![]() Peden Stadium Interior | |
Former names | Ohio University's Athletic Plant (1929–1946) |
---|---|
Location | 200 Richland Avenue Athens, OH 45701 |
Coordinates | 39°19′16″N82°6′10″W / 39.32111°N 82.10278°W |
Owner | Ohio University |
Operator | Ohio University |
Capacity | 24,000 |
Surface | FieldTurf (2002–present) Natural grass (1929–2001) |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1927 |
Opened | October 5, 1929 [1] |
Renovated | 2001 |
Expanded | 1986, 2001 |
Construction cost | $185,000 ($3.28 million in 2023 dollars [2] ) |
Architect | Osborn Engineering Company |
Tenants | |
Ohio Bobcats (NCAA) (1929–present) |
Peden Stadium, also known as Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium since August 2022, [3] is an American football stadium on the campus of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Situated on the banks of the Hocking River with a seated capacity of 24,000, [4] Peden Stadium has been the home of the Ohio Bobcats Football team since 1929. An example of early 20th Century sports venues, it is the oldest college football venue in the Mid-American Conference, the third oldest in Ohio, and the 29th oldest college stadium in the nation. [5]
The stadium was named in honor of Don C. Peden, a coach and director of athletics at Ohio University for 27 years. He was one of the founders of the Mid-American Conference and a national force in intercollegiate athletics, especially football and baseball. He was born in Kewanee, IL, and died in 1970 at the age of 71. [6]
The facility, originally known as Ohio Stadium, not to be mistaken for Ohio Stadium in Columbus, was built at a cost of $185,000 and was completed in 1929. The stadium originally sat 12,000 fans with grandstands on each side of the playing field. [6] The first game at the venue featured a 14–0 Bobcats victory over archrival Miami University in front of a sellout crowd. Following the retirement of legendary Ohio football coach Don Peden in 1946, the stadium was renamed Peden Stadium. It was designed by Osborn Engineering, who designed other sports venues such as Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, and Cleveland Stadium.
The "Bobcat's Lair"[ citation needed ] has undergone several modifications through the years. In 1986, the seating capacity was increased to 19,000 with the addition of two new grandstands in the north end zone. Four years later, a five story tower, called the Peden Tower, was added to the stadium's west side. Today, it houses press boxes, game-day suites, football offices, athletic training facilities, team meeting rooms, a recruiting lounge, a ticket office, the football locker room, and Ohio Athletics' academic services and compliance departments. In 1999, a new 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) strength and conditioning center called The Carin Center was added to the ground level of Peden Stadium.
Several other historic events have occurred at the Stadium, including a visit by then President Lyndon B. Johnson, as well as an event which featured a landing by helicopter on the 50-yard line by former President Eisenhower. The stadium has served as a venue for many visiting national collegiate teams including the Big Ten. A bronze life-sized sculpture of an Ohio Bobcat, stands poised at the north of the stadium outside of the Sook Academic Center. [7]
In 2009, in anticipation of the 75th anniversary of its construction in 2011, after a suggestion by Alumnus Michael Msssa, Peden Stadium was officially designated an Ohio Historical Site, and an historical marker erected in Drew Park. [6]
In August 2022, the University announced that the Board of Trustees agreed to name the football field in Peden Stadium for former head coach Frank Solich, who served as the head coach for the football program from 2005-21 and earned the title of Winningest Coach in the Mid-American Conference with a 115-82 overall record. [3] Through 2022 Ohio remained unbeaten on the new field.
Some of the most extensive renovations, though, occurred after the 2000 football season. This $2.8 million project removed the track, lowered the stadium's playing surface by 10 feet (3.0 m), and increased the seating capacity to its current mark of 24,000 with the addition of lower-level, bleacher-back seats collectively called the Phillips Club, plus added capacity of the Sook Center on game days. Also during this renovation, permanent seating for the marching band, The Ohio University Marching 110, was created in the north end zone and Victory Hill, a grass berm for overflow seating, was added to the south end of the field. In 2002, the natural grass playing surface at the stadium was replaced with FieldTurf, and in 2017, an updated video scoreboard was added to the south end zone. Following the completion of the 2004 season, the stadium underwent another large project that renovated/expanded the stadium's athletic training facilities, added a large team auditorium, improved position meeting rooms, expanded the recruiting lounge, and enlarged office space for the football coaches. In 2009, the Marching 110's former permanent location in the north end zone was transformed into "Touchdown Club" donor seating, and the band returned to their former location in the general admission seating by the student section. The most recent update occurred in 2022, where new field turf was installed over the summer.
The stadium has been used for several other purposes. It has hosted numerous local high school football games and high school state playoff games. In addition, the stadium serves as the home of Ohio's "O Zone" Student Cheering Section, The North End Terrace Club, The Bobcat Club, and an annual homecoming "Yell Like Hell" pep rally as well as having been the site of several concerts. 5k Runs have started from the 50 yard line. It even served as a helicopter landing area for former President Eisenhower in the 1960s. [8]
In 2014, the administration of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, along with Varsity OHIO and affiliated university alumni organizations and bodies, began a cooperative campaign for a state-of-the-art academic wing at Peden Stadium due to crowded interior space for students, and renovated locker rooms for teams that had not received prior renovations. Incorporated into this new building are public-use pavilions and a sports supporter club terrace. Completed in the fall of 2018, and designed by Ohio-based MSA Sport, the Perry and Sandy Sook Center is 26,000 square feet. It contains an academic advising area (including offices, tutor rooms, and conference areas), a large multi-purpose classroom that also serves as a game-day hospitality area, and a large observation deck overlooking the field. [9]
Though the attendance for Peden Stadium is listed at 24,000, Victory Hill allows for standing room beyond the listed capacity. As such, the attendance records at the stadium all eclipse the 24,000 mark, and additionally, a potential standing capacity for 28,000 was created when academic center was completed at the stadium's north endzone in 2018.
Rank | Date | Attendance | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1 | September 8, 2012 | 25,893 [10] | Ohio 51 - New Mexico State 24 |
2 | October 13, 2012 | 25,542 [11] | Ohio 34 - Akron 28 |
3 | September 20, 2014 | 25,211 [12] | Ohio 36 - Idaho 24 |
4 | September 12, 2015 | 25,210 [13] | Ohio 21 - Marshall 10 |
5 | October 10, 2015 | 25,086 [14] | Ohio 34 - Miami (Ohio) 3 |
In addition to serving as the home of Ohio Bobcats football games, the stadium has been used for several other purposes. It has hosted numerous local high school football games and high school state playoff games. In addition, the stadium serves as the home of Ohio's "O Zone" Student Cheering Section, The North End Terrace Club, The Bobcat Club, and an annual homecoming "Yell Like Hell" pep rally as well as having been the site of several concerts. 5k Runs have started from the 50 yard line. It even served as a helicopter landing area for former President Eisenhower in the 1960s as well as staging areas for visits from Presidents Johnson and Obama.[ citation needed ]
James Gamble Nippert Memorial Stadium is an outdoor stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. Primarily used for American football, it is the home field of the Cincinnati Bearcats football team. The stadium has also been used as a soccer venue, serving as the home of FC Cincinnati of Major League Soccer from their inaugural 2016 USL season through the 2020 MLS season, following which they moved to TQL Stadium. Nippert Stadium has a current seating capacity of 38,088 following the expansion and renovation performed in 2014, and the 2017 removal of corner seats to accommodate FC Cincinnati during their transition to the MLS. The stadium began in 1901 with a rudimentary for and field surface, with permanent concrete stands built along each sideline for the 1915 season and a complete horseshoe stadium completed in 1924, making it the fourth-oldest playing site and fifth-oldest stadium in college football, respectively.
Frank Thomas Solich is a former American football coach and former player. He is the former head coach at Ohio University, a position he held from 2005 until 2021. From 1998 to 2003, Solich served as the head coach at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he also played fullback under Bob Devaney in the mid-1960s.
Centennial Bank Stadium is a football stadium located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on the campus of Arkansas State University that is home to the Arkansas State Red Wolves football team. The stadium opened in 1974 as Indian Stadium named after the old nickname of the school, the Indians, until the 2007 season when it was renamed ASU Stadium. The venue was renamed Liberty Bank Stadium in September 2012 after Liberty Bank of Arkansas donated approximately $5 million to the university. In 2013, Liberty Bank was bought by Home BancShares, whose trade name is Centennial Bank. Since 2015, the stadium has a seating capacity of 30,406.
Bobcat Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in the western United States, located on the campus of Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. It is the home of the Montana State Bobcats college football team of the Big Sky Conference.
The Ohio Bobcats are the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Ohio University, located in Athens, Ohio, United States. Ohio University is a charter member (1946) of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), is currently in the East Division of that conference, and sponsors teams in six men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports. The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level for college football.
The Ohio Bobcats football team is a major intercollegiate varsity sports program of Ohio University. The team represents the university as the senior member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), playing at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Bobcats have played their home games in Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio since 1929.
The 2009 Ohio Bobcats football team competed on behalf of Ohio University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bobcats were led by head coach Frank Solich and played their home games in Peden Stadium located in Athens, Ohio.
The 2010 Ohio Bobcats football team represented Ohio University during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bobcats, led by sixth-year head coach Frank Solich, competed in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference and played their home games at Peden Stadium. They finished the season 8–5, 6–2 in MAC play and were invited to the New Orleans Bowl where they were defeated by Troy 21–48.
The 2011 Ohio Bobcats football team represented Ohio University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bobcats were led by seventh-year head coach Frank Solich and played their home games at Peden Stadium. They were a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Ohio finished the season 10–4, 6–2 in MAC play to be champions of the East Division. They represented the division in the MAC Championship Game where they lost to Northern Illinois. They were invited to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl where they defeated Utah State for their first bowl victory in school history.
The 2007 Ohio Bobcats football team represented Ohio University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Ohio competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Bobcats were led by Frank Solich in his third year as head coach. They played their home games in Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio.
The 2012 Ohio Bobcats football team represented Ohio University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by eighth-year head coach Frank Solich and played their home games at Peden Stadium. They were a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). After defeating Akron on October 13 to become 7–0 the Bobcats were ranked #25 in the AP Poll; Ohio had not been ranked nationally since 1968. On October 21, 2012, the Bobcats peaked at #23 in both the Coaches Poll and AP Poll, and #24 in the BCS standings. They finished the season 9–4, 4–4 in MAC play to finish in third place in the East Division. They were invited to the Independence Bowl where they defeated Louisiana–Monroe for their second consecutive bowl victory.
The 2006 Ohio Bobcats football team represented Ohio University during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Ohio competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Bobcats were led by Frank Solich in his second year as head coach. They played their home games in Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio.
The 2005 Ohio Bobcats football team represented Ohio University during the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. Ohio competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in the East Division. The Bobcats were led by Frank Solich in his first year as head coach. They played their home games in Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio.
The 2014 Ohio Bobcats football team represented Ohio University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by tenth year head coach Frank Solich and played their home games at Peden Stadium. They were members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 6–6, 4–4 in MAC play to finish in second place in the East Division. Despite being bowl eligible, they were not invited to a bowl game.
The 2015 Ohio Bobcats football team represented Ohio University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by 11th year head coach Frank Solich and played their home games at Peden Stadium. They were members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 8–5, 5–3 on MAC play to finish in a tie for second place in the East Division. They were invited to the Camellia Bowl where they lost to Appalachian State.
The 2016 Ohio Bobcats football team represented Ohio University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by 12th-year head coach Frank Solich and played their home games at Peden Stadium. They were members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 8–6, 6–2 in MAC play to finish in a two-way tie for the East Division title. They represented the East Division in the MAC Championship Game where they lost to Western Michigan. They were invited to the Dollar General Bowl where they lost to Troy.
The 2017 Ohio Bobcats football team represented Ohio University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by 13th-year head coach Frank Solich and played their home games at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 9–4, 5–3 in MAC play to finish in second play in the East Division. They received an invitation to the Bahamas Bowl where they defeated UAB.
The 2018 Ohio Bobcats football team represented Ohio University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by 14th-year head coach Frank Solich and played their home games at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 9–4, 6–2 in MAC play to finish in a tie for second place in the East division. They were invited to the Frisco Bowl where they defeated San Diego State.
The 2019 Ohio Bobcats football team represented Ohio University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by 15th year head coach Frank Solich and played their home games at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio, as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference.
The 2020 Ohio Bobcats football team represented Ohio University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by 16th-year head coach Frank Solich and played their home games at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio, as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. This was Solich's final year as the head coach at Ohio. Ohio didn't play in a bowl for the first time since 2014 as the MAC only allowed its division winners to play but they were bowl eligible for the 12th straight year.
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