Historic Stadiums

[bostonspider]

Anyone have pictures of where their teams played historically. With UR Football about to return to campus for the first time in over 80 years, I thought it would be interesting to see the stadium from the last time they played on campus

Stadium Field circa 1914 (held around 3,000 fans)

http://football.urlibraries.org/archive/fullsize/vbhs_fb_field_19xx_54f3bcf736.jpg

Interestingly it is in the exact same spot as the new Robins Stadium, and those stands lasted until they were demolished less than 2 years ago to make way for the new stadium.

[superman7515]

University of Delaware:

Frazer Field
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fb/Joe_Frazer_Field_at_UDel.jpg

Wilmington Park
http://home.comcast.net/~jduffy/baseball/wilpark.jpg

http://www.oldwilmington.net/photos/sports/scoreboard.jpg

http://www.oldwilmington.net/photos/sports/Ball%20Park_scoreboard.jpg

[Bogus Megapardus]

Lafayette College, Fisher Field, 1926:

http://cdm.lafayette.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/cap&CISOPTR=867&DMSCALE=12.50000&DMWIDTH=700&DMHEIGHT=700&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=%20fisher%20field&REC=8&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

It is the same structure and location used today:

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/lafa/nonsport/lafa-trads-fisherfield-300w.jpg

But it's been dressed up a bit recently - the "New" Fisher Field:

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/lafa/sports/m-footbl/auto_player/2943908.jpeg

Before 1926, games were played on March Field (which still hosts intramural contests). Here's a game on March Field against the legendary Carlisle Indian College. Jim Thorpe would be somewhere in this picture (or at least on the field):

http://cdm.lafayette.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/cap&CISOPTR=1198&DMSCALE=12.50000&DMWIDTH=700&DMHEIGHT=700&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=%20march%20field%20football&REC=6&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

[Franks Tanks]

Bogus where did you find that first picture? That is a good one.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Bogus where did you find that first picture? That is a good one.

Lafayette Special Collections/Digital Archives (http://digital.lafayette.edu/collections/historicalphotos). Here's one of the construction of Fisher in 1926:

http://cdm.lafayette.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/cap&CISOPTR=865&DMSCALE=12.50000&DMWIDTH=700&DMHEIGHT=700&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&REC=10&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

And lacrosse in the 1940s (my particular favorite - are they even athletes?):

http://cdm.lafayette.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/cap&CISOPTR=1252&DMSCALE=12.50000&DMWIDTH=700&DMHEIGHT=700&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&REC=12&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

[txst80]

15448

Evans Field in San Marcos with a good view of Old Main, which looks identical today.

[bostonspider]

And from tiny historic Stadium Field, Richmond then moved to City Stadium in 1929, closer to downtown Richmond, where they stayed until this upcoming season.

City Stadium in what looks like the late 50's

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/2898494211_64856baf59_o.jpg

And the final regular season game last November

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs086.snc3/15332_183748765757_506630757_2875052_6605358_n.jpg

[yorkcountyUNHfan]

you maen people change stadiums?

[UNHFan]

you maen people change stadiums?

Too funny Priceless!

[Skjellyfetti]

http://contentdm.library.appstate.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/historical_photographs&CISOPTR=7168&DMSCALE=21.66065&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=%20field&REC=1&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

http://contentdm.library.appstate.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/historical_photographs&CISOPTR=7186&DMSCALE=25.00000&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=183&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&REC=9&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

http://contentdm.library.appstate.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/historical_photographs&CISOPTR=7188&DMSCALE=21.11932&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&REC=8&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

http://contentdm.library.appstate.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/historical_photographs&CISOPTR=354&DMSCALE=16.92047&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&REC=12&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

Night game in 1958...
http://contentdm.library.appstate.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/historical_photographs&CISOPTR=1500&DMSCALE=17.39130&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&REC=4&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

http://contentdm.library.appstate.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/historical_photographs&CISOPTR=1498&DMSCALE=17.39130&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&REC=3&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

http://contentdm.library.appstate.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/historical_photographs&CISOPTR=3695&DMSCALE=23.52941&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&REC=11&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0


http://contentdm.library.appstate.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/historical_photographs&CISOPTR=7172&DMSCALE=19.04762&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&REC=11&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0


http://contentdm.library.appstate.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/historical_photographs&CISOPTR=5287&DMSCALE=25.87322&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=%20field&REC=10&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

[UAalum72]

Columbia University, South Field, 1920s
15458


Columbia, Baker Field (1928-1982) - 1936
15459

Princeton, Palmer Stadium (1914-1996)
15460

[chattanoogamocs]

http://www.lib.utc.edu/joomla/images/special_collections/ChamberlainBaseball.jpg

Chattanooga's Chamberlain Field 1904-1997 (at the time of its closing, it was the 2nd oldest on campus stadium in DI)

The picture above was from 1908 (they played football, baseball and track & field there)

The North stands were torn down in 2005...the South stands built circa 1914) will be torn down this year to make way for the new library. Fortunately, they are saving the original gateways and will open up to the a large green next to the library, which will be called...Chamberlain Field.

Many Mocfans still miss playing on campus...but with an urban university, land is always very precious.

http://images.pictopia.com.edgesuite.net/perl/get_image?size=550_art&provider_id=561&ptp_photo_id=8080153
Chamberlain Field, 1930's

http://blog.utc.edu/GOLD/files/2009/09/Football-0526-last-game-at-chamberlain.jpg
Last Game, Homecoming win over Wofford, 1997


Almost Gone: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/jun/15/cherishing-chamberlain/

[JMUNJ08]

http://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/SCPix/aerv2/aerv206.jpg

http://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/SCPix/aerv2/aerv206.jpg

Not really historic but it is for us!xthumbsupx

1980's

[lionsrking2]

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA

Strawberry Stadium - then and now...

http://www.selu.edu/resources/hotspots/traditions/images/stadium.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/selulions/Homeside-1.jpg?t=1283152028
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/southeastern-louisiana-lions-strawberry-stadium/strawberry-1.jpg
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt5/momw4kids/Joshua/IMG_0315.jpg
http://www2.selu.edu/external/gallery/cache/southeastern-snow-2008/b121108_316.jpg_595.jpg
http://www2.selu.edu/external/gallery/cache/southeastern-snow-2008/b121108_001.jpg_595.jpg

[Sader87]

These are all fabulous pics....when did it snow in SE Louisiana????

[DFW HOYA]

Griffith Stadium, Washington DC
Home to Georgetown (1921-1950), Maryland (1947-1949) and George Washington (~1930-1961)

http://www.shorpy.com/files/images/15162u.preview.jpg

[[email protected]]

Houck Stadium home of the Redhawks(Indians in this picture taken in 1966)

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Lehigh's Taylor Stadium 1914-1987, capacity was about 22k

The pics are from the last game ever played there, Lehigh-Lafayette.

http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/5812/taylor21tj.jpg

http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/1674/taylor106zw.jpg

http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/6369/taylor51wt.jpg

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/4594/taylor16ou.jpg

[HailSzczur]

Villanova Stadium during its construction in 1927
http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Atlantic10/Villanova/front.jpg

And today. Back before we dropped football in the 80's we had temporary bleachers in the endzones for afew thousand which got the seating up to around 16000 or 17000
http://fineartamerica.com/images-medium/villanova-stadium-duncan-pearson.jpg

[whoanellie]

and the Redskins until RFK
Griffith Stadium, Washington DC
Home to Georgetown (1921-1950), Maryland (1947-1949) and George Washington (~1930-1961)

http://www.shorpy.com/files/images/15162u.preview.jpg

[bojeta]

Came across this early Cal Poly football pic from 1924. At this point, Cal Poly was still essentially a vocational school for 17-18 year olds and their schedule was mostly limited to playing high school teams and Jr. College teams. Gotta love the way they're lined up 4 to the right of the Center and 2 to his left. That area behind the pine trees is the location of the current AG Spanos Stadium. The second pic is of the 1914 Cal Poly team. What would a game between these kids and the 2011 team look like? Scary!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v455/bojeta/College%20Sports/cal-poly-football-1924.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v455/bojeta/College%20Sports/Cal-Poly-first-FB-team-1915.jpg

[Aeacos]

http://www.library.uni.edu/sites/default/files/speccoll/images/lathamstad1.jpg

This is UNI's Latham field from the 20s and 30s.

[MSUBear42]

http://www.bear-nation.com/forum/index.php?attachments/football-1938-2-png.20/

Briggs Stadium student side had only 14 rows, now it has 29:
http://digitalcollections.missouristate.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/Sports&CISOPTR=20&DMSCALE=20.35969&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=0&DMY=247&DMTEXT=%20briggs&REC=1&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

http://digitalcollections.missouristate.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/Rafferty&CISOPTR=191&DMSCALE=71.09005&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=%20football&REC=14&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0
http://digitalcollections.missouristate.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/Rafferty&CISOPTR=192&DMSCALE=71.09005&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=%20football&REC=13&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

East Side:
http://digitalcollections.missouristate.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/Sports&CISOPTR=37&DMSCALE=15.38462&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=%20football&REC=12&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0
Which is why our lower bowl is so small to this day. They just built the addition right on top of it:
http://www.missouristatetix.com/assets/MissouriStateTix/plastersportscomplexsm.jpg


http://digitalcollections.missouristate.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/Sports&CISOPTR=34&DMSCALE=22.26345&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&REC=16&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

[LetsGoNova]

Go Lehigh - so that stadium was on what is now Packer campus, right? I'm trying to place it via the buildings, but failing. I assume it must have been on the eastern/northern edge of campus, down by Zoellner? I had no idea.

[NHwildEcat]

Anyone have pictures of where their teams played historically. With UR Football about to return to campus for the first time in over 80 years, I thought it would be interesting to see the stadium from the last time they played on campus

Stadium Field circa 1914 (held around 3,000 fans)

http://football.urlibraries.org/archive/fullsize/vbhs_fb_field_19xx_54f3bcf736.jpg

Interestingly it is in the exact same spot as the new Robins Stadium, and those stands lasted until they were demolished less than 2 years ago to make way for the new stadium.

Looks like the current UNH home digs...damn joke.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Go Lehigh - so that stadium was on what is now Packer campus, right? I'm trying to place it via the buildings, but failing. I assume it must have been on the eastern/northern edge of campus, down by Zoellner? I had no idea.

It sat where the business school and the Zoellner Performing arts building is now located.

[TheBisonator]

NDSU's Dacotah Field:

Dacotah Field was in two different locations. First, from the late 1890's to 1952, it was located in the middle of campus where Churchill Field is now:

A pic of the early days (1928) of early Dacotah Field:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5286/5306076913_2cfa322e1f_o.jpg

A pic of the version on Churchill Field from when the 1930s-40s version was built (Inagural game against what is now UNI):

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5306668012_d205c8294c_o.jpg

Dacotah Field then moved in the 1950's to the north part of campus, this was before the BSA was built. At first it was just one grandstand on the north side with small bleachers along the south side, but I cannot find any pics before they built the massive south grandstand in 1972. (That south grandstand used to belong to Fenway Park in Boston. They used those stands when the Patriots played games there.)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5286/5306668934_f670ec2376_o.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5162/5306077719_249cbcc17f_o.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5207/5306668806_662250482d_o.jpg

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

The recent stadium threads got looking for pics of historic digs. It's amazing how hard it is to find quality pics from the 70's through mid 90's of Palmer Stadium (Princeton), Baker Field (Columbia), still horseshoed Christy-Matthewson (Bucknell), pre-downsized Fisher Field (Lafayette).

Some updated good ones of Lehigh's old Taylor Stadium. The second pic was taken by my father at the '87 Lafayette game. There's about 4 or 5 of his Taylor pics floating around on the internet. He still has the original copies and negatives.

https://lehighsports.com/images/2017/7/24/_9_Retro_Taylor_Stadium_4.jpg?width=1000&height=563&mode=crop

https://lehighsports.com/images/2017/8/10/Taylor_Stadium.jpg?width=1000&height=563&mode=crop

https://lehighsports.com/images/2017/8/10/Taylor_Stadium_wideshot_71.jpg?width=1000&height=563&mode=crop

[DFW HOYA]

Would that smarter minds have renovated Taylor Stadium (including keeping that great Bethlehem Globe-Times scoreboard) instead of sending football to the Goodman campus.

I would say the same for old Pitt Stadium.

https://documenting.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3APTST06.UA/datastream/TN_LARGE/view

[Bill]

Would that smarter minds have renovated Taylor Stadium (including keeping that great Bethlehem Globe-Times scoreboard) instead of sending football to the Goodman campus.

I would say the same for old Pitt Stadium.

https://documenting.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3APTST06.UA/datastream/TN_LARGE/view

DFW,
While I completely agree with you from a football - and fan experience (have to travel/can't walk to Goodman), it is hard to argue with Lehigh's need for land on that side of the mountain. Rausch and Zoellner were definitely needed....and after seeing all of the other building since 1988, I'm not sure there was any other place for it.

[lionsrking2]

STRAWBERRY STADIUM — Southeastern Louisiana (update from a few years back)


How it started (1937)
https://southeasternmagazine.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/stadium.jpg

https://southeasternmagazine.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/1950-strawberry-stadium.jpg
https://southeasternmagazine.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/lionettes-1.jpg
https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/state-lwp:729/datastream/JPG/view

[lionsrking2]

https://southeasternmagazine.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/stadium2.jpg?w=1920&h=768&crop=1

How it's going

https://southeasternmagazine.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/a021516_224.jpg?w=1024
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_banners/1343692712944529412/1609221375/600x200

https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.179/ij4.6b8.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1121191952_HDR-678x381.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DFqyUlnXcAIUOWL.jpg:large

[ST_Lawson]

https://lehighsports.com/images/2017/8/10/Taylor_Stadium_wideshot_71.jpg?width=1000&height=563&mode=crop

That has gotta be one of the oddest field configurations I've ever seen.

[Grizalltheway]

Old Dornblaser Field.

https://mtmemory.org/digital/api/singleitem/image/p16013coll27/4020/default.jpg

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

That has gotta be one of the oddest field configurations I've ever seen.

One of the first "multipurpose" stadiums ever built. Soldier Field, LA Coliseum, War Memorial in Buffalo and JFK were built to "oversized" dimensions in order to host different events.

The original Soldier Field was beautiful.
https://chuckmanchicagonostalgia.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/postcard-chicago-soldier-field-aerial-part-of-second-largest-city-series-1951.jpg?w=1000

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Princeton's Palmer Stadium, capacity 42,000. The fact I can't find a decent picture of it post leather helmet era is absurd. Apparently they didn't take pictures of Tiger football in the 1980's and 90's?

I was here once in 1993. I remember it pretty well. The "horseshoe" end was condemned at that point, Keith Elias was a monster and Princeton beat eventual PL Champ Lehigh.

https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/palmer-stadium-is-jammed-with-a-crowd-of-52000-people-out-to-see-the-picture-id97337119?s=594x594

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Old Dornblaser Field.

https://mtmemory.org/digital/api/singleitem/image/p16013coll27/4020/default.jpg

Made me think of Cal..
https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/d8da1edcda8ac47dee26b792cefd9d8851e4da30/c=55-0-1016-722/local/-/media/2018/02/14/GreatFalls/GreatFalls/636542248722567050-The-Hillside-Club-above-Dornblaser-Field-on-the-University-of-Montana-campus.jpg?width=520&height=390&fit=crop

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

I've always got a kick out of stadium alterations made to accommodate campus expansion. You can tell when football started to take a backseat at lot of these schools by how bad they hacked up stadiums. Dartmouth's pre-renovation rendition was always classic. Lafayette had a similar situation when they butchered the "away" side to make room for their fieldhouse in the 70's. Sadly, can't find a good pic...

https://www.dartmouth.edu/~sportpub/memorial2.jpg

[Sader87]

Yeah, went to a few games at Dartmouth with that configuration above....had to be one of the few, if only, D1 stadium to have a bigger visiting side than home-side.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Yeah, went to a few games at Dartmouth with that configuration above....had to be one of the few, if only, D1 stadium to have a bigger visiting side than home-side.

I've never been to Dartmouth which pains me. Between the campus and location it's a must see school imo. To be fair, Dartmouth's remote location is also part of the reason why I, and likely a lot of others, haven't been there. Lehigh last visited Hanover in 1999.

[Bisonoline]

One of the first "multipurpose" stadiums ever built. Soldier Field, LA Coliseum, War Memorial in Buffalo and JFK were built to "oversized" dimensions in order to host different events.

The original Soldier Field was beautiful.
https://chuckmanchicagonostalgia.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/postcard-chicago-soldier-field-aerial-part-of-second-largest-city-series-1951.jpg?w=1000

I love the architecture of the old stadiums.

[kdinva]

Photo of VMI's Alumni Memorial Field, about the late 1920's......this Fall will be the 100th anniversary of the venue:

photo is of today's "visitors" side along US 11......the "home" side was about 2,500 temp. wooden bleachers, since Keydet Baseball also played here. The far sideline = the Right field line....

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Old_VMI_stadium.jpg/400px-Old_VMI_stadium.jpg

[FUBeAR]

Photo of VMI's Alumni Memorial Field, about the late 1920's......this Fall will be the 100th anniversary of the venue:

photo is of today's "visitors" side along US 11......the "home" side was about 2,500 temp. wooden bleachers, since Keydet Baseball also played here. The far sideline = the Right field line....

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Old_VMI_stadium.jpg/400px-Old_VMI_stadium.jpgThe visitor’s side looks exactly the same as it did in ‘81 when I played there, and in ‘14 when I sat in those stands & watched the Mercer Bears play there.

...just fewer trees than in this pic.

[Nor Eastern]

Appalachian State University's stadium history:

College Field - Opened 1928 - Last used 1961:
31876


Conrad Stadium - Opened 1962 - renamed to KBS 1988:
31877

[DFW HOYA]

Here's one of Fisher Field pre-Bourger. (Undated.)

https://sites.lafayette.edu/buildings/files/2016/12/Fisher-Stadium.jpg

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Here's one of Fisher Field pre-Bourger. (Undated.)

https://sites.lafayette.edu/buildings/files/2016/12/Fisher-Stadium.jpg

That was the only "older" one I saw. I couldn't find anything pre-Kirby downsizing. I'm pretty sure Fisher COULD hold about 30k at one point with various temp bleacher setups and standing room. Likewise with Taylor although the capacity was always listed in the 20-25k range. I tried different old Lehigh at Lafayette years in hope of finding a good pic of Fisher. I know they exist because I remember seeing it. It looked similar to Memorial at Dartmouth iirc. Lehigh, and Lafayette had Ivy'esque stadiums imo. Holy Cross too. Bucknell's was a little smaller but the closed horseshoe gave it a much different look. I can't find a pre-1989 pick of CMS either. The first time I was there it was in ruins. Crumbling...

[Sir William]

Lehigh last visited Hanover in 1999.
I was at that game. I remember that Lehigh had a speedy RB whom none of the Green could chase down in the open field. Nice atmosphere for college football game. Beautiful campus and area.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

I was at that game. I remember that Lehigh had a speedy RB whom none of the Green could chase down in the open field. Nice atmosphere for college football game. Beautiful campus and area.

Sports Illustrated Article 10/25/1999
https://vault.si.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Ch_2000%2Cq_au to:good%2Cw_2000/MTY5MDkzODk5OTQ5OTA5NzQz/704050---121---image.jpg

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Here's a former FCS stadium that was quickly forgotten...

https://richmondbizsense.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/cityStadium-drone1.jpg

[bonarae]

^ IDK who used it before dropping the program or moving to another venue.

Looks like a suburban setup to me.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

^ IDK who used it before dropping the program or moving to another venue.

Looks like a suburban setup to me.

It's Richmond's City Stadium. The Spider's still played there when they won the national title in 2008 and played their last season at the venerable old place as defending champs in '09. UR played there for a total of 80 years, 1929-2009.

You helped strengthen my inclination that it held no redeeming qualities despite being home to a successful program. xrotatehxxnodx

Good trivia: Lehigh got the Patriot League's first ever playoff win there in 1998.

[Gil Dobie]

Couple different views from postcards in my collection.



3187831879

1931 - NDSU football site, setup for spring sports
https://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=31878&stc=1

1950's view of campus. Dakotah Field was moved just south of the row of trees in the picture, the Fargodome is north of of the row of trees, where I played intramural softball.
https://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=31879&stc=1

[DFW HOYA]

A brief view of Baker Field from the Columbia 150th anniversary video. Looks a little like Fitton Field does today.

http://www.hoyafootball.com/images/baker_100.jpg

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

This is a great picture of NDSU's Dacotah Field during a game with an under construction Fargo Dome looming in the background. This has to be November/December 1992.

https://i.redd.it/8dbp6aw3yuf21.jpg

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

A brief view of Baker Field from the Columbia 150th anniversary video. Looks a little like Fitton Field does today.

http://www.hoyafootball.com/images/baker_100.jpg

HC fans would have to chime in as to how similar the wood version of Fitton and Baker Field were. I can't get over the fact that Columbia played at Baker until 1982 and there isn't a pic of it post 1960 or so? I know Columbia football stunk but c'mon...

http://www.college.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/timeline_tile/public/baker-3.web_.jpg?itok=y2nQUYIv

https://myinwood.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Baker-Field-1937.jpg

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Here's another old vs new (although not as good as NDSU's)

SIU's old McAndrew Stadium with their new digs just visible at the top of the screen. IIRC, McAndrew was in real rough shape by the end?

BTW....New Year's Eve and I'm looking at old FCS football stadiums....sounds about right...

https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thesouthern.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/0b/e0b866ef-c3ff-5844-ad98-729ce3f3f213/4c6c597213ba8.image.jpg

Pre-expansion McAndrew homeside
https://cdn10.bigcommerce.com/s-n7zrdl/products/14344/images/17455/IL_Carbondale_McAndrew_Stadium_CHR_4C-K7__77849.1491320494.1280.1280.jpg?c=2

[ST_Lawson]

The original Soldier Field was beautiful.

And then a spaceship landed on it (this coming from a lifelong Bears fan).
For those who are unaware, from what he posted, to adding temporary seating at the north end (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c9/24/ab/c924ab55af9a9cb1ff99b82c1fbcda44.jpg), rounding it out with permanent seating (https://i.redd.it/ro19jnk0yz911.jpg), then dropping something resembling a new stadium on top of the old structure (https://cdn.britannica.com/65/132265-050-48C4CE64/view-Soldier-Field-Chicago.jpg).


IIRC, McAndrew was in real rough shape by the end?

You're not wrong. I had an opportunity to spend a day hanging around McAndrew Stadium one summer day in 1995 and it was in pretty rough shape even then. They ended up continuing to use it another 15 seasons after that before finally replacing it.
Not that I have much room to talk though, our own Hanson Field (WIU) home/pressbox side is one big health hazard/life safety issue that needed to be completely redone 20 years ago.

Speaking of Western Illinois, here's my contribution of our stadiums throughout history:
Original Football Stadium (photo from 1908): https://i.imgur.com/5FN1CkC.jpg
(https://i.imgur.com/5FN1CkC.jpg)Backside of original football stadium stands showing location in relation to Sherman Hall (1906): https://i.imgur.com/5KisP9u.png
For anyone familiar with our campus or curious about it's location in relation to the current campus, the stands would have been located right about where Tillman Hall is currently (https://goo.gl/maps/CGWyhbeJWpBsVxU96) (you can zoom out a little to see Hanson Field a bit north of it).
Hanson Field, sometime in the late 70s or 80s based on the buildings and size of the trees: https://i.imgur.com/WTHNmAn.jpg
(https://i.imgur.com/WTHNmAn.jpg)Hanson Field, fish-eye view from press box showing old "visitor's side" stands, probably late 80s or early 90s: https://i.imgur.com/hXe8p4k.jpg
Hanson Field, aerial shot showing new "visitor's side" stands w/ new concession and bathroom buildings on either end: https://i.imgur.com/7ThznAE.jpg

That last one, based on what/who I'm seeing in the photo, is probably our Homecoming game from October 1, 2011 against SIU in front of a reported 14,168 fans. Since that game, we have broken 10k fans only one time (the next year's Homecoming game).

[Bisonoline]

Here's a former FCS stadium that was quickly forgotten...

https://richmondbizsense.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/cityStadium-drone1.jpg


Where was this?

[Bisonoline]

Here's another old vs new (although not as good as NDSU's)

SIU's old McAndrew Stadium with their new digs just visible at the top of the screen. IIRC, McAndrew was in real rough shape by the end?




It was in very rough shape. I remember going to a game there. The stands were concrete. It was broken and cracked in places that you could see the rebar.
Bathroom and concessions were under the stands. So if it rained it leaked on you while you were taking a leak. Concession stands had water leaking on the
roaster pans holding the food. Good Times.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Where was this?

Richmond City Stadium. The Spiders played there from 1929 until the conclusion of the 2009 season. Last Richmond game there was a quarterfinal playoff loss to App State 12/5/09.

[bulldog10jw]

HC fans would have to chime in as to how similar the wood version of Fitton and Baker Field were. I can't get over the fact that Columbia played at Baker until 1982 and there isn't a pic of it post 1960 or so? I know Columbia football stunk but c'mon...

http://www.college.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/timeline_tile/public/baker-3.web_.jpg?itok=y2nQUYIv


https://myinwood.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Baker-Field-1937.jpg

I went to my first game at Baker Field in 1975. Maybe the reason there were no later day pictures was because several sections of the stadium were roped off because the bleachers were unsafe. I actually saw a kid run up the steps and have the rotted boards give way as he ran and he went through to his knee. And that was in an area that wasn't condemned.

Having been to Fitton as well in 1981 the two were similar in appearance.

[Sader87]

Yeah, they do look pretty similar....nevah saw a game at Baker sadly....HC only played a couple games there I believe.

The wooden stands at Fitton held up pretty well ovah the years before they were replaced with metal after the '85 season...I don't think any part of it was evah condemned or roped off....the BC game in '84 was a Fitton sell-out of 25K and there were no empty sections etc.

[caribbeanhen]

Yeah, they do look pretty similar....nevah saw a game at Baker sadly....HC only played a couple games there I believe.

The wooden stands at Fitton held up pretty well ovah the years before they were replaced with metal after the '85 season...I don't think any part of it was evah condemned or roped off....the BC game in '84 was a Fitton sell-out of 25K and there were no empty sections etc.

Living in the past is what I do Sader, it’s very underrated

[KPSUL]

One heck of a left field !

[ncspiderfan]

Richmond City Stadium. The Spiders played there from 1929 until the conclusion of the 2009 season. Last Richmond game there was a quarterfinal playoff loss to App State 12/5/09.
As I remember held about 23K and rocked when William and Mary or JMU came to town. The sight of the VMI cadets marching in to fill what seemed like the whole visitors section was always impressive when they came to town. Richmond used to schedule them a lot back in the day, as an OOC game when they had both dropped to 1AA.

[Mocs123]

Chamberlain Field was home of the Chattanooga Mocs from 1904 until 1997 when the Mocs moved to Finley Stadium. The north stands (and dorms) were demolished around 2000 and most of the south stands were demolished a few years later leaving the original arched entrance. While some of the space has been used for new academic buildings, the basic field remains as an intramural field.


31885

31886

31887

[Gil Dobie]

The other college in Fargo, circa 1915, view of Fargo College and Stadium. Located next to Island Park in Fargo.

https://library.ndsu.edu/fargo-history/sites/default/files/fargo-college-stadium.jpg

[nodak651]

Cool pic I just saw... Penn right?
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0Uxb2poVwQQjBdqpNYZkB-IRa1M=/0x0:4649x3725/1200x800/filters:focal(1954x1492:2696x2234)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58506043/GettyImages_80319143.0.jpg

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Cool pic I just saw... Penn right?
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0Uxb2poVwQQjBdqpNYZkB-IRa1M=/0x0:4649x3725/1200x800/filters:focal(1954x1492:2696x2234)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58506043/GettyImages_80319143.0.jpg

Yup! Looking at the cars I'm guessing late 40's, early 50's? The Philly skyline looks fairly established at that point. That's basically how it looked until the late 80s....

Here's a recent pic from basically the same angle...

https://penntoday.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/2019-04/46205966531_1276e1b2a6_k.jpg

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Here's two very early shots of Franklin Field. This has to right around 1900.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/37/54/5c/37545c05f6d3e6d7add117d7564f9027.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/40/b7/d3/40b7d3fe514854332d772ebcec5c3a3f.jpg

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

When you combine Franklin Field with the Palestra, Penn is home to arguably the most important/influential football stadium and basketball arena in this country's sports history.

I know this is a football thread but the "Cathedral of Basketball" deserves its respect. I stormed the court here in 2002 when Temple beat Big 5 rival St. Joe's in an epic 2OT ABC Saturday afternoon game. Ed Rendall had it as one of the Top 5 games EVER at the Palestra.


March 3, 2002, Temple 87, St. Joe's 84: In what immediately became a Big 5 classic, Temple and St. Joe's played an incredibly tight and breathtakingly thrilling double-overtime game. At halftime, the Hawks had built a 16-point lead, but the Owls came storming back in the second half. Down, 67-64, with seconds left, Lynn Greer put up a desperation three to tie the game and send it to overtime. In the first overtime, the Hawks erased a five-point lead and tied the game with their own three with five seconds left to send the game into a second overtime. The second overtime came down to the last 1.9 seconds with the score tied, 84-84. Unbelievably, Greer again put up a buzzer-beater three to win the game for the Owls. All told, he had 36 points, including scoring his 2,000th point as an Owl, and turned in one of the most impressive performances in Big 5 history
https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/colleges/20161211_Rendell__Five_classic_games_at_the_famed_ Palestra.html


https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7mDsjJcMQB0/SyrBMr118WI/AAAAAAAACuk/8aUE7hgcI6s/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/Palestra+Opening+Night.jpg
https://dbukjj6eu5tsf.cloudfront.net/gopsusports.com/images/2020/1/3/The_Palestra_A_17_MSU_MS_1277_sa.jpg

[POD Knows]

When you combine Franklin Field with the Palestra, Penn is home to arguably the most important/influential football stadium and basketball arena in this country's sports history.

I know this is a football thread but the "Cathedral of Basketball" deserves its respect. I stormed the court here in 2002 when Temple beat Big 5 rival St. Joe's in an epic 2OT ABC Saturday afternoon game. Ed Rendall had it as one of the Top 5 games EVER at the Palestra.


https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/colleges/20161211_Rendell__Five_classic_games_at_the_famed_ Palestra.html


https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7mDsjJcMQB0/SyrBMr118WI/AAAAAAAACuk/8aUE7hgcI6s/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/Palestra+Opening+Night.jpg
https://dbukjj6eu5tsf.cloudfront.net/gopsusports.com/images/2020/1/3/The_Palestra_A_17_MSU_MS_1277_sa.jpg
That place is "old school cool".

[Go Green]

Yeah, went to a few games at Dartmouth with that configuration above....had to be one of the few, if only, D1 stadium to have a bigger visiting side than home-side.

Prior to the 1970s, Dartmouth played away games most/all the time against Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Penn because the gate would just be bigger at those locales. Eventually, we got tired of being a traveling circus and demanded that everyone visit us as well. The league suggested (and we agreed) to put up more stands to accommodate the expected crowds that those schools would bring. Because the field house was already in the way, those visiting bleachers were the best we could do.

[Sader87]

Prior to the 1970s, Dartmouth played away games most/all the time against Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Penn because the gate would just be bigger at those locales. Eventually, we got tired of being a traveling circus and demanded that everyone visit us as well. The league suggested (and we agreed) to put up more stands to accommodate the expected crowds that those schools would bring. Because the field house was already in the way, those visiting bleachers were the best we could do.

Any idea when those bleachers were constructed? I'm pretty sure they were there for a HC-Dartmouth game I went to as a kid in 1971 but I'm not 100% certain.

[Go Green]

Any idea when those bleachers were constructed? I'm pretty sure they were there for a HC-Dartmouth game I went to as a kid in 1971 but I'm not 100% certain.

I do not know of the exact year, and some googling proved fruitless.

The Field House was finished in 1965, which is more or less when Penn/Princeton started visiting Hanover regularly. Harvard and Yale didn't come up to visit until the early 1970s. If I had to make a guess, the old visiting stands probably went up circa 1970. The 1970 Dartmouth-Princeton game drew 20,000, which would only have been possible with the visitors stands.

1970 Dartmouth Indians football team - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970_Dartmouth_Indians_football_team#:~:text=The%2 0Indians%20were%20led%20by,as%20champions%20of%20t he%20East.)

Then again, it could have been 1969, when we got 17,000 for the Penn game. Not sure that was possible before the visitors bleachers went up.

1969 Dartmouth Indians football team - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969_Dartmouth_Indians_football_team)

According to the 1971 Dartmouth Football wiki page, the Holy Cross game drew 13,000. Does that gibe with your memory?

1971 Dartmouth Indians football team - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_Dartmouth_Indians_football_team)

[bulldog10jw]

Prior to the 1970s, Dartmouth played away games most/all the time against Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Penn because the gate would just be bigger at those locales. Eventually, we got tired of being a traveling circus and demanded that everyone visit us as well. The league suggested (and we agreed) to put up more stands to accommodate the expected crowds that those schools would bring. Because the field house was already in the way, those visiting bleachers were the best we could do.

It was 1958 before Yale played Brown in Providence and they started alternating home games in the seventies.

The first modern game in Hanover was 1971 and I think they started alternating home games later in the seventies.

Yale never had less than 6 home games each year before the seventies and the undefeated 1960 team had 8 homes games. And those were the days of a nine game schedule.

Of corse in those days the Dartmouth, Princeton, and Harvard games drew 50-60k to the Bowl and Yale never played an OOC game on the road.

[DFW HOYA]

It was 1958 before Yale played Brown in Providence and they started alternating home games in the seventies.

The first modern game in Hanover was 1971 and I think they started alternating home games later in the seventies.



Did Dartmouth get a share of the gate in these games? Was it ever considered the "home" team in alternating years?

[bulldog10jw]

Did Dartmouth get a share of the gate in these games? Was it ever considered the "home" team in alternating years?

(Just asking in case the PL should ever impose stadium minimums to send Georgetown barnstorming across Pennsylvania...)

They split the gate when the games were in the Bowl every year. I have no idea how it works now. I assume Ivy teams still split the gate, small as it is, even now. Otherwise Harvard would be bitching about losing the 2020 home game against Yale and not getting to make it up in 2021.

[Go Green]

Was it ever considered the "home" team in alternating years?

I doubt it.

Other than maybe the days of leather helmets, I don't think I've ever seen pictures of Dartmouth wearing green jerseys anywhere but in Hanover and Yankee Stadium.

[FUBeAR]

Welp...I see this thread is almost all Ivy now...so I’ll throw some grits & cornbread in...

Mercer, despite being a ‘new Team’ (2013) has had quite a prior history in Football (1892 - 1941) - UGa’s and Georgia Tech’s 1st Football games were against Mercer in 1892. The Bears split with the Bulldogs (L 50-0 Away) and Jackets (W 12-6 Home). Unfortunately, the Bears also fell to the Savannah Catholic Library Association, 20-2 at Home, that season to give them a losing 1-2 record in their inaugural year.

Anyway...to the point...the Mercer Bears also ‘represent’ in the Historic Stadium area. The Bears played in Centennial Stadium / Porter Field from 1925 until 1941. The stadium remained in use by Macon HS Teams until it was demolished in the 1980’s, and is now the site of a Hilton Garden Inn on Mercer’s Campus & about a minute walk to Mercer’s current Football/Lacrosse facility, Five Star Stadium. A couple of Pics below (thought I had seen more...can’t find ‘em now)....sort of has a SMALL Yale Bowl ‘feel’ to me, but I never saw it personally, so I don’t know. I’m sure it didn’t hold 72,000.

https://i.pinimg.com/474x/45/cc/07/45cc07d94f596a014194721e2008e54a.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OFjdILlsfHk/S-VoosqD6PI/AAAAAAAAAHs/8DgiL_kAQoc/s1600/Mercer+Old+Photos+003.jpg

1938 Homecoming Crowd & “Press Box”

[Gil Dobie]

From an 1894 Leslie's Weekly, Harvard vs Yale, the final practice. https://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=31888
31888