Arizona Stadium
Encyclopedia
Arizona Stadium is an outdoor football
stadium
on the campus of the University of Arizona
in Tucson, Arizona
, United States
. It is the home field of the Arizona Wildcats
of the Pacific-12 Conference, and its current seating capacity
is 57,803.
Located in central Tucson
, the stadium has been home to Wildcat football
since 1928. Initially, stadium capacity was just 7,000, with seating located on the stadium's west side. Arizona's first game at the facility was October 12, 1929 when the Wildcats defeated Caltech
35-0. Capacity was raised to 10,000 in 1938 when seats were constructed on the east side of the stadium. Additional seating was added to both end zones in 1947
. This added an additional 4,000 seats.
In 1950
, a horseshoe
configuration was constructed around the south end zone resulting in the addition of almost 8,700 seats. A multi-level press box and 10,000 seats were added to the west grandstand in 1965
. The east side of the stadium received a second tier, consisting of 17,000 seats, in 1976
, as the Wildcats prepared to leave the WAC
for the Pac-8 in 1978
.
In 1981
, the track team moved out and the track was removed. Permanent seating was placed at the north end of the end zone in 1988
. Following the 1988 season, a new press box with luxury sky boxes replaced the aging structure built more than two decades earlier. Prior to the 1999
season, a new state-of-the-art scoreboard was installed complete with video monitor.
The football field runs in the traditional north-south configuration and the natural grass playing field sits at an elevation of 2430 feet (740 m) above sea level.
In addition to hosting football games, the stadium also includes two dormitories, Pinal and Navajo, in the South stands, and Sierra Hall, which today is home to offices for the music department and Residence Life
, located under the east stands. The Steward Observatory
Mirror Lab, a mirror fabrication facility for large telescopes, sits under the east wing of Arizona Stadium.
In September 2009, UA announced a long-term $378 million sports expansion project that would include an expansion of the north end zone stands. The expansion would include a four-story building that would house locker rooms and football offices, among other things. In January 2011, it was announced that a new 5356 square feet (497.6 m²) video board would be installed above the south stands in time for the 2011 season. It will be the third-largest video screen in college football.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
on the campus of the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the home field of the Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats
-Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah...
of the Pacific-12 Conference, and its current seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
is 57,803.
Located in central Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, the stadium has been home to Wildcat football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
since 1928. Initially, stadium capacity was just 7,000, with seating located on the stadium's west side. Arizona's first game at the facility was October 12, 1929 when the Wildcats defeated Caltech
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
35-0. Capacity was raised to 10,000 in 1938 when seats were constructed on the east side of the stadium. Additional seating was added to both end zones in 1947
1947 in sports
-American football:* Chicago Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Eagles 28-21 to win the NFL championship.-Association football:England* First Division – Liverpool win the 1946-47 title.* FA Cup – Charlton Athletic beat Burnley 1-0 after extra time...
. This added an additional 4,000 seats.
In 1950
1950 in sports
-American football:* NFL Championship – Cleveland Browns win 30–28 over the Los Angeles Rams* Oklahoma Sooners – college football champions.* Coaches Poll established to rank top 20 American college football teams-Association football:...
, a horseshoe
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
configuration was constructed around the south end zone resulting in the addition of almost 8,700 seats. A multi-level press box and 10,000 seats were added to the west grandstand in 1965
1965 in sports
1965 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* AFL Championship Buffalo Bills won 23-0 over the San Diego Chargers* NFL Championship – Green Bay Packers won 23-12 over the Cleveland Browns on January 2, 1966-England:...
. The east side of the stadium received a second tier, consisting of 17,000 seats, in 1976
1976 in sports
1976 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Ingemar Stenmark, Sweden** Women's overall season champion: Rosi Mittermaier, West Germany-American football:...
, as the Wildcats prepared to leave the WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
for the Pac-8 in 1978
1978 in sports
1978 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Ingemar Stenmark, Sweden** Women's overall season champion: Hanni Wenzel, Liechtenstein-American football:...
.
In 1981
1981 in sports
1981 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup –** Men's overall season champion: Phil Mahre, USA** Women's overall season champion: Marie-Theres Nadig, Switzerland-American football:...
, the track team moved out and the track was removed. Permanent seating was placed at the north end of the end zone in 1988
1988 in sports
1988 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Pirmin Zurbriggen, Switzerland** Women's overall season champion: Michela Figini, Switzerland-American football:...
. Following the 1988 season, a new press box with luxury sky boxes replaced the aging structure built more than two decades earlier. Prior to the 1999
1999 in sports
1999 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Lasse Kjus, Norway** Women's overall season champion: Alexandra Meissnitzer, Austria-American football:...
season, a new state-of-the-art scoreboard was installed complete with video monitor.
The football field runs in the traditional north-south configuration and the natural grass playing field sits at an elevation of 2430 feet (740 m) above sea level.
In addition to hosting football games, the stadium also includes two dormitories, Pinal and Navajo, in the South stands, and Sierra Hall, which today is home to offices for the music department and Residence Life
Residence Life
Residence Life is the terminology used to describe the comprehensive program that surrounds the experience of living "on-campus" in a residence hall at a college or university in Canada and the United States...
, located under the east stands. The Steward Observatory
Steward Observatory
The University of Arizona's Steward Observatorys main office is located on the University's campus and is closely tied to the Department of Astronomy. Established in 1916 by its first director, Andrew Ellicott Douglass, and a $60,000 bequest made by Lavinia Steward in memory of her late husband...
Mirror Lab, a mirror fabrication facility for large telescopes, sits under the east wing of Arizona Stadium.
In September 2009, UA announced a long-term $378 million sports expansion project that would include an expansion of the north end zone stands. The expansion would include a four-story building that would house locker rooms and football offices, among other things. In January 2011, it was announced that a new 5356 square feet (497.6 m²) video board would be installed above the south stands in time for the 2011 season. It will be the third-largest video screen in college football.
External links
- Arizona Athletics.com - official athletics site - Arizona Stadium
- Aerial photo & topographic map - UA campus from USGS via Microsoft Research Maps