Boise State’s new North End Zone is almost ready to show off.
Nathan Burk, the chief operating officer for Boise State’s Sports & Entertainment Group, gave local media a tour Wednesday afternoon as the $70 million project at Albertsons Stadium reached what he called 99% completion. The final touches will be wrapped up before Boise State football’s 2026 home opener against Memphis at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, and student-athletes are set to start using the nutrition center and team spaces next week, the school said.
Fans will get their first real look at the new setup this week, when Boise State hosts Banana Ball World Tour games on Friday and Saturday.
The old metal stands in the North End are gone, replaced by a two-story structure that seats about 1,600 across field-level suites and loge boxes. Boise State also plans to sell some standing-room-only tickets for the area if needed, Burk said.
Inside the first floor is the Simplot Field Level Club, a large gathering space with TVs, two bars, a fireplace and a commercial kitchen. The design leans into Idaho’s look and feel, with wood, stone, steal and leather chosen to reflect the state’s natural beauty, Burk said.
The field-level suites use privacy glass with a linear pattern meant to represent Idaho mountain ranges. Those ranges, including the Seven Devils Mountains, also list elevation and were selected with donor input.
The centerpiece of the club is a split grand staircase. On game days, Boise State players will come out of the locker room and appear below the opening between the staircases before running onto the field.
“You get goosebumps thinking about it,” Burk said.
Food options will rotate on the far side of the lounge throughout the season.
Upstairs, the Foothills Club - with sponsorship to be announced later - features five glass garage doors facing the blue turf and a long bar on the opposite wall. The loge boxes connect to that level and each includes its own refrigerator and multiple movable chairs.
The project also added restrooms and more than 100 new point-of-sale vendors, part of an effort to make grabbing food and drinks easier for fans.
Burk said the entire two-story space was built to be used 365 days a year, and Boise State has already booked Christmas parties, corporate retreats and dances there.
The upgrades aren’t just for fans. The new athlete spaces include a nutrition center with snacks, meals and a smoothie bar, plus a recruiting lounge for all of Boise State’s sports teams. The lounge includes a giant TV on one wall and special state-of-the-art lighting designed to give recruits a spot for photos during visits.
A black-and-white image of Albertsons Stadium covers the north wall of the recruiting lounge, along with a massive photo of former Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, now with the Las Vegas Raiders, hurdling an opponent. Jeanty led the nation in rushing in 2024 and finished runner-up in the Heisman Trophy race.
There are also new locker room accommodations for visiting teams, and those spaces can be converted into lounges for celebrities and musical artists when Albertsons Stadium hosts concerts.
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