Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium

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Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
Joe Jamail Field
Location Austin, Texas
Broke ground 1924
Opened November 27, 1924
Owner University of Texas
Operator University of Texas
Surface Bermuda grass
Construction cost US$275,000
Architect Herbert M. Greene
Former names Memorial Stadium, Texas Memorial Stadium
Tenants Texas Longhorns (1924-present)
Capacity 85,123[1]

Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (formerly just Memorial Stadium and Texas Memorial Stadium), located in Austin, Texas, is home to the University of Texas Longhorn football team. The current official stadium capacity is 85,123,[1] the largest football venue in the state of Texas,[2] the largest in the Big 12 Conference,[3] and among the largest on-campus stadium in the NCAA.

An attendance record of 89,442 people occurred on September 9, 2006 for the Longhorns' 24-7 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes. That set a new record for the greatest number of people ever to gather for a football game in the state of Texas.[4] It also set a record for the number of people watching a game at any stadium in the Big 12 Conference.[5]

The stadium has been expanded several times since its original opening, with a major expansion completed in 1999. The stadium has been undergoing additional renovations and expansion since 2005. Stage one was completed in 2006 and consisting mainly of updates in accordance with newer fire safety codes. Stage two began in 2006 and consists of seating expansion and addition of new facilities in the north end zone.[1]

Contents

[edit] Memorial dedication

In 1923, former UT athletics director L. Theo Bellmont (the west side of the stadium is named in his honor), along with thirty student leaders, presented the idea of building a concrete stadium to replace the wooden bleachers of Clark Field to the Board of Regents. Heralded as "the largest sports facility of its kind in the Southwest" upon its completion in 1924, the first unit of the stadium consisted of the east and west stands with a seating capacity of 27,000. It was designed as a dual-purpose facility with a 440-yard track surrounding the football field. The stadium was financed through donations from both students and alumni. The estimated cost of the structure was $275,000.

The student body dedicated the stadium in honor of the 198,520 Texans — 5,280 of whom lost their lives — who fought in World War I. A statue, representing the figure of democracy, was later placed atop the north end zone seats of the stadium. In World War II, the University lost many former players, including former coach Jack Chevigny. The Athletics Council rededicated the newly enlarged stadium on September 18, 1948 prior to the Texas-LSU game, honoring the men and women who had died in the war. On November 12, 1977, a small granite monument was unveiled and placed at the base of the statue, during the TCU-Texas game. The ceremony rededicated Texas Memorial Stadium to the memory of all alumni in all American wars.

The University of Texas honored legendary football coach Darrell K Royal, who led Texas to three national championships and eleven Southwest Conference titles, by officially naming the stadium after him in 1996. Additionally, the University established the Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Veterans Committee, composed of alumni who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam or the Gulf Wars. The committee is charged to forever dedicate the stadium in the memory of, and in honor of, UT students and alumni who gave their lives for their country. Each year, one home football game is designated as Veterans Recognition Day, commemorating the "memorial" aspect of the stadium and to honor the memory of war soldiers.

A panorama of the game between the 2005 National Champions and the Colorado Buffaloes on October 15, 2005. Texas won 42–17. Smokey the Cannon (lower left) is in the eastern section of the north end zone. The 2007 expansion brought the seats closer to the field so the cannon was relocated to the southeastern corner of the stadium.
A panorama of the game between the 2005 National Champions and the Colorado Buffaloes on October 15, 2005. Texas won 42–17. Smokey the Cannon (lower left) is in the eastern section of the north end zone. The 2007 expansion brought the seats closer to the field so the cannon was relocated to the southeastern corner of the stadium.


[edit] Major upgrades

The old scoreboard from the north end. It was demolished to make way for the 2006-2008 expansion. The Longhorn at the very top was auctioned on eBay.
The old scoreboard from the north end. It was demolished to make way for the 2006-2008 expansion. The Longhorn at the very top was auctioned on eBay.[6]
  • 1926 - "Horseshoe" built on the north end for US$125,000 raising capacity to 40,500
  • 1948 - Two L-shaped sections added to the east and west stands, raising seating capacity to 60,130. General contractor for this work was Farnsworth & Chambers Inc. of Houston, Texas.
  • 1955 - Lights added
  • 1969 - Upper deck added to the west side raising seating capacity to 75,504 when completed in 1972; artificial turf applied to field. General contractor for this work was a joint venture of two companies — Darragh & Lyda Inc. of San Antonio, Texas and H. A. Lott, Inc. of Houston, Texas.
  • 1977 - Track converted from 440 yards to 400 meters
  • 1986 - The Vernon F. "Doc" Neuhaus–Darrell K Royal Athletic Center completed at the south end of the stadium at a cost of $7 million; the Center was later renamed the W. A. "Tex" Moncrief, Jr.–V. F. "Doc" Neuhaus Athletic Center in 1997 after Royal's name was added to the stadium
  • 1996 - Replacement of the stadium's artificial turf with natural grass (Prescription Athletic Turf); installation of a Jumbotron video system; scoreboards retrofitted
  • 1997 - Fourteen stadium suites added to west side; underside of the stands remodeled, adding a concession plaza and visitors' locker room. In recognition of UT law school alumnus and benefactor Joe Jamail, the University named the football playing field Joe Jamail Field.
  • 1998 - 5,000-seat upper deck added on east side including fifty-two new stadium suites and a 13,000-square-foot private club room
  • 1999 - Track removed; new seats added to the west grandstand and the field was lowered seven feet to accommodate new front-row and field-level seats on the east and west grandstands bringing capacity to 80,082
  • 2002 - Prescription Athletic Turf replaced with TifSport Certified Bermuda grass
  • 2006-2008 - See below

[edit] 2005-08 improvements

Construction of the new north endzone seating
Construction of the new north endzone seating
Godzillatron as seen from the old north end
Godzillatron as seen from the old north end

US$15 million were allocated by the Board of Regents for stadium renovations in 2006.

[edit] West side renovations

Beginning November 14, 2005, work began in Bellmont Hall — located in the west side of the stadium — to meet newer safety codes set by the Austin Fire Department. The upper deck structure received new water sealing, and the Centennial Room and eighth-floor press box were expanded.

[edit] Audio/visual improvements

Following the 2005 season, the Freddie Steinmark memorial scoreboard and Jumbotron in the south end zone was dismantled. This was done in preparation for US$8 million of audio/visual improvements, the centerpiece of which was a 7,370 square foot high-definition Daktronics LED scoreboard, nicknamed "Godzillatron," located in the south end zone. The screen has a pixel resolution of 848 x 2064. The new scoreboard required the removal of the six large flag poles that previously displayed the Six Flags Over Texas. These have been replaced by smaller flags located atop the screen. Along with the new video screen, the sound system was updated and smaller video boards were installed on the east and west sides of the stadium.

At the time of its creation, Godzillatron was called the largest high-definition video screen in the world,[7][8] though it was quickly surpassed by a larger screen in Tokyo.[9] [10] It is still the largest high-definition video screen in collegiate sports.[11] Depending on how the measurement is made, it may be the largest high definition screen in the Western hemisphere. The Miami Dolphins have a high-definition screen with a larger diagonal measurement, but Godzillatron has greater square footage.[12]

Also following the 2005 season, the outdated video matrix screen in the north end zone was removed in anticipation of the upcoming renovations.

[edit] New south end zone seating

A temporary bleacher section was added behind the south end zone for the 2006 season. In mid-July 2006, UT announced that it had completely sold out Memorial Stadium for the 2006 season. This announcement meant that for the first time in the history of the university, tickets would not be sold on an individual game basis. The bleachers allowed a new attendance record of 85,123 set on September 2, 2006 vs North Texas.[1] This was quickly surpassed by the September 9th game vs Ohio State University. The attendance for that game was 89,422[1], which stands as the largest number of people to ever watch a football game in the state of Texas.

The south end bleacher seating will be expanded for the 2007 season to seat approximately 6,400 fans.[13]

The south end zone bleachers can be seen under Godzillatron in this panorama from the 2007 game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on October 28, 2007. Texas won 28–25.
The south end zone bleachers can be seen under Godzillatron in this panorama from the 2007 game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on October 28, 2007. Texas won 28–25.


[edit] North end zone expansion

Artist's rendition of the north end zone after stadium expansion.
Artist's rendition of the north end zone after stadium expansion.

Regents approved a US$149.9 million expansion plan (later increased to $179 million[13]; includes the $15 million 2006 renovations) to include a new memorial plaza and new north end zone structure that is scheduled to be completed in August 2008. The new outdoor plaza at the northwest corner will be a memorial to veterans, with a bronze tablet honoring Texas World War I deaths, a monument, landscaping, and new stadium entry gates between two 115 foot towers, like those in the east grandstand. The expansion also consists of replacing the north end zone structure with a multi-level complex that includes additional seats with an upper deck, club space, suites, athletic offices, academic-advising areas and a basement with gym space. Seating capacity overall will rise to more than 90,000 from the current 85,123.[14] Much of the lower deck will be ready for the 2007 season, while the upper deck is planned to be ready for 2008.[15] Official seating capacity for 2007 and 2008 have not yet been determined.

Demolition of the old north end zone began on December 8, 2006.[16] This was necessary to move the north end seating closer to the field.[15]

Extremely unpredictable weather patterns — including historic amounts of rainfall for much of the year, as well as sleet and snow in January and April delayed construction several times. However, construction crews worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the new lower deck was ready in time for the first game of the 2007 season.[13]

[edit] Future south end zone expansion

The final planned phase of the stadium's expansion includes the construction of permanent seating and an upper deck in the south end zone, completely enclosing the playing field. The stadium capacity could reach 112,000 once the south end zone is fully enclosed.[17]

No timeline has been officially announced, nor any monies raised, for this portion of the project. However, on Austin 1530AM radio on January 22, 2008, Texas athletic director Deloss Dodds mentioned that they are preparing to submit a plan to the Board of Regents regarding the south end zone expansion. An official announcement from the University may come as early as February 2008.

[edit] Wrestlemania 26

World Wrestling Entertainment has announced in a press conference that the Stadium will host Wrestlemania 26. WWE is still pending on the location. More information will be available after Wrestlemania 25.

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c d e "Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium", MackBrownTexasFootball. Retrieved on 2006-09-22. 
  2. ^ Note: The official capcity of Kyle Field is 82,600. Source:Kyle Field. Texas A&M Athletics. Retrieved on 2007-03-06. The record attendance at Kyle Field was 87,555 (2001-11-23 vs. Texas). Source:Kyle Field Attendance Records (since 1970). Texas A&M Athletics. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
  3. ^ Note: the official capacity of Nebraska's Memorial Stadium is 81,067. Source:Memorial Stadium. NU media relations. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
  4. ^ "Ohio State vs Texas", MackBrownTexasFootball. 
  5. ^ Note: The record at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium is 85,197 set on November 4, 2006 vs. Missouri). Source:Memorial Stadium. NU media relations. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
  6. ^ Longhorn light. eBay. Retrieved on 2006-06-06.
  7. ^ Kilian, Ryan. "Colt McCoy silences critics as Longhorns roll over North Texas", 5 September 2006. Retrieved on 2006-09-08. 
  8. ^ Maher, John. "That's one big Bevo of a scoreboard", Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved on 2006-05-11. 
  9. ^ "World's Largest HDTV", Luxist. Retrieved on 2006-10-07. 
  10. ^ "Giant Video Screen Constructed at Tokyo-area horse track", Pink Tentacle. Retrieved on 2006-10-07. 
  11. ^ Daktronics. Texas Longhorns Choose Daktronics for HD Video Display at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. Daktronics. Retrieved on 2006-05-10.
  12. ^ "Longhorns to snatch "world's biggest HD display" title from Dolphins?", engadget. Retrieved on 2006-09-07. 
  13. ^ a b c UT says stadium construction on schedule. Retrieved on 2007-08-01.
  14. ^ Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. (1998). UT stadium expansion to include renewed emphasis on veterans. Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved on 2006-05-11.
  15. ^ a b "Longhorns notebook - Holiday Bowl loves Aggies", Austin American-Statesman, 24 November 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-25. 
  16. ^ Cabenero, David (11 December 2006). Improvements to Royal-Texas stadium begin - Project adds more seating, space for archives of physical culture. The Daily Texan. Retrieved on 2006-12-11.
  17. ^ "Magician kept UT-OU at Cotton Bowl", DallasNews.com, Dallas Morning News, April 20, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-30. >

[edit] Sources

[edit] External links

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Coordinates: 30°17′01.17″N, 97°43′57.06″W

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