Neyland Stadium
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Neyland Stadium is a sports stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. It serves primarily as the home of the University of Tennessee football team, the Volunteers, but is also used to host large conventions. It is the largest football stadium in the South, and the third largest in the United States. After 79 years and 16 expansion projects, Neyland Stadium now has an official capacity of 102,037 seats.
Neyland Stadium, along with Husky Stadium in Washington, is one of two college stadiums located on a major body of water. The south end of the stadium sits on the banks of the Tennessee River.
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[edit] History
The present-day Neyland Stadium, Shields-Watkins Field, had its beginning in 1919. Col. W.S. Shields, president of Knoxville's City National Bank and a University of Tennessee trustee, provided the initial capital to prepare and equip an athletic field. Thus, when the field was completed in March 1921, it was called Shields-Watkins Field in honor of the donor and his wife, Alice Watkins-Shields.
The stadium, apart from the field it grew to enclose, came to bear its own name—Neyland Stadium. It was named for the man most responsible for the growth and development of Tennessee's football program. General Robert Neyland served as head coach from 1926-1952, with two interruptions for military service. After retiring from coaching, General Neyland was the university's athletics director until his death in 1962.
The latest addition to the facility are the East Club Seats in 2006, bringing capacity down to 102,037. In 2009, the university will add west club-level seats bringing capacity down to 100,000.
[edit] Stadium growth
| Year | Addition | Capacity Change | Total Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | Original West Stands | 3200 seats | 3200 |
| 1926 | East Stands | 3600 seats | 6800 |
| 1929 | West Stands | 11,060 seats | 17,860 |
| 1937 | North Section X | 1500 seats | 19,360 |
| 1938 | East Stands | 12,030 seats | 31,390 |
| 1948 | South Stands | 15,000 seats | 46,390 |
| 1962 | West Upper Deck | press box, 5837 seats | 52,227 |
| 1966 | North Stands | 5895 seats | 58,122 |
| 1968 | East Upper Deck | 6307 seats | 64,429 |
| 1972 | Southwest Upper Deck | 6221 seats | 70,650 |
| 1976 | Southeast Upper Deck | 9600 seats | 80,250 |
| 1980 | North Stands | net gain 10,999 seats | 91,249 |
| 1987 | West Executive Suites | 42 suites | 91,110 |
| 1990 | Student Seating Adjustment | 792 seats | 91,902 |
| 1996 | North Upper Deck | 10,642 seats | 102,544 |
| 1997 | ADA Seating Adjustment | 310 seats | 102,854 |
| 2000 | East Executive Suites | 78 suites | 104,079 |
| 2006 | East Clubs Seats | Club Level | 102,037 |
[edit] Other facts
- The Sporting News ranked Neyland Stadium as the nation's #1 college football stadium in a poll in the spring of 2001.
- Tennessee set a school-record by averaging 107,595 fans in 2000.
- A record total of 747,870 fans in seven games saw the Vols post an undefeated home season in 1999.
- The university has averaged 105,176 fans over the past nine seasons, drawing nearly four million patrons during that span.
- The largest stadium attendance was on September 18, 2004 against the University of Florida with a record of 109,061 people. The game resulted in a 30-28 Volunteer win.
- Neyland Stadium is known for its unique endzone paint scheme, the orange and white checkerboard pattern.
[edit] Sources
- 2006 University of Tennessee Media Guide
- History of Neyland Stadium Expansion
- Neyland Stadium Info at UTSports.com
