With retired Air Force parents, I’ve been attending Air Force Academy football games for years. Sure, there’s the traditional tailgating and pregame fun outside the stadium similar to other college games, but Falcons games are special. There’s tradition and pageantry to Air Force games unlike any other school’s. So what makes Air Force Football games so much more than your typical college game day routine?
Here are seven things we love about Air Force Football.
1. The Falcons — as in the Actual Birds
It’s arguably the most advanced mascot performance in the NCAA. Trainers instruct the performers, often gyrfalcons or hybrid gyr-saker and gyr-peregrine falcons, to dive and flyby at high speeds during halftime shows. And these birds are impressive!
2. Those Flyovers
It doesn’t happen at every game, but if you’re lucky, the F-16s will fly over Falcon Stadium — most likely during Parents Weekend or for games against other service academies. Feeling the sonic boom of those fighter jets is an adrenaline rush!
3. The Wings of Blue Parachutes
Jumpers from the Wings of Blue parachute team deliver the game ball and flag after they land on the midfield logo. If you’ve ever thought about skydiving, this might be the inspiration you needed to take to the skies.
4. Cadet Pushups
It’s fun to watch the freshmen cadets hop into a plank to do a pushup for each point after every score. Maybe they want to win in a low-scoring game? It seems the 100 volunteers cherish the chance to work those pecs.
5. The Pregame March On
My favorite part of every game is getting to my seat early and watching the cadets march onto the field before kickoff, then race to their seats in the stadium after the ceremony.
6. Air Force vs. Army or Navy
Colorado Springs has multiple Air Force bases and a huge Army presence (looking at you Fort Carson). And based on the response to the Blues Angels appearance at the Pikes Peak Airshow this year, it seems there are plenty of Navy veterans too. With all that fan support and the Commander in Chief’s Trophy on the line annually, an Air Force vs. Army or Navy rivalry game is one of the best of the year. If you can only make one game this season, this should be it.
7. The New Falcon Stadium Upgrade
Falcon Stadium got a big upgrade last year with a complete rebuild of its east side. As part of a $90-million modernization project, the Air Force Academy opened the Kucera Legacy Center. The east concourse now features 1,200 premium seats, a state-of-the-art club level experience, an efficient and modern entrance, a heritage plaza, open-air hospitality decks, enhanced food and beverage options, updated restrooms, new merchandise area and a ticket office. It’s a whole new unmatched setting to enjoy Air Force football (lacrosse games and special events too).
Go Falcons! You can get the complete schedule and latest Air Force football details at goairforcefalcons.com.
The U.S. Air Force Academy is a special place to visit any time of year. Read more about its Planetarium and Polaris Hall in these articles from our archives.
This article was originally published in October 2019 and updated in September 2025.
