Dix Stadium
Encyclopedia
Dix Stadium is a stadium
in Kent, Ohio
, United States. It is primarily used for American football
, and is the home field of the Kent State Golden Flashes football
team. It lies at the far eastern end of the KSU campus along Summit Street, just east of State Route 261 and is the center piece of what has become an athletic complex. From 1997-2005, the field hockey team also played its games at the stadium until a new field hockey stadium was constructed behind Dix Stadium. The KSU Softball, Women's Soccer, Field Hockey, and Indoor Track teams all play their home matches in facilities around Dix Stadium. The stadium also hosts the occasional high school football game and served as the host of the 2001 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship. It opened on September 13, 1969 with a win against in-state rival Dayton
. It was named in honor of Robert C. Dix, a member of Kent State's Board of Trustees for more than three decades.
The 25,000-seat stadium consists of three separate grandstands on each side of the field except the south side. The west side is the largest, and the recently rebuilt east side (student seating) is the smallest. On either side of the east grandstands are spaces for party tents. Although the first night game was held in 1990, permanent lights were not added until 1996. Artificial turf was installed in 1997 and replaced in 2005 with the latest version of FieldTurf. Prior to the 2002 season, the east side stands, remnants of the original Memorial Stadium
, were demolished. The current east side bleachers were constructed after the 2002 season and were completed in time for the 2003 season opener. The configuration slightly altered the stadium's seating capacity
reducing it from 30,520 to 29,287 before the latest renovations reduced capacity to the current figure of 20,500.
Phase two of the renovations began in February 2008 with the demolition of the sound end zone seats and scoreboard and removal of the perimeter fencing around the stadium. Improvements included replacing the fencing with a brick and wrought iron fence as well as the construction of new entrances and ticket booths at the west entry. In the south end zone, a new concession area and scoreboard were constructed. Phase one was mostly completed by the beginning of the 2007 home football season in September and phase two was completed in time for the Flashes' first home game on 13 September 2008 against the Delaware State University
Hornets.
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...
in Kent, Ohio
Kent, Ohio
Kent is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the largest city in Portage County. It is located along the Cuyahoga River in Northeastern Ohio on the western edge of the county. The population was 27,906 at the 2000 United States Census and 28,904 in the 2010 Census...
, United States. It is primarily used for American 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...
, and is the home field of the Kent State Golden Flashes football
Kent State Golden Flashes football
The Kent State Golden Flashes football team is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, USA. The team is a member of the Mid-American Conference East division, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Football Bowl Subdivision...
team. It lies at the far eastern end of the KSU campus along Summit Street, just east of State Route 261 and is the center piece of what has become an athletic complex. From 1997-2005, the field hockey team also played its games at the stadium until a new field hockey stadium was constructed behind Dix Stadium. The KSU Softball, Women's Soccer, Field Hockey, and Indoor Track teams all play their home matches in facilities around Dix Stadium. The stadium also hosts the occasional high school football game and served as the host of the 2001 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship. It opened on September 13, 1969 with a win against in-state rival Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
. It was named in honor of Robert C. Dix, a member of Kent State's Board of Trustees for more than three decades.
The 25,000-seat stadium consists of three separate grandstands on each side of the field except the south side. The west side is the largest, and the recently rebuilt east side (student seating) is the smallest. On either side of the east grandstands are spaces for party tents. Although the first night game was held in 1990, permanent lights were not added until 1996. Artificial turf was installed in 1997 and replaced in 2005 with the latest version of FieldTurf. Prior to the 2002 season, the east side stands, remnants of the original Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Kent)
Memorial Stadium was a stadium in Kent, Ohio, USA on the campus of Kent State University that served as home of the Kent State Golden Flashes football and track and field teams from 1950 through the 1968 season...
, were demolished. The current east side bleachers were constructed after the 2002 season and were completed in time for the 2003 season opener. The configuration slightly altered the stadium's 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...
reducing it from 30,520 to 29,287 before the latest renovations reduced capacity to the current figure of 20,500.
Upgrades
In June 2007, the university began phase one of a two year project of renovations and upgrades to Dix Stadium. Phase one included repainting the north end zone bleachers as well as upgrades to the press box and a permanent canopy over the camera areas. Entryways to the west stands were upgraded with improved signage and cosmetic improvements were done around the main concourse. A new road to the neighboring field house was also constructed.Phase two of the renovations began in February 2008 with the demolition of the sound end zone seats and scoreboard and removal of the perimeter fencing around the stadium. Improvements included replacing the fencing with a brick and wrought iron fence as well as the construction of new entrances and ticket booths at the west entry. In the south end zone, a new concession area and scoreboard were constructed. Phase one was mostly completed by the beginning of the 2007 home football season in September and phase two was completed in time for the Flashes' first home game on 13 September 2008 against the Delaware State University
Delaware State University
Delaware State University , is an American historically black, public university located in Dover, Delaware, and there are two satellite campuses located in Wilmington, Delaware, and Georgetown, Delaware...
Hornets.
Trivia
- The current north end zone section of Dix Stadium dates to 1948 and was one of the sideline seats at KSU's old Memorial StadiumMemorial Stadium (Kent)Memorial Stadium was a stadium in Kent, Ohio, USA on the campus of Kent State University that served as home of the Kent State Golden Flashes football and track and field teams from 1950 through the 1968 season...
(the south end zone, demolished in 2008, was the other sideline), which stood on what is now the visitor parking lot in front of the Memorial Athletic and Convocation CenterMemorial Athletic and Convocation CenterThe Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center, also known as the MAC Center, MACC, and previously as Memorial Gym, is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, United States...
and Student Center. When Dix Stadium was built in the late 1960s, the old stadium was dismantled and then reassembled at the current site in its current configuration.
- Although many crowds have come close, Dix Stadium has never officially been sold out for a Kent State game. The largest KSU football crowd ever at Dix Stadium was 27,363 on November 10, 1973 for a game versus Miami UniversityMiami UniversityMiami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
. The stadium was, however, sold out in August 1980 for a scrimmage between the Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and nearly sold out for a November 28, 1998 high school playoff game between Cleveland St. IgnatiusSaint Ignatius High School (Cleveland, Ohio)Saint Ignatius High School is a private Roman Catholic, Jesuit high school under the Diocese of Cleveland, for young men, located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school is renowned for its high standards of academic excellence, athletic program and performing arts programs...
and Canton McKinleyCanton McKinley High SchoolCanton McKinley Senior High School is a public high school in Canton, Stark County, Ohio, U.S. It is one of the largest and oldest high schools in Ohio.-Athletics:...
.