Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Gerald J. Ford Stadium is a stadium in University Park, Texas, with a Dallas mailing address.[1] The stadium is used primarily for football, and it is home to the SMU Mustangs football team and is frequently used for local high school football games.
 | |
  Gerald J. Ford Stadium Location in Texas  Gerald J. Ford Stadium Location in the United States | |
| Location | 5800 Ownby Drive University Park (Dallas), TX 75205 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32°50′11.92″N 96°47′2.38″W |
| Owner | Southern Methodist University |
| Operator | Southern Methodist University |
| Capacity | 32,000[1] |
| Surface | FieldTurf |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 10, 1999[2] |
| Opened | September 2, 2000 |
| Construction cost | $42 million[2] ($62.4 million in 2019 dollars[3]) |
| Architect | Ellerbe Becket |
| General contractor | Huber, Hunt & Nichols |
| Tenants | |
| SMU Mustangs (NCAA) (2000–present) Armed Forces Bowl (NCAA) (2010–2011) First Responder Bowl (NCAA) (2019–present) | |
About Ford Stadium
The stadium is named after Gerald J. Ford, a billionaire banker who provided most of the funding for its construction.[4]
Outside the northeast corner of the stadium is Doak Walker Plaza, honoring the former Heisman Trophy winner and SMU's greatest football star. The plaza includes a life-sized replica of the Doak Walker Award trophy, awarded annually to the nation's top college football running back. The northwest corner is connected to the Loyd All-Sports Center, which contains locker, training, and office space for SMU athletics, as well as the Spirit Shop, the office of the Alumni Association, and the Athlete Education Center.[5]
History
The building stands on the site of the former Ownby Stadium, the school's previous on-campus football stadium. Ownby was demolished starting in late October 1998 in order to clear the land designated for the new stadium. Ford Stadium opened on September 2, 2000 with a football game against the University of Kansas.[6]
On September 24, 2010, the regular season attendance record was set at Gerald J. Ford Stadium when 35,481 people watched the TCU Horned Frogs face off against the SMU Mustangs in the Battle for the Iron Skillet. TCU won the game and the Iron Skillet 41–24. The overall attendance record is set at 36,742 for the 2010 Armed Forces Bowl between SMU and the Army Black Knights.[7]
Future expansion
The north-south oriented stadium is bowl-shaped, with stands on three sides (west, east, and north). The stadium is expandable to 45,000 seats by enclosing the horseshoe on the south end.[6]
Renovations
In 2012, SMU Mustang Athletics announced the construction of additional luxury suites, as well as the upgrading of infrastructure to the Paul B. Loyd, Jr. All-Sports Center to allow access to designated outdoor seating areas in the stadium. Construction was completed prior to the start of the 2013 season.[8]
On July 26, 2016, SMU officials announced plans for an upcoming facilities project that will include a new indoor performance center for the Mustangs football team, as well as an outdoor natural grass football practice field. The additions are part of the initial phase of SMU's $150 million comprehensive facilities upgrade. [9]
Gallery
Home Side, 2016
Wide Shot, 2016
References
- "Facilities". SMU Athletics.
- "Gerald J. Ford Stadium". football.ballparks.com.
- Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
- "Gerald J. Ford - Profile". Forbes.com. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- "Loyd All-Sports Center". SMUMustangs.com. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- "Gerald J. Ford Stadium". SMUMustangs.com. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- "College football establishes new attendance records for the bowl and regular seasons". MilitaryBowl.org. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- "Gerald J. Ford Stadium Premium Seating and Mini-Suites". SMU.edu. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- "SMU Athletics reveals future facilities projects". SMU.edu. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
External links
| Preceded by Columbus Crew Stadium Columbus, OH |
Host of the College Cup 2002 |
Succeeded by Columbus Crew Stadium Columbus, OH |
| Preceded by Spartan Stadium |
Host of the Women's College Cup 2001 |
Succeeded by Mike A. Myers Stadium |