Joe Albi Stadium
Encyclopedia
Joe Albi Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium
in Spokane
, Washington. Primarily used for football
, it is located in the northwest part of the city, just east of the Spokane River
. It opened in 1950
as "Memorial Stadium," with a natural grass field, cinder running track, and a seating capacity
of 25,000. In 1962 it was renamed for Joe Albi
, a renowned local sports booster who led the efforts to construct it.
AstroTurf
was first installed in 1970
, and after several replacements was changed to infilled FieldTurf
in 2006. The stadium has a current seating capacity
of 28,646, and the playing field runs in the traditional north-south configuration at an elevation
of 1890 feet (576 m) above sea level.
Over the years it has hosted various events (including Elvis Presley
in 1957) and teams, most notably the Washington State Cougars
of the Pac-10
, who played several games per season at the stadium for more than three decades. On the professional level, the Seattle Seahawks
of the NFL
played their second preseason game in franchise history at Joe Albi on August 7, 1976
, losing 27-16 to the Chicago Bears
.
played several home games each season at Joe Albi Stadium, usually before classes began in Pullman
in late September. During the stadium's first thirty years (1950-80), WSU hosted the Apple Cup
at Joe Albi in the even-numbered years (except 1954), rather than on-campus in Pullman. The Cougars won only three of the fifteen Apple Cups played at the Spokane venue (1958, 1968, 1972). The rivalry game returned to Pullman in 1982, where the Cougars have won six of fourteen (1982, 1988, 1992, 1994, 2004, 2008) at Martin Stadium
.
In 1970
and 1971
, the Cougars played their entire home schedule at Joe Albi, after the south grandstand at the wooden Rogers Field
stadium on the Pullman
campus was damaged by fire in April 1970. The Idaho Vandals
played their home games at Rogers Field in 1969 & 1970 (after the fire), as its wooden Neale Stadium
in Moscow
had been condemned during the summer of 1969. On September 19, 1970, WSU and Idaho met up in their annual "Battle of the Palouse
," which became known as the "Displaced Bowl" (since neither team was able to play on their home field), with the Cougars dominating 44-16 at Joe Albi in their only win of the season.
Washington State
last played regular season football games at Joe Albi Stadium in 1983
, when the Cougars defeated both Montana State
and UNLV
in September. Following the revision of the WSU
academic calendar in 1984 (the fall semester starting a month earlier in late August), the Cougars have played all of their eastern
Washington home games at Martin Stadium
in Pullman. From 2002
to 2009
, the Cougars played one "home game" per season across the state in Seattle at the Seahawks'
CenturyLink Field.
played one home game in Joe Albi Stadium in 1971
, a 10-0 win over Colorado State
on September 25th. UI's
new concrete stadium in Moscow
was not quite ready and WSU's Rogers Field
in Pullman was finally out of service, being transformed into Martin Stadium
. The Vandals played their first "home" game of the season on the road at Bronco Stadium
in Boise
and were upset by the upstart BSC Broncos
. The new "Idaho Stadium" opened two weeks later on October 9th, with a 40-3 win over Idaho State
and Idaho would have their best season to date in 1971
, a record of 8-3 with eight consecutive wins and the Big Sky
title. Tartan Turf replaced the natural grass field in 1972
, and the stadium was enclosed in late September 1975
to become the Kibbie Dome
.
of the Big Sky Conference
. Through the 2003 season, it was used for the higher-attended EWU home games, primarily against Idaho
, Montana
, and Montana State
. Since the 2004 upgrade of their on-campus stadium, Woodward Field in nearby Cheney
, the Eagles have not played at Joe Albi Stadium. Woodward Field was renamed Roos Field in 2010, coinciding with the installation of bright red FieldTurf
("the Inferno") and continuing upgrades.
and marching band
competitions. In 2011, professional soccer returned to Spokane with The Spokane Shine calling the stadium home. The former mayor of Spokane, the late Jim West
, proposed to sell Joe Albi to a real estate developer interested in demolishing the stadium and turning it into a housing development. After a back and forth struggle, plans to raze the stadium were scrapped.
Amid the debate about what to do with the aging stadium, an issue about its artificial turf
surfaced. As a result of the turf being beyond its useful life in early 2006 and deemed unsafe, the Spokane Shadow
discontinued its usage of Joe Albi Stadium, citing that the playing surface was too dangerous for PDL soccer games. As a consequence, the PDL terminated the Shadow's membership. A short time later, the playing surface dilemma was solved when the Spokane
and Mead
school districts agreed to share the cost of replacing the tired AstroTurf
with infilled FieldTurf
, which was installed in August 2006 for under $700,000. The investment by the two school districts ensures that Joe Albi will endure for at least the life of the new FieldTurf
, estimated to be about a decade.
game, when the Visiting Utah Blaze
, took on the hometown Spokane Shock
. The Shock are the defending AFL champions, coming off a victory in ArenaBowl XXIII
.
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 Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, Washington. Primarily used for 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...
, it is located in the northwest part of the city, just east of the Spokane River
Spokane River
The Spokane River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately long, in northern Idaho and eastern Washington in the United States. It drains a low mountainous area east of the Columbia, passing through the city of Spokane, Washington.-Description:...
. It opened in 1950
1950 college football season
The 1950 college football season finished with the unbeaten and untied Oklahoma Sooners being the overwhelming choice for national champion. On New Year’s Day, the 9-0-0 Sooners were upset by the 10-1-0 Kentucky Wildcats in the Sugar Bowl. The #2 team, the United States Military Academy had been...
as "Memorial Stadium," with a natural grass field, cinder running track, and a 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...
of 25,000. In 1962 it was renamed for Joe Albi
Joe Albi
Joseph A. “Joe” Albi was an attorney and civic leader in Spokane, Washington.-Early years:Born in Spokane, he was the son of Garibaldi Albi, a railroad contractor, banker, and one of the founders of the Italian colony in the city. Albi was educated in Spokane schools and graduated from Gonzaga...
, a renowned local sports booster who led the efforts to construct it.
AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
was first installed in 1970
1970 college football season
The 1970 college football season was marked by tragedy, due to two airplane crashes. On October 2, one of the planes carrying the Wichita State football team crashed on the way to a game against Utah State, killing 31 people on board, including 14 players...
, and after several replacements was changed to infilled 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...
in 2006. The stadium has a 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...
of 28,646, and the playing field runs in the traditional north-south configuration at an elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 1890 feet (576 m) above sea level.
Over the years it has hosted various events (including Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
in 1957) and teams, most notably the Washington State Cougars
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
of the Pac-10
Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
, who played several games per season at the stadium for more than three decades. On the professional level, the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
played their second preseason game in franchise history at Joe Albi on August 7, 1976
1976 NFL season
The 1976 NFL season was the 57th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 28 teams with the addition of the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
, losing 27-16 to the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Washington State Cougars
Prior to the mid-1980s, the WSU CougarsWashington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
played several home games each season at Joe Albi Stadium, usually before classes began in Pullman
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
in late September. During the stadium's first thirty years (1950-80), WSU hosted the Apple Cup
Apple Cup
The Apple Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of an American college football rivalry game played annually by the teams of the two largest universities in the U.S. state of Washington: the University of Washington Huskies and the Washington State University Cougars...
at Joe Albi in the even-numbered years (except 1954), rather than on-campus in Pullman. The Cougars won only three of the fifteen Apple Cups played at the Spokane venue (1958, 1968, 1972). The rivalry game returned to Pullman in 1982, where the Cougars have won six of fourteen (1982, 1988, 1992, 1994, 2004, 2008) at Martin Stadium
Martin Stadium
Martin Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pullman, Washington, United States, on the campus of Washington State University. It is the home field of the Washington State Cougars of the Pacific-12 Conference, and is the smallest football stadium in the conference...
.
In 1970
1970 college football season
The 1970 college football season was marked by tragedy, due to two airplane crashes. On October 2, one of the planes carrying the Wichita State football team crashed on the way to a game against Utah State, killing 31 people on board, including 14 players...
and 1971
1971 college football season
The 1971 college football season saw Coach Bob Devaney's Nebraska Cornhuskers repeat as national champions. After being ranked 2nd in the preseason poll, Nebraska captured first place the following week and remained there for the rest of 1971 and won the Orange Bowl 38–6 in a #1 vs...
, the Cougars played their entire home schedule at Joe Albi, after the south grandstand at the wooden Rogers Field
Rogers Field (Washington State)
Rogers Field was an outdoor athletic stadium on the campus of Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. It was the home venue of the WSU Cougars football and track teams until severely damaged by a fire in April 1970...
stadium on the Pullman
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
campus was damaged by fire in April 1970. The Idaho Vandals
Idaho Vandals
The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Idaho. They participate in NCAA Division I - FBS in the Western Athletic Conference ....
played their home games at Rogers Field in 1969 & 1970 (after the fire), as its wooden Neale Stadium
Neale Stadium
Neale Stadium was an outdoor athletic stadium in Moscow, Idaho, on the west end of the campus of the University of Idaho. Opened in 1937 for college football , it was used for over three decades, through the 1968 season...
in Moscow
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
had been condemned during the summer of 1969. On September 19, 1970, WSU and Idaho met up in their annual "Battle of the Palouse
Battle of the Palouse
The Battle of the Palouse is an American college football rivalry between the Washington State University Cougars and the University of Idaho Vandals. The name of the rivalry is derived from the "Palouse", the rolling agricultural region in which both schools are located...
," which became known as the "Displaced Bowl" (since neither team was able to play on their home field), with the Cougars dominating 44-16 at Joe Albi in their only win of the season.
Washington State
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
last played regular season football games at Joe Albi Stadium in 1983
1983 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the University of Miami winning their first national championship over perennial power Nebraska in the Orange Bowl....
, when the Cougars defeated both Montana State
Montana State Bobcats football
The Montana State Bobcats football program competes in the Big Sky Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision for Montana State University. The program began in 1897 and has won three national championships...
and UNLV
UNLV Rebels football
The UNLV Rebels football program is a college football team that represents the University of Nevada, Las Vegas . The team is currently a member of the Mountain West Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association...
in September. Following the revision of the WSU
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
academic calendar in 1984 (the fall semester starting a month earlier in late August), the Cougars have played all of their eastern
Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington is the portion of the U.S. state of Washington east of the Cascade Range. The region contains the city of Spokane , the Tri-Cities, the Columbia River and the Grand Coulee Dam, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the fertile farmlands of the Yakima Valley and the...
Washington home games at Martin Stadium
Martin Stadium
Martin Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pullman, Washington, United States, on the campus of Washington State University. It is the home field of the Washington State Cougars of the Pacific-12 Conference, and is the smallest football stadium in the conference...
in Pullman. From 2002
2002 Washington State Cougars football team
The 2002 Washington State Cougars football team represented Washington State University in the college football season of 2002-2003. The team was led by fourteenth-year head coach Mike Price, and played its home games at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington....
to 2009
2009 Washington State Cougars football team
The 2009 Washington State Cougars football team represented Washington State University in the college football season of 2009. The team's head coach was Paul Wulff. It played its home games at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington, USA...
, the Cougars played one "home game" per season across the state in Seattle at the Seahawks'
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
CenturyLink Field.
Idaho Vandals
The Idaho VandalsIdaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
played one home game in Joe Albi Stadium in 1971
1971 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1971 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1971 college football season. The Vandals, led by second-year head coach Don Robbins, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played three of their five home games at the new Idaho Stadium, an outdoor facility on...
, a 10-0 win over Colorado State
Colorado State Rams football
The Colorado State Rams football program, established in 1893, represents Colorado State University and is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mountain West Conference under head coach Steve Fairchild...
on September 25th. UI's
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
new concrete stadium in Moscow
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
was not quite ready and WSU's Rogers Field
Rogers Field (Washington State)
Rogers Field was an outdoor athletic stadium on the campus of Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. It was the home venue of the WSU Cougars football and track teams until severely damaged by a fire in April 1970...
in Pullman was finally out of service, being transformed into Martin Stadium
Martin Stadium
Martin Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pullman, Washington, United States, on the campus of Washington State University. It is the home field of the Washington State Cougars of the Pacific-12 Conference, and is the smallest football stadium in the conference...
. The Vandals played their first "home" game of the season on the road at Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos of the Mountain West Conference. Since 1997, it has hosted the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos...
in Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
and were upset by the upstart BSC Broncos
Boise State Broncos football
This page discusses the Boise State football program. For more Boise State athletics, see Boise State Broncos.The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I as a member of the Mountain West...
. The new "Idaho Stadium" opened two weeks later on October 9th, with a 40-3 win over Idaho State
Idaho State Bengals football
The Idaho State Bengals football program represents Idaho State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . As of the end of the 2010 season they have an all-time record of 449–463–20...
and Idaho would have their best season to date in 1971
1971 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1971 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1971 college football season. The Vandals, led by second-year head coach Don Robbins, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played three of their five home games at the new Idaho Stadium, an outdoor facility on...
, a record of 8-3 with eight consecutive wins and the Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
title. Tartan Turf replaced the natural grass field in 1972
1972 college football season
The 1972 college football season saw the USC Trojans, coached by John McKay, go undefeated and win the national championship as the unanimous choice of the fifty AP panelists...
, and the stadium was enclosed in late September 1975
1975 college football season
The 1975 college football season saw University of Oklahoma repeat as national champion in the Associated Press writers' poll. With the Sooners having completed two seasons of NCAA probation, they were ranked #1 in the United Press International coaches' poll as well...
to become the Kibbie Dome
Kibbie Dome
The William H. Kibbie-ASUI Activity Center is a multi-purpose indoor athletic stadium in Moscow, Idaho, on the campus of the University of Idaho...
.
Eastern Washington Eagles
Joe Albi Stadium is an occasional home of the Eastern Washington EaglesEastern Washington Eagles football
The Eastern Washington Eagles football team represents Eastern Washington University in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
of the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
. Through the 2003 season, it was used for the higher-attended EWU home games, primarily against Idaho
Idaho Vandals
The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Idaho. They participate in NCAA Division I - FBS in the Western Athletic Conference ....
, Montana
Montana Grizzlies football
The Montana Grizzlies football program represents the University of Montana in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football. The Grizzlies have competed in the Big Sky Conference, where it is a founding member, since 1963...
, and Montana State
Montana State Bobcats football
The Montana State Bobcats football program competes in the Big Sky Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision for Montana State University. The program began in 1897 and has won three national championships...
. Since the 2004 upgrade of their on-campus stadium, Woodward Field in nearby Cheney
Cheney, Washington
Cheney is a city in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The full time resident population was 10,590 as of 2010 census. Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney, and its population grows to approximately 17,600 people on a temporary basis when classes at Eastern Washington...
, the Eagles have not played at Joe Albi Stadium. Woodward Field was renamed Roos Field in 2010, coinciding with the installation of bright red 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...
("the Inferno") and continuing upgrades.
Current developments
Joe Albi Stadium is used extensively for high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
competitions. In 2011, professional soccer returned to Spokane with The Spokane Shine calling the stadium home. The former mayor of Spokane, the late Jim West
James E. West (politician)
James Elton "Jim" West was an American politician. In 2005, while Mayor of Spokane, Washington, he was the target of allegations of the sexual abuse of boys twenty years earlier. These allegations became public after West became a target of a sting operation conducted by his hometown newspaper,...
, proposed to sell Joe Albi to a real estate developer interested in demolishing the stadium and turning it into a housing development. After a back and forth struggle, plans to raze the stadium were scrapped.
Amid the debate about what to do with the aging stadium, an issue about its artificial turf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
surfaced. As a result of the turf being beyond its useful life in early 2006 and deemed unsafe, the Spokane Shadow
Spokane Shadow
Spokane Shadow was an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2005, when the franchise was terminated by the PDL after the 10-year old artificial turf at their home...
discontinued its usage of Joe Albi Stadium, citing that the playing surface was too dangerous for PDL soccer games. As a consequence, the PDL terminated the Shadow's membership. A short time later, the playing surface dilemma was solved when the Spokane
Spokane Public Schools
Spokane Public Schools is a public school district in Spokane County, Washington, and serves the city of Spokane.In May 2011, the district had an enrollment of 28,788....
and Mead
Mead School District
Mead School District No. 354 is a public school district located north of Spokane, Washington. Over 9,000 students attend the 14 schools in the district which consists of 2 high schools, an alternative high school, 2 middle schools, 8 elementary schools, and the Five Mile School House. The...
school districts agreed to share the cost of replacing the tired AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
with infilled 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...
, which was installed in August 2006 for under $700,000. The investment by the two school districts ensures that Joe Albi will endure for at least the life of the 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...
, estimated to be about a decade.
Joe Albi Stadium Summer Classic
On July 9, 2011, the stadium hosted an outdoor Arena FootballArena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
game, when the Visiting Utah Blaze
Utah Blaze
The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :...
, took on the hometown Spokane Shock
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
. The Shock are the defending AFL champions, coming off a victory in ArenaBowl XXIII
ArenaBowl XXIII
NAPA Auto Parts ArenaBowl XXIII was an arena football game between the National Conference champion, Spokane Shock and the American Conference Champion, Tampa Bay Storm. The Spokane Shock won the game successfully defending ArenaCup X of the former af2...
.
External links
- Spokane Spiders.com - official site
- Friends of Joe Albi.com - photo gallery
- World Stadiums.com - photos - Joe Albi Stadium
- Topographic map of area near Joe Albi Stadium from USGS via Microsoft Research Maps
- Spokesman Review.com - New turf for Joe Albi - 31-Mar-2006
- Spokane Shadow.com - soccer team suspends operations