Regents Field
Encyclopedia
Regents Field was the home field for the University of Michigan football team
from 1893 to 1905. It was located along South State Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan
, where Schembechler Hall stands today.
The Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
authorized $3,000 in 1890 for the purchase of land to build a new football field. The following May, they added $4,500 more "for the purpose of fitting up the athletic field." Regents Field opened for the 1893 football season. The first home game at Regents Field was a 6–0 victory over the Detroit Athletic Club
on October 7, 1893.
When it opened, Regents Field had a single wooden bleacher section that seated 400 people. The bleachers burned down in 1895 and were replaced the following year with a new covered grandstand seating 800. Because of the demand for tickets, additional open bleachers seating about 6,000 were built adjoining the covered grandstand. The Athletic Association also had "one thousand circus seats and materials for sloping platforms which will permit 8,000 more people to view a football game." Bleachers were later constructed along the south side of the field and the end zones, bringing capacity to over 15,000. The largest crowd ever at Regents Field was for the second to last game at the old stadium. By one account, 17,000 fans watched the Wolverines defeat Wisconsin
in the 1905 homecoming
game.
In the 1890s a three dollar membership in the Athletic Association gained students admission to all athletic events. By 1904 a general admission ticket cost $3.00.
In 1902, Detroit businessman Dexter Ferry donated the land immediately north of Regents Field to the university and the entire complex was renamed Ferry Field
.
Michigan compiled an overall record of 87–2–3 at Regents Field from 1893 to 1905. Between 1901 and 1904, Fielding H. Yost's "Point-a-Minute" teams went 44–0 at Regents Field, outscoring their opponents 2,821 to 42.
In 1904, the Wolverines beat the undefeated University of Chicago team (coached by Amos Alonzo Stagg
at Regents Field. Portions of the game and several panoramic shots of the field were filmed by the Edison Company in one of the earliest successful attempts to film a football game. (See External links to view the film.)
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
from 1893 to 1905. It was located along South State Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, where Schembechler Hall stands today.
The Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
The Board of Regents of the University of Michigan is the legal corporation that controls the University of Michigan, comprising the campuses at Ann Arbor, Flint, and Dearborn. The Board of Regents was created by the Organic Act of March 18, 1837 that established the modern University of Michigan...
authorized $3,000 in 1890 for the purchase of land to build a new football field. The following May, they added $4,500 more "for the purpose of fitting up the athletic field." Regents Field opened for the 1893 football season. The first home game at Regents Field was a 6–0 victory over the Detroit Athletic Club
Detroit Athletic Club
The Detroit Athletic Club , is a private social club and athletic club located in the heart of Detroit's theater, sports, and entertainment district. The clubhouse was designed by Albert Kahn and inspired by Rome's Palazzo Farnese. It maintains reciprocal agreements for their members at other...
on October 7, 1893.
When it opened, Regents Field had a single wooden bleacher section that seated 400 people. The bleachers burned down in 1895 and were replaced the following year with a new covered grandstand seating 800. Because of the demand for tickets, additional open bleachers seating about 6,000 were built adjoining the covered grandstand. The Athletic Association also had "one thousand circus seats and materials for sloping platforms which will permit 8,000 more people to view a football game." Bleachers were later constructed along the south side of the field and the end zones, bringing capacity to over 15,000. The largest crowd ever at Regents Field was for the second to last game at the old stadium. By one account, 17,000 fans watched the Wolverines defeat Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in the 1905 homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
game.
In the 1890s a three dollar membership in the Athletic Association gained students admission to all athletic events. By 1904 a general admission ticket cost $3.00.
In 1902, Detroit businessman Dexter Ferry donated the land immediately north of Regents Field to the university and the entire complex was renamed Ferry Field
Ferry Field
Ferry Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It opened in 1906 and was home to the Michigan Wolverines football team prior to the Michigan Stadium opening in 1927. It had a capacity of 46,000....
.
Michigan compiled an overall record of 87–2–3 at Regents Field from 1893 to 1905. Between 1901 and 1904, Fielding H. Yost's "Point-a-Minute" teams went 44–0 at Regents Field, outscoring their opponents 2,821 to 42.
In 1904, the Wolverines beat the undefeated University of Chicago team (coached by Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football...
at Regents Field. Portions of the game and several panoramic shots of the field were filmed by the Edison Company in one of the earliest successful attempts to film a football game. (See External links to view the film.)