Hancock Whitney Stadium

Hancock Whitney Stadium is a 25,450-seat multi-purpose stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. It is the home of the South Alabama Jaguars football program,^[1] starting with the 2020 season. The stadium replaced Ladd–Peebles Stadium, a city-owned all-purpose stadium located some 9 miles (14 km) from the campus where the school had played its football games since 2009. The stadium carries the name of Hancock Whitney, a bank holding company headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, while its playing surface is designated as the Abraham A. Mitchell Field, named after a substantial donor to the program.^[1] Hancock Whitney Stadium is located on the west part of the South Alabama campus near the football field house,^[2] practice fields, and Jaguar Training Center, which is the largest covered practice facility in the state of Alabama.^[3]

Abe Mitchell Field at Hancock Whitney Stadium

Abe Mitchell Field at Hancock Whitney Stadium Location in Alabama Show map of Alabama Abe Mitchell Field at Hancock Whitney Stadium Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Mobile, Alabama
Coordinates	30.696904°N 88.192013°W / 30.696904; -88.192013
Owner	University of South Alabama
Operator	University of South Alabama
Capacity	25,450
Record attendance	25,450 (October 20, 2022 vs. Troy)
Surface	FieldTurf
Construction
Broke ground	August 6, 2018
Opened	September 12, 2020
Construction cost	$78 million
Tenants
South Alabama Jaguars (NCAA) (2020–present) Senior Bowl (2021–present) 68 Ventures Bowl (2021–present)

History

Construction on Hancock Whitney Stadium started on August 6, 2018, and cost $78 million. The stadium opened with on September 12, 2020, with a college football game against the Tulane Green Wave.^[4] Due to COVID-19 restrictions, capacity for the opener and all other 2020 games was capped at 6,000 spectators to allow for social distancing.^[5]

Hancock Whitney Stadium serves as home of the Senior Bowl, a postseason college football all-star game, since the 2021 edition. The game had previously been held at Ladd–Peebles Stadium for nearly 70 years.^[6] Since the 2021 edition, Hancock Whitney Stadium has also served as home of the 68 Ventures Bowl, a postseason college bowl game, following 22 years at Ladd–Peebles.^[7]

Facility features

• 11 Suites
• 42 Loge boxes
• Terrace standing room with drink rails (that can convert into a concert stage)
• Ample concourse room
• Up to 96 points-of-sale for concessions
• Musco LED lighting (ability to create light show)
• Daktronics high definition video board (top 40 in the country)
• Daktronics high definition ribbon boards and sound system

^[8]

Year by year

South Alabama Jaguars
Season	Average Crowd	Largest Crowd	Home Record
2020	5,449	6,000	2-4
2021	16,083	20,156	4-2
2022	16,646	25,450	5-1
2023	17,190	23,478	4-2
2024	18,169	25,450	3-3
Total			18–12 (.600)

Attendance records

Rank	Attendance	Date	Game Result
1	25,450	October 15, 2024	South Alabama 25, Troy 9
2	25,450	October 20, 2022	South Alabama 6, Troy 10
3	23,478	October 17, 2023	South Alabama 55, Southern Miss 3
4	20,156	September 4, 2021	South Alabama 31, Southern Miss 7
5	19,667	November 2, 2024	South Alabama 30, Georgia Southern 34
6	18,369	September 23, 2023	South Alabama 30, Central Michigan 34
7	17,939	September 24, 2022	South Alabama 38, Louisiana Tech 14
8	16,764	October 2, 2021	South Alabama 18, Louisiana 20
9	16,746	October 26, 2024	South Alabama 46, Louisiana-Monroe 17
10	16,709	October 28, 2023	South Alabama 20, Louisiana 33