Bridgeforth Stadium

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Bridgeforth Stadium
The Dog House
James Madison University Football.jpg
Bridgeforth Stadium in 2016
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Bridgeforth Stadium
Location in Virginia
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Bridgeforth Stadium
Location in the United States
Former namesMadison Stadium (1975–1981)
JMU Stadium (1981–1989)
LocationChampions Dr.
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Coordinates 38°26′7″N78°52′23″W / 38.43528°N 78.87306°W / 38.43528; -78.87306
Operator James Madison University
Capacity 24,877 (2011–present) [1]
15,694 (2010)
15,778 (2008–2009)
13,559 (2001–2007)
12,500 (1981–2000)
5,200 (1975–1980)
Record attendance26,239 (October 28, 2023 vs. Old Dominion
Surface Astroturf, 1975–2005
FieldTurf, 2006–present
Construction
Broke ground1973
OpenedSeptember 20, 1975 [2]
Expanded1981, 2011
Construction cost$62 million (expansion)
Architect HKS, Inc. (Sports Design – expansion), Moseley Architects (Architect of Record – expansion)
Tenants
James Madison Dukes football (1975–present)

Bridgeforth Stadium is a football stadium located on the campus of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The stadium is home to the James Madison Dukes football team. The playing surface is named Zane Showker Field.

Contents

With a seating capacity of 24,877, Bridgeforth Stadium is currently the 12th largest stadium in the Sun Belt Conference.

History

Bridgeforth Stadium in 2007, before its expansion JMU Bridgeforth Fieldturf.JPG
Bridgeforth Stadium in 2007, before its expansion

Originally named Madison Stadium, it was built in 1975 and had a capacity of approximately 5,200. [3] The stadium was originally designed as a multi-purpose facility, and hosted football, track and field, lacrosse, and field hockey events. In addition, the stadium contained indoor racquetball courts, several classrooms, support space for the JMU ROTC program, and administrative offices for JMU varsity athletic teams and media relations. In 1981, the stadium then called JMU Stadium, underwent its first expansion which included a second set of seats giving it a total capacity of more than 12,000. The stadium was again renamed in 1990 for William E. Bridgeforth, former member of the JMU Board of Visitors. In 2003 the field was named in honor of JMU benefactor Zane Showker (whose name is also on the building for JMU's School of Business). In 2004, the university added a new scoreboard with video replay features, which was dismantled after the 2010 season as part of a significant renovation of the entire facility. It was replaced by a much larger video scoreboard behind the south endzone. In 2006, the existing artificial turf was replaced with FieldTurf. The stadium is situated in the Lakeside area of campus, and is adjacent to the multimillion-dollar Plecker Athletic Center and a five story parking deck. [4]

A statue of the school's mascot, Duke Dog, sits on the stadium's exterior. Duke dog.JPG
A statue of the school's mascot, Duke Dog, sits on the stadium's exterior.

Renovation

A major stadium renovation and expansion project began in December 2009. The expansion included the demolition of the then existing west stands, removal of the track, and the construction of a $62 million, two-tiered complex in its place. [5] After completion in August 2011, Bridgeforth Stadium's seating capacity was raised to 24,877 permanent seats. In addition to increased seating, the expansion included the construction of a larger video and scoreboard, the addition of 17 suites, a club lounge with chairback seating, and increased stadium lighting. All total, the completion of the Bridgeforth Stadium and Zane Showker Field complex, including the Plecker Athletic Performance Center and parking deck, represents an investment of approximately $90 million.

On September 10, 2011, the Dukes played for the first time in the newly expanded stadium. In front of a sellout crowd of 25,102 fans, the Dukes defeated the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State University by a score of 14–9.

Notable games

Some of the recent notable games in JMU history that have been played at Bridgeforth Stadium are:

Largest crowds

RankAttendanceDateGame result
126,239October 28, 2023#25 James Madison 30, Old Dominion 27
226,159October 22, 2022 Marshall 26, James Madison 12
326,069October 24, 2015#11 Richmond 59, #4 James Madison 49
426,064September 30, 2023James Madison 31, South Alabama 23
525,993October 14, 2017#1 James Madison 30, #11 Villanova 8
625,838November 18, 2023#18 James Madison 23, Appalachian State 26
725,786September 28, 2024James Madison 63, Ball State 7
825,742October 1, 2011#9 James Madison 31, #10 Richmond 7
925,622October 10, 2024James Madison 39, Coastal Carolina 7
1025,484October 6, 2018#10 Elon 27, #2 James Madison 24

Panorama

A panorama of the stadium before 2013 Bridgeforth Panorama.JPEG
A panorama of the stadium before 2013

See also

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The Royal Rivalry refers to the college rivalry games between the James Madison Dukes and the Old Dominion Monarchs of the Sun Belt Conference. It is an intra-conference match-up between two Div. I FBS public universities, James Madison University and Old Dominion University, in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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The 2023 James Madison Dukes football team represented James Madison University as a member of the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Curt Cignetti, the Dukes played home games at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia as members of the East division of the Sun Belt Conference. The James Madison Dukes football team drew an average home attendance of 25,372 in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 James Madison Dukes football team</span> American college football season

The 2024 James Madison Dukes football team represented James Madison University in the Sun Belt Conference's East Division during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Dukes were led by Bob Chesney in his first year as the head coach. The Dukes played their home games at the Bridgeforth Stadium, located in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

References

  1. ↑ "Game Preview Capsules for ODU, JMU, Norfolk State". Richmond Times-Dispatch . August 31, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Archived Document". Archived from the original on 2014-12-07. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  3. ↑ The Hillside Gang James Madisum University Retrieved July 21, 2011
  4. ↑ "Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine ." James Madison Athletics Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  5. ↑ "JMU Debuts Football Stadium Expansion - NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA News, Sports and Weather". Archived from the original on 2017-07-06. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  6. ↑ "JMU Won't Proceed with Lawsuit" . Retrieved 2023-10-22.
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