Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Kelly/Shorts Stadium is an American football stadium in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It serves as the home field for the Central Michigan University Chippewas. The stadium opened in 1972 and holds 30,255[2] spectators, making it the largest on-campus stadium in the Mid-American Conference. It is located on the southeast part of campus, along with most of the other athletic facilities.[3][4]
 Kelly/Shorts Stadium, 2012 | |
  Kelly/Shorts Stadium Location in Michigan  Kelly/Shorts Stadium Location in the United States | |
| Former names | Perry Shorts Stadium (1972–1982) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2300 East Campus Drive Mount Pleasant, MI 48858 |
| Coordinates | 43°34′39″N 84°46′15″W |
| Owner | Central Michigan University |
| Operator | Central Michigan University |
| Capacity | 30,255 (2007–present) 30,199 (1998–2006) 20,000 (1972–1997) |
| Record attendance | 35,127 (v. Michigan State University September 8, 2012) |
| Surface | FieldTurf (2004–present) Astroturf (1972–2003) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September, 1971 |
| Opened | November 4, 1972 |
| Expanded | 1998 |
| Construction cost | $2.2 million ($13.4 million in 2019 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | Hobbs+Black |
| Tenants | |
| Central Michigan Chippewas football (NCAA) (1972–present) | |
History
The stadium was originally named Perry Shorts Stadium in honor of R. Perry Shorts, a Saginaw banker who was a 1900 graduate and a generous donor. The stadium, which originally seated approximately 20,000 spectators, was dedicated on November 4, 1972, when the Chippewas defeated Illinois State University, 28–21, before a Homecoming crowd of nearly 17,000.[5] In June 1983, the CMU Board of Trustees voted to rename the facility Kelly/Shorts Stadium in honor of Kenneth "Bill" Kelly, who coached the Chippewa football team to a 91–58–2 record from 1951 to 1966.
Renovations
A $28 million expansion project following the 1997 season added 10,000 seats to the stadium, increasing its capacity to 30,199. A two-tiered press box, locker room, and nine guest suites also were included in the expansion project. The original artificial turf, the first to be used in the state of Michigan, has been replaced three times, most recently in 2016 when it was changed from Astroturf to FieldTurf. Permanent lights were installed before the 2006 season, making it the last stadium in the Mid-American Conference to do so.[6]
Features
CMU's locker room, training room and equipment room are located in the stadium's north end zone, and the locker room is connected to the Indoor Athletic Complex (IAC) via a tunnel. The IAC houses the Dick Enberg Academic Center, coaches' offices, weight room, meeting rooms, CMU's Hall of Champions and indoor practice field with a wall-to-wall FieldTurf surface.
Events
The stadium has also been used as a site for other events, including high school football playoff games, concerts, and graduation ceremonies.
 Night Game vs. Western Michigan, October 1, 2016. |
 Press box from the West |
References
- Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
- Football Facilities, retrieved October 22, 2015
- Kelly/Shorts Stadium, archived from the original on June 15, 2013, retrieved September 3, 2013
- Kelly/Shorts Stadium, archived from the original on September 8, 2013, retrieved September 3, 2013
- Great Games in CMU History, archived from the original on March 14, 2012, retrieved January 22, 2011
- Kelly/Shorts Stadium to Receive Lights, archived from the original on November 20, 2008, retrieved September 3, 2013