Rotary Field

Last updated
Rotary Field
USA New York relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Rotary Field
Location within the State of New York
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Rotary Field
Location within the United States
Former namesUniversity of Buffalo Field
LocationBailey and Winspear avenues,
Buffalo, New York
Coordinates 42°57′00″N78°48′53″W / 42.95000°N 78.81472°W / 42.95000; -78.81472
Owner University at Buffalo
Operator University at Buffalo
OpenedOctober 9, 1920
Tenants
Buffalo Bulls (NCAA)

Rotary Field is a field and former athletics stadium in Buffalo, New York, on the South Campus of the University at Buffalo. It was the home field for the Buffalo Bulls football teams from 1920 to 1942, and again from 1955 to 1984.

The field at Bailey Avenue and Winspear Avenue, on the southeastern corner of UB's South Campus, opened with UB's season opener against Thiel College on October 9, 1920. [1]

The field was initially known simply as University of Buffalo Field, until the Buffalo chapter of Rotary International donated $250,000 "for the creation of a proper athletic field or stadium, and that the same shall be known as Rotary Field." [2] Construction of bleachers with a capacity of 7,500 at Rotary Field was completed in time for the next year's season opener, another Buffalo-Thiel game, on October 8, 1921. [3]

Rotary Field continued to serve as the Bulls' home field until 1942, when the program was suspended because of World War II. When the University of Buffalo resumed intercollegiate athletics in 1946, home games were played at Civic Stadium, the home of the NCAA's Canisius Golden Griffins and future home of the NFL's Buffalo Bills. [4]

After drawing lackluster crowds at the 40,000-capacity NFL-sized stadium – "at some recent games, fewer than 1,000 persons have rattled around in Civic Stadium as Buffalo's team lost repeatedly", the Associated Press reported in 1954 [5] – the University of Buffalo decided to move its football team back to the campus grounds for 1955, though for the next few years, a few home games were held at Civic Stadium.

Rotary Field served as the principal home of the Bulls until 1970, as the university dropped its football team after the end of that season. The college president noted at the time that the 12,000-person capacity stadium "had never been filled for a home game in the past decade." [6] [7] The sport was reinstated in 1977, again with Rotary Field as the Bulls' home turf. [4]

The Bulls enjoyed five consecutive winning seasons at Rotary Field, 1980 to 1984, before moving to the university's North Campus in Amherst, New York, to play their home games in UB Stadium, now known as Kunz Stadium. This field, in turn, was succeeded by the present-day University at Buffalo Stadium in 1993. [4]

The site of Rotary Field is now an open field and parking lot on the UB South Campus, across the street from the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Buffalo.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University at Buffalo Stadium</span> College football and track stadium

UB Stadium is a stadium in Amherst, New York on the campus of the University at Buffalo. It is primarily used for football, soccer, and track and field events, and is the home field of the Buffalo Bulls. The Stadium hosted the athletics events and the closing ceremonies of the 1993 World University Games held in July of 1993. The first football game was held between the Bulls and Maine Black Bears on September 4, 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alumni Arena (University at Buffalo)</span> Multi-purpose arena in Amherst, New York

Alumni Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Amherst, New York. The arena is home to the State University of New York at Buffalo men's and women's basketball teams, the women's volleyball team, and wrestling team. The facility has a capacity of 6,783 people for basketball games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunder of the East Marching Band</span> Marching band of the University at Buffalo

The Thunder of the East is the marching band of the University at Buffalo in the State University of New York system. UB's first marching band was created in 1920, and disbanded in 1927. It was revived in 1946, increasing in size and reputation until about 1970. It was known as "The Pride of the East." At that time, it was dissolved upon UB's departure from Division I athletics. In 1981, some UB students continued the tradition of playing music at UB's home football and basketball games by forming UB's Pep Band. In anticipation of UB's return to Division I athletics, a marching band was formed in 1999 and named, "Thunder of the East." The band debuted at the University at Buffalo Stadium on September 11, 1999. The Thunder of the East is currently led by James E. Mauck; and performs at UB's Buffalo Bulls home football games, as well as in other musical venues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Bulls football</span> Football team for the State University of New York at Buffalo

The Buffalo Bulls football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University at Buffalo located in the U.S. state of New York. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo's first football team was fielded in 1894. The team plays its home games at the 31,000 seat UB Stadium on University at Buffalo's north campus in Amherst, New York. The Bulls are coached by Pete Lembo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Bulls baseball</span> Athletic Team

The Buffalo Bulls baseball team was a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of the University at Buffalo in Amherst, New York, United States. From 2001 to 2017, the team was a member of the Mid-American Conference East division, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level. The Bulls played their home games at Amherst Audubon Field on the UB campus. The Bulls were coached by Ron Torgalski for the program's final 11 seasons, from 2007 through 2017. At the conclusion of the 2017 season, the program was eliminated by the university.

The 1969 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo as an independent during the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. Led by first-year head coach Bob Deming, the Bulls compiled a record of 6–3. The team's offense scored 174 points while the defense allowed 89 points. Buffalo played four home games at Rotary Field and one at War Memorial Stadium, both located in Buffalo, New York.

The 1970 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo as an independent during the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. Led by Bob Deming in his second and final season as head coach, the Bulls compiled a record of 2–9. The team's offense scored 133 points while the defense allowed 299 points. Buffalo played home games at Rotary Field in Buffalo, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Buffalo Bulls football team</span> American college football season

The 2015 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Lance Leipold, the Bulls compiled an overall record of 5–7 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, placing fourth in the MAC's East Division. The team played their home games at University at Buffalo Stadium in Amherst, New York.

The 2016 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulls were led by second-year head coach Lance Leipold. The team played their home games at University at Buffalo Stadium and competed as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 2–10, 1–7 in MAC play to finish in last place in the East Division.

The 1948 Buffalo Bulls football team was an American football team that represented the University of Buffalo as an independent during the 1948 college football season. In its first season under head coach Frank Clair, the team compiled a 6–1–1 record.

The 1950 Buffalo Bulls football team was an American football team that represented the University of Buffalo as an independent during the 1950 college football season. In their third season under head coach James B. Wilson, the Bulls compiled a 5–3 record and outscored opponents by a total of 191 to 129. The team played its home games at Civic Stadium in Buffalo, New York.

The 1953 Buffalo Bulls football team was an American football team that represented the University of Buffalo as an independent during the 1953 college football season. In their second season under head coach Fritz Febel, the Bulls compiled a 1–5–1 record and were outscored by a total of 181 to 44. The team played its home games at Civic Stadium in Buffalo, New York.

The 1955 Buffalo Bulls football team was an American football team that represented the University of Buffalo as an independent during the 1955 college football season. In its first season under head coach Dick Offenhamer, the team compiled a 4–4–1 record. The team played its home games at Rotary Field in Buffalo, New York.

The 1960 Buffalo Bulls football team was an American football team that represented the University of Buffalo as an independent during the 1960 college football season. In its sixth season under head coach Dick Offenhamer, the team compiled a 4–6 record. The team played its home games at War Memorial Stadium and Rotary Field in Buffalo, New York.

The 1942 Buffalo Bulls football team was an American football team that represented the University of Buffalo as an independent during the 1942 college football season. In their seventh season under head coach Jim Peele, the Bulls compiled a 6–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 215 to 52.

The 1937 Buffalo Bulls football team was an American football team that represented the University of Buffalo as an independent during the 1937 college football season. In their second season under head coach Jim Peele, the Bulls compiled a 4–4 record and were outscored by a total of 94 to 89. The team played its home games at Rotary Field in Buffalo, New York.

The 1941 Buffalo Bulls football team was an American football team that represented the University of Buffalo as an independent during the 1941 college football season. In their sixth season under head coach Jim Peele, the Bulls compiled a 3–4–1 record. The team played its home games at Rotary Field in Buffalo, New York.

The 1934 Buffalo Bulls football team was an American football team that represented the University at Buffalo as an independent during the 1934 college football season. In its first season under head coach George Van Bibber, the team compiled a 2–4–1 record. The team played its home games at Rotary Field in Buffalo, New York.

The 1933 Buffalo Bulls football team was an American football team that represented the University at Buffalo as an independent during the 1933 college football season. In its second season under head coach James B. Wilson, the team compiled a 2–3–2 record. The team played its home games at Rotary Field in Buffalo, New York.

The 1931 Buffalo Bulls football team was an American football team that represented the University at Buffalo as an independent during the 1931 college football season. In its first season under head coach William Pritchard, the Bulls compiled a 2–6 record and were outscored by a total of 171 to 65. The team played its home games at Rotary Field in Buffalo, New York.

References

  1. ↑ "Thiel Opposes U. of B. in First Grid Battle Today". Buffalo Courier. Buffalo, N.Y. October 9, 1920 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Exceed Quota; Final Report of U. of B. Campaign Shows $5,177,726.41 Pledged". The Buffalo Enquirer. Buffalo, N.Y. December 16, 1920. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "U-B and Thiel Elevens Will Clash Today". The Buffalo Commercial. Buffalo, N.Y. October 8, 1921. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 "History of UB Football". 2010 Buffalo Bulls Football (PDF). Amherst, N.Y.: University at Buffalo. 2010. p. 83.
  5. ↑ "Five-Year Plan Adopted to Help Buffalo Sports". The New York Times . Associated Press. November 28, 1954. p. S7.
  6. ↑ Fox, John (13 January 1971). "Dropping Football & Unsavory War Memorial Stadium". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, New York. p. 35. Retrieved 26 December 2020– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  7. ↑ "Football Dropped by Buffalo State". The New York Times . January 12, 1971. p. 42.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.