S.B. Ballard Stadium

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S.B. Ballard Stadium
The Castle
Old Dominion Monarchs versus Louisiana Ragin Cajuns football game at SB Ballard Stadium 9-9-2023.jpeg
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S.B. Ballard Stadium
Location in Virginia
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S.B. Ballard Stadium
Location in the United States
Full nameKornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium
Former namesForeman Field (1936–2009)
Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium (2009–2018)
Location5115 Hampton Boulevard
Norfolk, Virginia 23529
Coordinates 36°53′20.04″N76°18′17.56″W / 36.8889000°N 76.3048778°W / 36.8889000; -76.3048778
Owner Old Dominion University
Operator OVG360
Capacity 21,944 (2019–present)
20,118 (2013–2018) [1]
20,068 (2012)
19,818 (2011) [2]
19,782 (2009–2010)
20,000 (1998–2008)
25,662 (1981–1997)
26,000 (1957–1980)
17,500 (1936–1956)
Surface AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D
Construction
Broke ground1935
OpenedOctober 3, 1936
(original stadium) [3]
August 31, 2019
(reconstructed stadium)
Renovated2009, 2019
ClosedNovember 17, 2018 (for demolition and reconstruction)
Construction cost$300,000 [3]
($6.59 million in 2023 [4] )
$29,521,218 (2009 renovation)($41.9 million in 2023)
Architect Ellerbe Becket (2009 renovation)
S.B. Ballard (both renovations)
Tenants
Old Dominion Monarchs (NCAA)
Field hockey (1974–2007)
Football (1936–1940; 2009–present)
Norfolk Neptunes (CFL and ACFL) (1966–1971)
Norfolk State Spartans (NCAA) (1986–1996)

Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium, formerly Foreman Field, is a 21,944-seat multi-purpose stadium on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. It opened in 1936 with a football game between the University of Virginia and the College of William & Mary's Norfolk Division, which is now Old Dominion University. [5] It is currently the home of Old Dominion Monarchs football.

Contents

History

Foreman Field Postcard (c. 1946) Foreman Field 1946 PC.jpg
Foreman Field Postcard (c. 1946)

The stadium was built as the home of the first Old Dominion football program when the university was still known as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary. The stadium was home to the football program from 1936 until it was discontinued in 1941. After the demise of the football program, Foreman Field hosted a number of other events. It was the site of the annual Oyster Bowl game from 1946 to 1995, featuring major college football teams in its early decades. Syracuse defeated Navy there in 1959 on its way to winning the national championship. Future NFL stars Fran Tarkenton, Roger Staubach, and Don Meredith played in Oyster Bowl games. It was also the home of the minor pro Norfolk Neptunes in the 1960s and 1970s, and the Washington Redskins played several pre-season games there in the 1960s. Over the years Foreman Field was used for several high-profile concerts including Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 1974 reunion tour, more than 33,000 people were in attendance.

The Virginia Ambassadors of the World Football League were to play their games at Foreman Field in 1974 before the franchise was sold and moved to Orlando. The Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League almost moved there for the 1996 season before the franchise folded. [6] The United Football League's Virginia Destroyers likewise considered Foreman Field as a potential location before instead choosing the Virginia Beach Sportsplex. A drawing of Foreman Field is featured in the John Grisham novel Bleachers .

Beginning in 1971, Foreman Field served as the home stadium for the Monarchs Field Hockey team, which used the facility until 2007. Forman Field was also home to the Norfolk State Spartans football program from Norfolk State University, also located in Norfolk, throughout the 1980s and 1990s until completion of Norfolk State's 30,000 seat William "Dick" Price Stadium in 1997.

Renovations

ODU Ainslie Football Complex at Foreman Field during the 2009 season ODU Ainslie Football Complex.jpg
ODU Ainslie Football Complex at Foreman Field during the 2009 season

The stadium underwent a $24.8 million renovation in preparation for the start of the 2009 I-AA season. [7] In July 2009, the stadium was renamed Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium, in honor of a local contractor, who donated more than $2.5 million for the stadium. [8] On September 5, 2009, the first ODU football game was held at Foreman Field. Old Dominion defeated Chowan University 36–21. [9]

In 2016, Populous did an expansion study and recommended that Foreman Field be torn down and rebuilt because the existing structure could not be updated to meet modern building codes. Old Dominion University endorsed the study findings and the plan to renovate the stadium was approved by the Virginia General Assembly in 2017. Phase I of the initial stadium renovation plan was to be completed between the 2018 and 2019 football seasons, with its capacity after completion being 22,130. [10] The capacity after Phase II was planned to be over 30,000. [11]

Old Dominion played their final game in Foreman Field's original form on November 17, 2018, against Virginia Military Institute. The $67.5 million stadium reconstruction project began with the demolition of the old grandstands on November 19, 2018, and was successfully expected to be completed in time for Old Dominion's 2019 season. [12]

Greg DuBois, ODU's vice president for administration and finance, said the university "looked at other projects done around the country in this fashion," and we worked with the architects and contractors to assure ourselves we could do it in nine months. [13]

"It will be a tremendous challenge, but we're confident it can and will be done on time."

On January 28, 2019, ODU officials voted to rename the playing surface after alumnus Barry Kornblau after his $3 million donation. [14] The official capacity for S.B. Ballard Stadium during the 2019 season was 21,944.

Largest attendance

RankAttendanceOpponentResultDate
122,208 Virginia Tech L, 17–37Sept. 14, 2024
221,984 James Madison L, 32–35Nov. 23, 2024
321,944 East Carolina L, 14–20Sept. 7, 2024
21,944 Virginia Tech W, 20–17Sept. 2, 2022
21,944 Norfolk State W, 24–21Aug. 31, 2019
621,934 James Madison L, 3–37Nov. 12, 2022
720,655 Arkansas State W, 29–26Sept. 24, 2022
820,532 Virginia Tech W, 49–35Sept. 22, 2018
920,162 Georgia Southern L, 23–28Oct. 22, 2022
1020,118Multiple games pre-renovation

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Dominion University</span> Public university in Norfolk, Virginia, US

Old Dominion University (ODU) is a public research university in Norfolk, Virginia. Established in 1930 as the two-year Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary, it began by educating people with fewer financial assets in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach area of the Hampton Roads region. Later Virginia Polytechnic Institute also began offering classes for the Division. The Division became independent from William and Mary in 1962 and has since expanded into a residential college for traditional students and is one of the largest universities in Virginia with an enrollment of 23,494 students for the 2023 academic year. The university also enrolls over 600 international students from 99 countries. Its main campus covers 250 acres (1.0 km2) straddling the city neighborhoods of Larchmont, Highland Park, and Lambert's Point, approximately five miles (8.0 km) north of Downtown Norfolk along the Elizabeth River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Dominion Monarchs</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Old Dominion University

The Old Dominion Monarchs are composed of 18 intercollegiate athletic teams representing Old Dominion University, located in Norfolk, Virginia. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, golf, sailing, soccer, swimming, and tennis. Women's sports include basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, golf, sailing, soccer, swimming, tennis, rowing, and volleyball. The Monarchs compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and are members of the Sun Belt Conference (SBC); the university joined the conference on July 1, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Dominion Monarchs football</span> College football team

The Old Dominion Monarchs football program represents Old Dominion University in U.S. college football. The first iteration of the team created in 1930 was known as the William & Mary Norfolk Division Braves. Founded in 2009, the current Monarchs team competed as an FCS independent for their first two seasons. In the 2011 season, they joined the Colonial Athletic Association and added conference games to their schedule, playing there until joining the Conference USA of the FBS in 2014. They joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norfolk State Spartans football</span> College football team

The Norfolk State Spartans football team represents Norfolk State University in Division I FCS college football. The team plays their home games at William "Dick" Price Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Oyster Bowl is a regular season college football game played annually in the Hampton Roads-area of Virginia. The game has featured match-ups between high school, NCAA Division III, and at present, NCAA Division I teams, at various points in its existence. It is sponsored by the Norfolk, Virginia-based Khedive Temple of the Shriners, with a portion of the revenue going to children's charity. The 2023 Oyster Bowl was the 73rd edition of the game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Old Dominion Monarchs football team</span> American college football season

The 2009 Old Dominion Monarchs football team represented Old Dominion University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The team compiled a 9–2 record, in the first season under head coach Bobby Wilder. The Monarchs competed as an independent. The team's home games were played at Foreman Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bud Metheny Baseball Complex</span>

The Bud Metheny Baseball Complex is a stadium on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Old Dominion Monarchs baseball team. The Monarchs are members of the Sun Belt Conference. The ballpark has seating for 2,500 spectators in three sections of raised aluminum bleachers. The stadium complex also includes locker rooms, a concession stand, offices, four batting cages, a picnic area and a fully enclosed press box. The facility replaced the university's football stadium, Foreman Field, as the home of the baseball team.

The L.R. Hill Sports Complex is an athletic building on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Construction started in August 2007 and the building opened on September 13, 2008. Built by S.B. Ballard, who has constructed many buildings at ODU including Chartway Arena and the University Village Apartments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Dominion Soccer Complex</span> Soccer stadium at Old Dominion University

The Old Dominion Soccer Complex is a soccer-specific stadium located on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. The 4,000-seat stadium is home to the Old Dominion Monarchs soccer teams. The Monarchs compete in the Sun Belt Conference. The stadium is also the host of the annual Stihl/ODU Soccer Classic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Dominion Monarchs field hockey</span> American college field hockey team

The Old Dominion Monarchs field hockey team represents Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The team currently competes as a Big East Conference affiliate of NCAA Division I field hockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Old Dominion Monarchs football team</span> American college football season

The 2014 Old Dominion Monarchs football team represented Old Dominion University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by sixth-year head coach Bobby Wilder and played their home games at Foreman Field at S. B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia. The 2014 season marked the inaugural season for the Monarchs as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), joining Conference USA and competing in the East Division. Old Dominion finished the season 6–6 to finish in a three-way tie for third place in the East Division. Despite finishing 6-6, Old Dominion was not invited to a bowl game, as they were in the second of a two-year transition period to the FBS and was ineligible for postseason competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Old Dominion Monarchs football team</span> American college football season

The 2015 Old Dominion Monarchs football team represented Old Dominion University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by seventh-year head coach Bobby Wilder and played their home games at Foreman Field at S. B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia. They were members of the East Division of Conference USA. 2015 was the first year Old Dominion was a full member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and eligible for postseason play. They finished the season 5–7, 3–5 in C-USA play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place in the East Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Old Dominion Monarchs football team</span> American college football season

The 2016 Old Dominion Monarchs football team represented Old Dominion University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Monarchs played their home games at the Foreman Field at S. B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia and competed in the East Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by eighth-year head coach Bobby Wilder. They finished the season 10–3, 7–1 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for the East Division championship. Due to their head-to-head loss to WKU, they did not represent the East Division in the C-USA Championship Game. They were invited to the Bahamas Bowl, their first ever bowl appearance, where they defeated Eastern Michigan for their first ever bowl victory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norfolk State–Old Dominion rivalry</span> American college sports rivalry

The Norfolk State–Old Dominion rivalry refers to games between the Norfolk State Spartans of MEAC and the Old Dominion Monarchs of the Sun Belt Conference. The two schools are the only NCAA Division I schools in Norfolk, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Old Dominion Monarchs football team</span> American college football season

The 2021 Old Dominion Monarchs football team represented Old Dominion University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Monarchs played their home games at S.B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia, and competed in the East Division of Conference USA (C-USA). The team was coached by second-year head coach Ricky Rahne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Old Dominion Monarchs football team</span> American college football season

The 2022 Old Dominion Monarchs football team represented Old Dominion University during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Monarchs played their home games at S.B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia. It was their first football season in the Sun Belt Conference, competing in the East Division. Previously a member of the Sun Belt until 1991, the University did not field a football team at that time, nor did the conference sponsor the sport. The team was coached by third-year head coach Ricky Rahne.

The Old Dominion–William & Mary rivalry refers to the U.S. college rivalry games between the Old Dominion Monarchs of the Sun Belt Conference and the William & Mary Tribe of the Coastal Athletic Association. They are the two largest and most historically tenured NCAA Division I rivals in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Rivalry</span> American college sports rivalry

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Old Dominion Monarchs football team</span> American college football season

The 2024 Old Dominion Monarchs football team represented Old Dominion University in the Sun Belt Conference's East Division during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Monarchs were led by Ricky Rahne in his fifth year as the head coach. The Monarchs played their home games at S.B. Ballard Stadium, located in Norfolk, Virginia.

References

  1. ↑ "Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium". stadiumdb.com. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  2. ↑ ODU Sports Report on Opening Game of 2011 Season
  3. 1 2 Minium, Harry (May 11, 2009). "What's in a Name". The Virginian-Pilot . Norfolk. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  4. ↑ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  5. ↑ Foreman Field Stadium - Pages from Norfolk's Past
  6. ↑ Miller, Skip (29 October 1995). "CFL Team Leaving Troubles Behind To Court Norfolk". Daily Press. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  7. ↑ Radford, Rich (September 26, 2007). "ODU Plans $24.8 Million Renovation of Foreman Field". The Virginian-Pilot . Norfolk. Retrieved November 24, 2007.
  8. ↑ ODU stadium to bear name of contractor, $2.5M benefactor
  9. ↑ O'Dell, Larry (September 5, 2009). "Old Dominion Beats Chowan 36-21". Associated Press . Retrieved September 6, 2009.[ dead link ]
  10. ↑ "New design: ODU reveals its new stadium". stadiumdb.com. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  11. ↑ Minium, Harry (9 June 2016). "ODU proposes 22,130-seat football stadium to be built without new student fees". Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  12. ↑ Winkler, Adam (20 November 2018). "Old Dominion University begins demolition of Foreman Field". WTKR-TV. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  13. ↑ "ODU will do an 18-month football stadium reconstruction in 9 months". Old Dominion University. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  14. ↑ Minium, Harry. "ODU Names Football Field for Barry Kornblau". ODU. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
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