s 6,621 feet as the headline figure.
Some stadium lists quote a higher number for Falcon Stadium. We previously used 6,726 feet from a coarser database value and have corrected it to the academy’s figure across the site; the change is in our corrections log.
Where it ranks
| Venue | Elevation |
|---|---|
| War Memorial Stadium (Wyoming) | 7,220 ft |
| Falcon Stadium (Air Force) | 6,621 ft |
| Folsom Field (Colorado) | 5,315 ft |
| Empower Field at Mile High (Denver) | 5,280 ft |
| LaVell Edwards Stadium (BYU), approx. | 4,675 ft |
Falcon Stadium is about 1,340 feet higher than Denver’s Mile High stadium. The full list is in our highest-elevation college football stadiums ranking.
How much thinner is the air?
At a rounded 2,000 metres, close to Falcon Stadium’s setting, NASA’s reference-atmosphere equations give air density about 82% of the sea-level value—roughly 18% lower. Pressure is about 78% of the sea-level reference.
18% less dense
Illustrative reference atmosphere at 2,000 m—not a kickoff measurement and not a 18% increase in kick distance.
Lower density means less drag on the ball at the same speed. Actual flight still depends on launch angle, spin, temperature and wind, so these equations cannot tell you that a field goal at the academy travels a particular number of yards farther.
The calculation uses NASA Glenn’s metric troposphere curve fits, comparing 2,000 m with 0 m. Its temperature profile is a model assumption, not a game-day forecast.
Does that give Air Force an altitude advantage?
It is plausible venue context, not a proven Air Force edge. Lower pressure means less oxygen per breath; how much that matters to a visiting team depends on where it normally plays, how early it arrives and how long the drives last.
A team-sport altitude position statement discusses acclimatisation and performance in general. It does not establish an Air Force-specific points or win-rate effect, and this guide contains no game-results analysis or betting backtest.
Before an Air Force home game
Elevation stays put. Wind, temperature and precipitation do not—and on the edge of the Rampart Range they can change quickly. Check the stadium forecast at kickoff rather than relying on altitude alone.
Falcon Stadium weatherFrequently asked
What is the elevation of Air Force’s Falcon Stadium?
Falcon Stadium is 6,621 feet (2,018 m) above sea level, the figure the Air Force Academy publishes. A terrain-grid lookup at the stadium gives 2,020 metres (about 6,627 feet), so the two agree closely.
Is Falcon Stadium the highest stadium in college football?
No. It is the second-highest FBS stadium. Wyoming’s War Memorial Stadium is higher at 7,220 feet, about 599 feet above Falcon Stadium.
Does the altitude give Air Force a home advantage?
The thinner air is real, but this guide does not measure an Air Force win, scoring or betting edge. That would need a study adjusted for team strength, opponents, travel and weather.
Sources and scope
- Air Force Academy Athletics – Falcon Stadium: the 6,621 ft elevation, 39,441 current capacity and 1962 opening.
- Stadium-coordinate elevation lookup: frozen 2,020 m terrain estimate, checked 2026-10-30; point from the stadium’s listed coordinates; dataset documentation.
- NASA Glenn Earth atmosphere equations: the illustrative density and pressure calculation.
- Position statement—altitude training for team-sport players: general physiological context, not an Air Force outcome study.