OT Aged Stadiums

by Cubbie-Tim on Nov 22, 2009 9:33 PM CST

Many times we have discussed Wrigley and its age, and Fenway is another that ranks along with Wrigley in age, but I was recently having a discussion with a friend and an interesting question came up. I personally have no clue the answer, but what non professional stadium (i.e. college, minor league) that is active (sorry Roman Coliseum) is oldest? I did locate this article which talks of the three oldest in NCAA dating back as far as 1895 (does that make Wrigley "young"?)

Does anyone know if there are older that are active?

from the artile

The NCAA deems Franklin Field (33rd Street at South Street, Philadelphia), which has staged University of Pennsylvania sports since 1895, as its oldest football stadium. The facility is believed to have hosted the most football games by any one collegiate team – No. 800 for Penn is slated Saturday versus Dartmouth – although the NCAA does not keep official records in this category.

Harvard Stadium (95 N. Harvard St., Allston, Mass), opened in 1903, is the oldest permanent concrete structure in the country.

The Yale Bowl (276 Derby Ave., West Haven, Conn) hosted its first tilt, against Harvard, on Nov. 21, 1914.

Together they represent three of the four oldest Division I stadiums in the country; Bobby Dodd Stadium at Georgia Tech opened in 1913.

I thought was an amazing trip thru time about Franklin Field from the same link

Franklin Field firsts
Penn's all-time record at Franklin Field: 535-234-31 (.688) • Built in 1895 at a cost of $100,000 (equivalent to about $2.5 million in today's dollars) • Home to the first scoreboard (1895) • Site of the first neutral Army-Navy game (Army 17, Navy 5, Dec. 2, 1899) • Penn's football team was the first in the United States to use numbers on its jerseys (1911) • The first college football radio broadcast (Cornell 9, Penn 0, on WIP-AM, Nov. 30, 1922) • The first double-decker football stadium (1925) • The largest stadium in the United States when upgraded in 1925 (seating 78,205) • The site of the first college football telecast (Penn 51, Maryland 0, on Philco, Oct. 5, 1940) • The first Canadian Football League game played in the United States (Hamilton 13, Ottawa 7, Aug. 23, 1958) • Vince Lombardi's only NFL playoff loss (Eagles 17, Packers 13, in the NFL Championship, Dec. 26, 1960) • The site of the first episode of ABC's "Wide World of Sports" (covering the Penn Relays, April 29, 1961) Source: University of Pennsylvania

Franklin Field firsts

Penn's all-time record at Franklin Field: 535-234-31 (.688)

• Built in 1895 at a cost of $100,000 (equivalent to about $2.5 million in today's dollars)

• Home to the first scoreboard (1895)

• Site of the first neutral Army-Navy game (Army 17, Navy 5, Dec. 2, 1899)

• Penn's football team was the first in the United States to use numbers on its jerseys (1911)

• The first college football radio broadcast (Cornell 9, Penn 0, on WIP-AM, Nov. 30, 1922)

• The first double-decker football stadium (1925)

• The largest stadium in the United States when upgraded in 1925 (seating 78,205)

• The site of the first college football telecast (Penn 51, Maryland 0, on Philco, Oct. 5, 1940)

• The first Canadian Football League game played in the United States (Hamilton 13, Ottawa 7, Aug. 23, 1958)

• Vince Lombardi's only NFL playoff loss (Eagles 17, Packers 13, in the NFL Championship, Dec. 26, 1960)

• The site of the first episode of ABC's "Wide World of Sports" (covering the Penn Relays, April 29, 1961)

Source: University of Pennsylvania

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Comments

Franklin Field

While stands were erected in the late 1800s, the heart of the structure dates back to the 1920s LINK. So in reality – while the location has remained, little or nothing remains of the 19th century stadium. Unfortunatly, I think a person would be hard pressed to find a sports facility in usage (unless its really small) from prior to the 20th century – part of the reason parks like Fenway and Wrigley were able to be constructed was due to advancements in inexpensive building materials like concrete and steel – which lasted much longer than traditional wooden structures.

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on Nov 23, 2009 9:15 AM CST reply actions

Also.....

Even though Wrigley dates from 1914 and Fenway 1912, if you look at photos of both parks from their early years, they really look nothing like they do now. Both were altered and renovated several times in the 1920s and ‘30s. Wrigley was not double-decked until the late ’20’s, and the bleachers had a few different looks until the modern look was created with the scoreboard stop the CF bleachers, along with the ivy in 1937. And I think “The Green Monster” at Fenway was also added sometime in the ‘30s. So it took about 20-some years for both parks to really have the look they do today. However, if you look at pictures of Wrigley from the late 1930’s, it’s amazing how similar it still looks today except for the lights, the dugouts, and the advertising material. Even the bleacher renovation a few years ago did not change the look that much.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Nov 24, 2009 9:52 PM CST reply actions

Engel Stadium near here in the Scenic City

is one of the older ones still around. Built in 1930 and hosting the Cincinatti Reds’ farm team, it had many of the greatest of the game play through.

A fascinating bit of baseball history took place here. It was at Engels during an exhibition baseball game with the N.Y. Yankees in 1931 that the Iron Man and the Sultan of Swat – no less then Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth were struck out in seven pitches by a minor league 17 year old teenage girl named Jackie Mitchell.

It was said she had one weirdly curving pitch and an uncanny control of it that enabled her to prevail over opposing batters.

It has also been argued that as result of this that the MLB would eventually go on to bar women from signing professional contracts with baseball teams.

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/articles/aubrecht8.shtml

Now you know, all you distaff Cub fans, why baseball is a man’s game .. because a WOMAN showed them how it was done!