Delaware Stadium
Encyclopedia
Delaware Stadium is a 22,000-seat multi-purpose stadium
in Newark, Delaware
, and is home to the University of Delaware
Fightin' Blue Hens football team. The stadium is part of the David M. Nelson
Athletic Complex, which includes the Bob Carpenter Center
, Fred P. Rullo Stadium, the Fred Rust Ice Arena
and the Delaware Field House
.
The Blue Hens have been among the attendance leaders in I-AA/FCS for over 30 years, with a fan base as loyal as those of major FBS teams. For a typical Blue Hen home game, Delaware Stadium becomes the fourth-largest city in the state (behind Wilmington
, Dover
and Newark itself). Average attendance for the 2006 season was 21,825; second only to the University of Montana. By comparison, most FCS teams attract 10,000 on a good day. Delaware is the only
NCAA FCS team in the nation to average 20,000 or more fans per regular season home game each of the last 11 seasons. The largest Delaware Stadium crowd was the standing-room only crowd of 23,719 that watched the Blue Hens host Temple
, October 27, 1973.
On August 29, 2002, the field was dedicated as Tubby Raymond Field, in honor of longtime Blue Hen Football coach Harold "Tubby" Raymond.
The stadium has hosted the Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
in 1984 and 1986, and two NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament first round games in May 2002.
The stadium underwent another renovation in mid-2008 with the addition of a 42 feet (12.8 m) high-definition video board and a high-fidelity, 20 kilowatt audio system. A video control room was added inside the Bob Carpenter Center
.
In early September 2009, six 20- by 30-foot (20 by) posters were added to the facade of the stadium, featuring past stars of Delaware football. The first six posters added were Joe Flacco
, Eddie Conti, Daryl Brown, Chuck Hall, Conway Hayman, and Rich Gannon
. Photos of more than 40 stars of years past were submitted to Sports Graphics of Indianapolis, Indiana
and will be rotated throughout the stadium at different times. A "Wall of Champions" banner that lists accomplishments of the Fightin' Blue Hens was also added as part of the visual upgrade of the facility.
From December 2009 to January 2010 the grass field was replaced with new FieldTurf
artificial surface.
The stands underwent more improvements in the summer of 2011. Hand rails were added along each aisle of the east and west grandstands.
The "Cockpit" is the nickname of the University of Delaware's student section at home football games located behind the south end zone. At 22,000, Delaware Stadium has the 2nd highest seating capacity
in the CAA.
Delaware Stadium is also the venue for the annual commencement ceremonies for graduating seniors and graduate students in May.
On June 6, 2010 the official plans for stadium renovations were unveiled by University President Patrick Harker. The new plans unveiled include adding luxury suites to the stadium, an additional 8,200 seats overall (which will increase seating to over 30,000 seats), a 96000 square feet (8,918.7 m²) performance center, a club lounge, and new facilities for TV and radio.
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
in Newark, Delaware
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
, and is home to the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
Fightin' Blue Hens football team. The stadium is part of the David M. Nelson
David M. Nelson
David Moir Nelson was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, author, and authority on college football playing rules...
Athletic Complex, which includes the Bob Carpenter Center
Bob Carpenter Center
Bob Carpenter Center is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena, in Newark, Delaware, named in honor of the late benefactor and trustee, R. R. M. Carpenter, Jr.. Students at the University of Delaware have nicknamed it "The Bob."...
, Fred P. Rullo Stadium, the Fred Rust Ice Arena
Fred Rust Ice Arena
The Fred Rust Ice Arena or University of Delaware Ice Arena multi-purpose arena on the campus of The University of Delaware located in Newark, Delaware. The Facility houses two ice sheets the main ice arena, the Fred Rust Ice Arena, is a 2,500-seat regulation Olympic sized ice arena on the UD campus...
and the Delaware Field House
Delaware Field House
The Delaware Field House is an indoor athletics facility on the campus of the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. Constructed in 1966, the venue seats 4,000 fans for indoor track and tennis events...
.
History
Delaware Stadium opened on November 15, 1952 with the Blue Hens defeating Lafayette 13-12. Delaware Stadium has expanded with the growth of the university, with seating expansions in 1964, 1970, 1972, and 1975. Upgrades to the seating and facilities were made in 1992-93, along with a resurfacing of the field and reconstruction of the drainage and irrigation systems. Prior to the 2000 season, the university installed permanent lighting at the stadium, consisting of eight stanchions casting broadcast quality light. The first night game in Delaware Stadium history was played against The Citadel on September 9, 2000 with 22,075 in attendance.The Blue Hens have been among the attendance leaders in I-AA/FCS for over 30 years, with a fan base as loyal as those of major FBS teams. For a typical Blue Hen home game, Delaware Stadium becomes the fourth-largest city in the state (behind Wilmington
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, Dover
Dover, Delaware
The city of Dover is the capital and second largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is also the county seat of Kent County, and the principal city of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Kent County. It is located on the St. Jones River in the Delaware...
and Newark itself). Average attendance for the 2006 season was 21,825; second only to the University of Montana. By comparison, most FCS teams attract 10,000 on a good day. Delaware is the only
NCAA FCS team in the nation to average 20,000 or more fans per regular season home game each of the last 11 seasons. The largest Delaware Stadium crowd was the standing-room only crowd of 23,719 that watched the Blue Hens host Temple
Temple Owls football
The Temple Owls football team participates in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference...
, October 27, 1973.
On August 29, 2002, the field was dedicated as Tubby Raymond Field, in honor of longtime Blue Hen Football coach Harold "Tubby" Raymond.
The stadium has hosted the Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
The annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top men's field lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....
in 1984 and 1986, and two NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament first round games in May 2002.
The stadium underwent another renovation in mid-2008 with the addition of a 42 feet (12.8 m) high-definition video board and a high-fidelity, 20 kilowatt audio system. A video control room was added inside the Bob Carpenter Center
Bob Carpenter Center
Bob Carpenter Center is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena, in Newark, Delaware, named in honor of the late benefactor and trustee, R. R. M. Carpenter, Jr.. Students at the University of Delaware have nicknamed it "The Bob."...
.
In early September 2009, six 20- by 30-foot (20 by) posters were added to the facade of the stadium, featuring past stars of Delaware football. The first six posters added were Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco
Flacco was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens 18th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft, becoming the highest drafted player ever from the University of Delaware...
, Eddie Conti, Daryl Brown, Chuck Hall, Conway Hayman, and Rich Gannon
Rich Gannon
Richard Joseph Gannon is a former football quarterback, who achieved most of his success late in his career with the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League...
. Photos of more than 40 stars of years past were submitted to Sports Graphics of Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
and will be rotated throughout the stadium at different times. A "Wall of Champions" banner that lists accomplishments of the Fightin' Blue Hens was also added as part of the visual upgrade of the facility.
From December 2009 to January 2010 the grass field was replaced with new FieldTurf
FieldTurf
FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass...
artificial surface.
The stands underwent more improvements in the summer of 2011. Hand rails were added along each aisle of the east and west grandstands.
Present day
The current stadium configuration has concrete grandstands on the east and west sides, with the press box on the top of the west grandstand, and permanent metal bleachers on the north and south end zones. Behind the north end zone there is the scoreboard with a video screen used to show replays and other videos. The Delaware football team enters the field from the tunnel beneath the south end zone bleachers, which are reserved for student seating and the marching band.The "Cockpit" is the nickname of the University of Delaware's student section at home football games located behind the south end zone. At 22,000, Delaware Stadium has the 2nd highest 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...
in the CAA.
Delaware Stadium is also the venue for the annual commencement ceremonies for graduating seniors and graduate students in May.
On June 6, 2010 the official plans for stadium renovations were unveiled by University President Patrick Harker. The new plans unveiled include adding luxury suites to the stadium, an additional 8,200 seats overall (which will increase seating to over 30,000 seats), a 96000 square feet (8,918.7 m²) performance center, a club lounge, and new facilities for TV and radio.
External links
- University of Delaware Athletics: Tubby Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium
- Interactive Map Of FCS College Football Stadiums: Click on the Delaware Logo to get a satellite view & directions to the stadium