WHY SO BLUE?

WHY SO BLUE?

A History of Boise State University’s Turf

By Karissa Manske

When someone says “Boise State University,” chances are high that the first thing that comes to mind is Albertsons Stadium’s iconic blue-colored football field. After all, “The Blue” has been around since 1986, giving Boise State the distinctive honor of being the first university to ever install a non-traditional field color.

There has been some pushback over the years regarding the blue turf. In 2011, the Mountain West conference tried to rule that the Boise State football team couldn’t wear blue jerseys on their home field. The move caused a bit of a stir among fans and players alike, and eventually, the conference retracted the rule. All in all, the NCAA does not ban non-traditional field colors. However, the NFL does, which led to the creation of their “Boise State Rule,” which bans teams from having non-green-colored fields.

The trademarking process, officially completed in 2011, is not a simple one. The university had to file an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and prove that the blue turf was a distinctive and recognizable feature of the university’s brand. After a lengthy review process, the application was approved, and the university was granted a federal trademark registration for the color blue as applied to artificial turf.

The first football field at Boise Junior College, 1950s. Home of Bronco football from 1950-1969, when they broke ground on a new stadium.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ARCHIVES

Bronco Stadium, July 1970. The stadium's second tier, added to the east side in 1975, brought the stadium's capacity to 20,000.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ARCHIVES

Boise Junior College football began in 1933, just one year after the school's establishment. For 31 seasons, they played as Boise Junior College (1933-1964) and then as Boise College (1965-1967).

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ARCHIVES

Boise State is not the only team to have a blue turf football field (although it arguably remains the more recognizable). The Luther College Norse in Iowa and the New Haven Chargers in Connecticut also have blue turfs. Luther College received permission from Boise State to install theirs in 2017 and New Haven College installed theirs in 2009, two years before Boise State’s trademark took effect.

Bronco Stadium, 1970s. Boise State football was played on green AstroTurf for sixteen seasons before going blue.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY LIRBRARY ARCHIVES

Bronco Stadium, 1989. The blue turf, installed prior to the 1986 season, was the first in the nation that wasn't green.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY LIRBRARY ARCHIVES

Bronco Stadium, 1980s. Gene Bleymaier, who served as Boise State's athletic director from 1982-2011, came up with the idea for blue turf, which has defined the Bronco brand.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY LIRBRARY ARCHIVES

Today, Albertsons Stadium holds 36,387 people and sports the familiar blue turf that Boise has grown to love.

PHOTO BY KAREN DAY

“Boise State has licensed numerous teams, high schools, and universities throughout the country to install their own version of non-green turf. We have received requests for all kinds of colors from red, purple, gray, and every shade of blue you can imagine. It has been rewarding to share in the excitement of installing a new color of turf with requesting programs and to see the recognition Boise State receives in local communities whenever a license is granted. Any interested parties can reach out to the Boise State licensing office to start that request process,” said Boise State trademark licensing specialist Spencer Jahn.

Overall, the decision to trademark the blue turf seems to have paid off. “Not only is ‘The Blue’ an iconic landmark and photo opportunity for fans and visiting travelers alike, but it is an integral part of the university’s visual identity and innovative spirit,” Jahn said. “Boise State instantly comes to mind when blue turf is seen or mentioned, making it a powerful symbol that is used in marketing and communications efforts throughout the university. It is a true source of pride for our campus community.”

Now, for the question on everyone’s mind: do ducks mistake the blue turf for the nearby Boise River and crash land onto it? While this is a popular myth, the relievingly short answer is no!