 | |
| Location | Roanoke, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 25,000 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1942 |
| Demolished | 2006 |
| Tenants | |
| VPI Gobblers football, high schools | |
Victory Stadium was an American football stadium located in Roanoke, Virginia. It opened in 1942 and was demolished in 2006.
Victory Stadium was built on land donated to the city of Roanoke by the Norfolk & Western Railway. Construction began in May 1941. The stadium was completed in time for the 1942 football season, at a cost of $315,000 ($6.7 million in 2024 dollars). [1] The facility had an official capacity of 24,540, making it the largest football stadium in the state of Virginia at the time of its opening. [2] [3]
The stadium featured two identical concrete and steel grandstands with wooden bleachers, built parallel to the east and west sidelines of the field. Each grandstand had an external façade trimmed in red brick. At times, the stadium also had small sets of bleachers behind the north and south end zones, but these were not permanent. While it did not have a press box initially, one was eventually constructed at the top of the west grandstand.
Roanoke celebrated the opening of the stadium on Labor Day, September 7, 1942. The inaugural event, a War Bond rally featuring actress Greer Garson, drew a crowd of "over 6,000," less than one-quarter capacity. [4]
The facility was initially referred to as "Roanoke Municipal Stadium" but on October 26, 1942, the Roanoke City Council resolved "that the stadium be known as Victory Stadium until victory in World War II is achieved." [5] While the name was not intended to be permanent, it remained unchanged until the stadium was demolished in 2006.
The first football game at the stadium, on Saturday, September 12, 1942, featured Roanoke's William Fleming High School and Jefferson High School. Jefferson won the game in a rout, 33-0, before a crowd estimated at 5,000-6,000 fans. [6]
Throughout its existence, Victory Stadium functioned as a shared public school stadium for the high schools in Roanoke's city school system. In addition to Jefferson and William Fleming, these included Lucy Addison High School, built for the city's African American minority, and Patrick Henry High School, opened in 1961. William Fleming and Patrick Henry were the stadium's only regular tenants from the early 1970s onward, after Jefferson closed and Lucy Addison became a middle school.
The first college football game at the stadium, on Saturday, September 19, 1942, matched Virginia Tech (then branded as VPI, after its official name, Virginia Polytechnic Institute) against Catawba College of North Carolina. Tech won 28-14, before just 3,000 fans. [7] Despite the small opening-day crowd, over the next quarter-century Virginia Tech typically played two or three home games per year in Roanoke, motivated by the prospect of drawing larger crowds there than on its campus in Blacksburg. The replacement of Tech's 17,000-seat Miles Stadium with much-larger Lane Stadium, opened in 1965 with an initial capacity of 35,000, brought the demise of college football at Victory Stadium.
From its opening season in 1942 through 1971, Victory Stadium hosted the rivalry game between Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and Virginia Tech. The game was held on Thanksgiving Day from 1942 through 1969, then on the last Saturday of the football season in 1970 and 1971.
The game was called "The Military Classic of the South" because Virginia Tech had mandatory ROTC for its male student body until 1964. (Today, Virginia Tech and Texas A&M are the only major public universities still designated as senior military colleges, because of their corps of cadets and large ROTC programs). Virginia Tech introduced its famous game cannon, Skipper, at the stadium in 1963.
From 1953 to 1970, Victory Stadium hosted an annual game sponsored by the local Kazim Temple for the benefit of Shriners' hospitals. After the first two games pitted VMI against William & Mary, the 1955 contest matched VMI and George Washington. The rest of the series featured collegiate freshman teams, first Virginia and North Carolina in 1956, then Virginia Tech and VMI from 1957 through 1970.
From 1958 to 1969, Victory Stadium also hosted an annual regular-season college game known as the Harvest Bowl. Nine of the twelve games featured Virginia Tech. The 1958 Harvest Bowl, matching Tech against William & Mary, drew 24,836 fans, the stadium's largest recorded football crowd. [8]
For three seasons (1969 through 1971), Victory Stadium was home to the Roanoke Buckskins of the Atlantic Coast Football League. The Buckskins were affiliated with the Washington Redskins.
In 1971, Victory Stadium hosted the Virginia High School League Group AAA state football championship in which T. C. Williams High School of Alexandria, Virginia defeated Andrew Lewis High School of Salem, Virginia. T.C. Williams' 1971 season was depicted in the 2000 film Remember the Titans, but with Andrew Lewis replaced in the championship game by Marshall High School, which T. C. Williams had defeated weeks earlier, in its closest game of the season. In sharp contrast to the Hollywood version of the game (contested at night in "Roanoke Stadium," with an underdog T. C. Williams coming from behind to win on the last play), the actual game at Victory Stadium took place on a sunny afternoon and T. C. Williams was the heavy favorite, beating Andrew Lewis in a rout, 27-0. [9]
Victory Stadium's location next to the Roanoke River resulted in the field being flooded several times. The last serious flood occurred in the fall of 2004 and forced many high school football games that season to be moved to other locations. Concerns about the stadium's structural integrity caused engineers to close off upper levels to fans in 2005. Long before that, the original press box at the top of the west stands was abandoned and another one built farther down the stands, at roughly the same height and distance from the field as at a typical high school stadium. After the 2005 football season, with the stadium's fate still undecided, the 2006 home games of William Fleming and Patrick Henry high schools were rescheduled to other high schools in the Roanoke area.
In 1961, the Victory Stadium played a role in the Civil Rights Movement. The Baltimore Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers scheduled a pre-season game at the stadium. Both teams were integrated. However, the Victory Stadium was still segregated, with different sections for blacks and whites to sit. The NAACP sued Roanoke. In response to the city digging in its heels and insisting the segregation laws be followed, the NAACP asked the black players to boycott the game, and team members said they would not cross the picket line. "Team representatives huddled with Roanoke officials and apparently came to what would be a classic Roanoke solution: Look the other way and avoid confrontation." Civil Rights activists bought tickets in the white section, and simply showed up and claimed their seats. Although the Roanoke Fire Department showed up with fire hoses and the Virginia National Guard was called out, there were no confrontations, and the Steelers won the game 24-20. "The Pittsburgh Courier declared that the Steelers had 'held Jim Crow for downs'." [14]
The future of Victory Stadium was on the city of Roanoke's agenda from the early 1990s until 2006. Some residents favored the stadium's replacement with another facility or facilities to provide home football fields for the city's high schools and to provide a venue for outdoor concerts and events.[ citation needed ] Those favoring its replacement claimed that the stadium was at the end of its useful life. They argued it was far too large for high school football games (which rarely drew more than a few thousand spectators after the early 1970s) and ill-suited for concerts. The site had few parking spaces and was vulnerable to flooding, which necessitated costly clean-ups and repairs. Proponents of the stadium's renovation cited the stadium's contributions to the city's history. They also argued that a venue of Victory Stadium's capacity was a relatively rare asset for a city the size of Roanoke, which does not have a major university, and could regularly have drawn large events, such as the Dave Matthews Band, with aggressive and creative marketing. Other alternative events suggested were hosting a biannual football game between VMI and The Citadel and hosting gravity games Some also alleged that the city wanted to transfer the property to Carilion, a Roanoke-based company which operates nearby Roanoke Memorial Hospital and is also establishing a biomedical institute and small medical school in the area. Both sides promoted their alternative as being more cost effective.[ citation needed ]
The matter was controversial in part because debate about the stadium often widened in broader disagreement about economic growth or the lack thereof, the preservation of historic structures, and the resistance to or acceptance of change in general. A generational divide between older Roanokers who remembered when the stadium was filled on a regular basis and younger ones whose experience was only with occasional large crowds for special events and small crowds for high school football games provided another dimension to the disagreement. In the early 2000s, Roanoke's city manager Darlene Burcham supported a proposal to build a hybrid stadium near the Roanoke Civic Center which would have served both as a football stadium and a concert venue. Ground was broken before supporters of Victory Stadium's renovation persuaded Roanoke's city council to halt the project. Momentum appeared to shift towards a renovation until the 2004 flood resulted in an increase in support for replacement. In 2005, a proposal emerged to build small stadiums on the campuses of the two high schools. Whether or where an amphitheatre for concerts would be constructed was not specifically addressed. This proposal met generally positive receptions, although some residents who lived near Patrick Henry High School opposed the construction of a stadium there because of concerns about traffic and other disruptions.
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The question of what to do with Victory Stadium was by most accounts the foremost issue in Roanoke's May 2, 2006, municipal election. A slate of three Democrats, running on an independent ticket dubbed "For the City" against the nominees of the Democratic and Republican parties, won seats on Roanoke's city council in the 2006 election. This slate supported the two stadiums proposal, which also had the support of Roanoke's mayor Nelson Harris. Supporters of Victory Stadium's renovation pointed out that the other candidates for council received more votes in total.
The election rapidly set in motion the process of demolishing the stadium even before the "For the City" slate, which included two non-incumbents, was sworn in on July 1. On May 15, 2006, Roanoke's city council voted 5-2 to begin the search for a firm to demolish Victory Stadium.
In late May, the city accepted a low bid of $486,714, well within the city's $1.2 million budget allocation, from S.B. Cox, Inc., of Richmond, Virginia to tear down the stadium. On May 31, 2006, a citizen's group opposed to the stadium's demolition dropped its lawsuit against the city. The basis for the suit had been that the Norfolk and Western Railroad stipulated in its deed transferring the land to the city that a stadium be built and maintained on the site. Norfolk Southern Railway released the city from this requirement. However, a separate lawsuit by one other citizen remained pending. Nonetheless, demolition began on Monday, June 26, 2006 at 7:30 am. Heavy rains resulted in minor flooding at the site on June 27. Demolition of the stadium was completed on July 5.
Several thousand bricks were saved from the stadium's facades. The remaining debris was transported to a landfill, except for the steel rebar which was recycled. The city made the bricks available on July 8 and 13. The distribution on July 8 was limited to city residents who drove to the distribution center near the stadium. Each car could take up to four bricks; pedestrians were not allowed in the line. Traffic backed up about one mile from the distribution center. The remaining bricks were distributed on July 13. City residents again received first preference, but non-residents were allowed in the line. After the experience of July 8, the distribution process was much smoother on July 13. However, that night, some persons broke into the demolition site and removed other bricks that had not been designated for the distribution. Within a few days, at least one brick was placed for sale on eBay; bricks have also been sold on Craigslist and at yard sales. Many Roanokers have had their bricks engraved to commemorate the stadium. Some bricks have also been set aside for a stadium memorial.
The site of Victory Stadium now has several athletic fields, which has added fields to those at the nearby River's Edge sports complex. However, the city council voted in June 2007 to build an amphitheatre on the site.
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Patriot Stadium opened on the campus of Patrick Henry High School for the 2007 season. The field was dedicated to former coach Merrill Gainer, who led the team to its 1973 state championship. Both Patrick Henry and William Fleming used Patriot Stadium as their home field for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Ticket sales at Patriot Stadium are limited to 3,000 as a concession to neighbors' concerns about traffic. William Fleming opened an on-campus stadium in 2009.
The Virginia–Virginia Tech football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Virginia Cavaliers football team of the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech Hokies football team of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The two schools first met in 1895 and have played annually since 1970. The game counts for 1 point in the Commonwealth Clash each year, and is part of the greater Virginia–Virginia Tech rivalry.
The 1905 VPI football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the 1905 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Sally Miles, the team went 9–1 and claims a Southern championship. The team had the most wins in a Virginia Tech season for many years to come, and defeated rival Virginia for the first time. Tech outscored its opponents 305 to 24. Hunter Carpenter scored 82 of those points.
The 1900 VPI football team represented Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute in the 1900 college football season. The team was led by their head coach Eugene Davis and finished with a record of three wins, three losses, and one tie (3–3–1).
The 1907 VPI football team represented Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute in the 1907 college football season. The team was led by their head coach Bob Williams and finished with a record of seven wins and two losses (7–2).
The VMI–Virginia Tech football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Keydets of Virginia Military Institute and the Hokies of Virginia Tech. The teams first played in 1894 and last played in 1984. They are scheduled to meet again in 2026, after a 42-year hiatus. The two schools are only about 80 miles apart in western Virginia and were in the same conference from 1924 to 1964.
The 1963 Virginia Tech Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute—now known as Virginia Tech—as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1963 NCAA University Division football season. Led by third-year head coach Jerry Claiborne, the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 8–2 with a mark of 5–0 in conference play, winning the SoCon title. It was the program's only conference championship during its time as a member of the SoCon, which ran from 1922 to 1964.
The 1941 VPI Gobblers football team was an American football team that represented Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute in Southern Conference during the 1941 college football season. In their first season under head coach Jimmy Kitts, the Gobblers compiled a 6–4 record, tied for fifth place in the conference, and were outscored by a total of 120 to 112.
The 1942 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute in the 1942 college football season. The team was led by their head coaches Sumner D. Tilson and Herbert McEver and finished with a record of seven wins, two losses and one tie (7–2–1).
The 1946 VPI Gobblers football team was an American football team that represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1946 college football season. In their second year under head coach Jimmy Kitts, the Gobblers compiled a 3–4–3 record, lost to Cincinnati in the 1947 Sun Bowl, and were outscored by a total of 149 to 102.
The 1948 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the 1948 college football season. The team was led by their head coach Bob McNeish and finished with a record of zero wins, eight losses and one tie (0–8–1).
The 1968 Virginia Tech Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as an independent during the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Jerry Claiborne the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 7–4 and with a loss against Ole Miss in the Liberty Bowl. VPI played home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The 1965 Virginia Tech Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as an independent during the 1965 NCAA University Division football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Jerry Claiborne the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 7–3. VPI played home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The 1957 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1957 college football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Frank Moseley the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 4–6 with a mark of 1–3 in conference play, and finished eighth in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The 1958 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1958 college football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Frank Moseley the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 5–4–1 with a mark of 3–1 in conference play, and finished second in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The 1954 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute, now known as Virginia Tech, in the 1954 college football season. The team, coached by Frank Moseley, had an 8–0-1 record. The team was ranked 16th in the final Associated Press poll. Three major college football teams had perfect records in 1954, but the Gobblers only prevailed over one team with a winning record, fellow Southern Conference member Richmond, which was 5–4.
The 1953 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1953 college football season. Led by third-year head coach Frank Moseley the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 3–3 in conference play, and finished ted for fifth in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The 1962 Virginia Tech Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1962 NCAA University Division football season. Led by second-year head coach Jerry Claiborne the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 2–3 in conference play, and finished sixth in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The 1960 Virginia Tech Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1960 college football season. Led by 10th-year head coach Frank Moseley the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 6–4 with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, and finished tied for second in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The Harvest Bowl was a college football game held at Victory Stadium in Roanoke, Virginia from 1958 to 1969. Despite its "bowl" designation, it was not a postseason game, but a regular season neutral-site contest featuring major college football programs from the state of Virginia. In addition to Virginia and Virginia Tech, at the time these included William & Mary and VMI, which today compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Seven of the games included two of these four teams, while the other five featured one of them against an out-of-state rival. Five times in its twelve-year existence, the Harvest Bowl hosted the annual Virginia–Virginia Tech rivalry game. It never featured the VMI-Virginia Tech rivalry game, which at the time was played annually in Roanoke on Thanksgiving Day.