|
|
| Former names | Rogers Field (1892-1970) |
|---|---|
| Location | Pullman, Washington United States |
| Broke ground | 1971 |
| Opened | 1972 - September 30th |
| Owner | Washington State University |
| Operator | Washington State University |
| Surface | FieldTurf - (2000- ) Omni-turf - (1990-99) SuperTurf - (1979-89) AstroTurf - (1972-78) |
| Construction cost | $1 million (undergoing a $70 million renovation) |
| Architect | renovations by Graham Construction |
| Capacity | 35,117 |
| Tenants | |
| Washington State Cougars (1972- ) (Pacific-10 Conference, NCAA) Idaho Vandals - (1999-2001) NCAA |
|
Martin Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pullman, Washington, on the campus of Washington State University. Primarily used for college football, it is the home field of the Washington State Cougars of the Pacific-10 Conference. The FieldTurf playing field runs an unorthodox east-west, at an elevation of 2520 feet (768 m) above sea level.[1]
The stadium is named after Clarence D. Martin, the governor of the state of Washington from 1933-41, and a former mayor of Cheney. Ironically, Martin was a 1906 graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle, WSU's in-state rival.
Martin Stadium opened on September 30, 1972, with a disappointing loss to Utah.[2] Two and a half years had passed since its predecessor, the wooden Rogers Field, was significantly damaged by fire, a suspected case of arson. The WSU Cougars played all of their home games at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane in 1970 and 1971.
As of 2006, the stadium has a seating capacity of 35,117. Since the renovation of Reser Stadium at Oregon State, Martin Stadium has fallen to last in seating capacity among Pac-10 football stadiums. The current attendance record was set on November 15, 1997, when WSU beat Stanford in front of 40,306 fans (The '97 Cougar team won the Apple Cup in Seattle the following week to win the Pac-10, and played in the Rose Bowl for the first time in 67 years). Despite the relatively small size of Martin Stadium, it has one of the highest ratios of seating capacity to population base; almost 1.6 seats per every citizen in the city of Pullman, and a seat for everyone in Whitman County.
Martin Stadium was the first college football stadium to expand (in 1979) by removing its 400 meter running track and lowering the playing field, by 16 feet (5 m). This modification added over 12,000 new seats that were closer to the field (and the opponent's bench). The first game following the renovation was played in October 1979, a victory over the UCLA Bruins. Following a 10-3 season and an undefeated home campaign in 2003, Martin Stadium was ranked by Sports Illustrated as one of the toughest stadiums for visiting teams in college football.[citation needed]
The current playing surface is FieldTurf, installed in 2000, preceded by the sand-filled Omni-turf, installed in 1990. The original playing surface at Martin Stadium in 1972 was AstroTurf, replaced by SuperTurf in 1979.[3] The playing surface at Rogers Field was natural grass.
The public address announcer at Martin Stadium is WSU professor Glenn Johnson, who is also the mayor of Pullman. Johnson is known for his first-down call of "...and that's ANOTHER...", to which the crowd responds by chanting "...COUGAR FIRST DOWN!" in unison along with Johnson.
Contents |
Apple Cup
Washington State hosts the Apple Cup in even-numbered years. Except for 1954, the Apple Cup was played at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane from 1950-80, rather than in Pullman. The Cougars went 3-12 in these fifteen Spokane Apple Cups (winning in 1958, 1968, and 1972), while winning the previous games played at Rogers Field in Pullman (1948, 1954).
Since 1982, a Cougar victory, the rivalry game with UW has been played at Martin Stadium, with the Cougars winning six of the fourteen Pullman games. Through the 2008 season, WSU has won 4 out of the last 5 Apple Cup games, but trails in the overall series by a significant margin.[4]
Sharing with a rival
For two and a half seasons, 1999-2001, the Idaho Vandals borrowed Martin Stadium to use as its home field, as Idaho transitioned from Division I-AA to I-A. At the time, the Vandals' Kibbie Dome was too small to support the NCAA's attendance requirements for Division I-A. The attendance criteria for Division I-A was changed and Idaho is now a member of the Division I-A WAC, and uses its own facility.
Washington State and Idaho renewed their dormant football rivalry in 1998, and match up annually in the Battle of the Palouse. The game is played at Martin Stadium in September, although the 2003 game was curiously played far from the Palouse, at Seahawks Stadium in Seattle.[5] After a ten year renewal, new Vandal head coach Robb Akey, a former WSU defensive coordinator, stated that he preferred the game not be played every year.[6] The game was last played in 2007.
Message from Athletic Director Jim Sterk on Renovations
Tuesday, September 22, 2009, marked an exciting and historic day in Cougar Athletics as we unveiled Phase III of the Martin Stadium Renovation Project.
In December 2006, we launched a multi-phase renovation of Martin Stadium, the first for the facility in 27 years. We have accomplished much in the ensuing years, thanks in large part to you, Cougar alumni, students, and fans. Your support made the initial phases of the renovation possible.
The significance of completing the initial phases of the renovation cannot be overstated; however, our goal at Washington State University is to make the complete renovation of Martin Stadium, and we are ready to move on to the next phase of doing just that.
Many of you are already aware of the next phases of the renovation, but many wondered when construction on Phase III would begin.
We had originally intended to do this a year ago; however, the state of the economy prevented us from moving forward at that time. While the economy forced us to postpone the project last year, it now offers us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with the potential to take advantage of favorable construction costs and other economic factors which could provide additional support for the project.
The time for us to act is now. And, we are doing so with the announcement of moving forward with Phase III of the Martin Stadium Renovation Project.
As a refresher, Phase III encompasses the construction of luxury suites, loge boxes, and club seats atop the north stands. The effects of completing Phase III will be far-reaching. It will enable more fans to enjoy Cougar football, assist in recruiting, and provide opportunities to increase operating revenue for WSU Athletics. The additional operating funds will enhance the competitiveness of Cougar football and all WSU athletics programs. All WSU student-athletes and the entire University will benefit.
Our motto for the renovation is TeamBuilt. We cannot make Phase III a reality without your help. With the initial two phases and Phase III, we have received support from many generous and dedicated Cougars, and I greatly appreciate it.
But we need more help from more people. I am asking for your help. I am asking that you be a part of our team and together we will make Phase III happen.
You can be part of the team in many ways. One is to purchase premium seating. You can read details on how to make a reservation by clicking HERE. Premium seating commitments are vital to the project. Once 80 percent of premium seats have been committed, we can commence with Phase III construction.
If you choose not to purchase a premium seat, you can still be a part of the team by making a donation to the project HERE, becoming a season ticket holder if you have not previously been one, or renewing your season tickets. Your financial support, in any of the aforementioned categories, will help us achieve our goals
Phase III will be completed by the 2012 football season; however, if premium seat sales and fundraising benchmarks are met, Cougar fans could enjoy the premium-seating experience as early as the 2011 season.
Some may ask why move forward with Phase III during a time when we are rebuilding the football program. My response is that the program needs this now more than ever. With the previous renovation work, we have built the foundation for something special with the stadium, and we are also building a foundation for something special with the team.
Facility upgrades are critical in determining what school an 18-year-old decides to attend. Think about it for a moment. Imagine the benefit Phase III will have on recruiting when a future Cougar first witnesses a renovated Martin Stadium and how it represents our commitment to be successful in the Pac-10!
In addition, Phase III will allow WSU to keep pace competitively with our Pac-10 Conference members and the rest of the Football Bowl Subdivision. Ultimately, this project ensures WSU’s long-term viability in the Pac-10.
If you would like more specific information on how to support the stadium renovation effort, please contact any of the individuals listed here, e-mail at athleticinfo@wsu.edu, or go to the stadium renovation website at www.martinstadium.org.
My thanks to all those who have helped make the first two phases of the renovation of Martin Stadium a reality, and I thank you, in advance, for the support needed for Phase III. Through your contributions, Phase III will truly be Team Built.
Go Cougs!
Jim Sterk Director of Athletics Washington State University
Fire at Rogers Field
At 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, 1970 (the first day of spring break), residents heard what they described as a gunshot at the football stadium. By 2:00 a.m., the south grandstand and press box of the wooden venue had burned to the ground, witnessed by a thousand residents and firefighters. The exact cause, or offender, was never found, though there were several suspects.
The Cougars played their entire home schedule for the 1970 and 1971 football seasons at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane. The fire also displaced the Idaho Vandals, whose wooden Neale Stadium was condemned before the 1969 season (and set afire by arson that November). The Vandals had used WSU's Rogers Field for its two Palouse home games in 1969 and were planning to use it again in for four home games in 1970. Without another suitable stadium in the Moscow-Pullman vicinity, Idaho played its 1970 home schedule at the reduced capacity Rogers Field, returning to its Moscow campus in 1971. The 1970 WSU-Idaho game in Spokane on September 19th was dubbed "The Displaced Bowl," and was easily won by the Cougars, 44-16, their only victory of the season.[7][8]
The name "Rogers Field" continues on campus. It has been transferred to areas used for intramural sports and football practices.[9]
References
- ^ terraserver.microsoft.com - USGS topo map and aerial photo
- ^ cfbdatawarehouse.com - WSU results - 1970-74
- ^ wsucougars.cstv.com - Martin Stadium
- ^ cfbdatawarehouse.com - Apple Cup results
- ^ cfbdatawarehouse.com - WSU vs. Idaho
- ^ Seattle Times
- ^ cfbdatawarehouse - WSU results - 1970-74
- ^ washingtonstate.scout.com/2/243292.html
- ^ washingtonstate.scout.com/2/33621.html
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Martin Stadium |
- MartinStadium.org - official site
- wsucougars.cstv.com - Martin Stadium
- World Stadiums.com - photos - Martin Stadium
- Terraserver.microsoft.com - Aerial photo (& USGS topo map) - WSU campus
Coordinates: 46°43′54.5″N 117°09′37.6″W / 46.731806°N 117.160444°W
|
|||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
