Archbold Stadium

Archbold Stadium
Location Irving Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244
Coordinates 43°2′10″N 76°8′11″W / 43.03611°N 76.13639°W / 43.03611; -76.13639Coordinates: 43°2′10″N 76°8′11″W / 43.03611°N 76.13639°W / 43.03611; -76.13639
Owner Syracuse University
Operator Syracuse University
Capacity 40,001 (maximum)
26,000 (final)
Construction
Broke ground May 1, 1905
Opened September 25, 1907
Closed November 11, 1978
Demolished 1979
Tenants
Syracuse Orangemen
(Football & Track)

Archbold Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Syracuse, New York. It opened in 1907 and was home to the Syracuse University Orangemen[1] football team prior to the Carrier Dome opening in 1980. It was the third concrete football stadium built in the United States.

History

The stadium was named for John D. Archbold, who donated $600,000 for the project. He was also responsible for funding towards the building of Archbold Gymnasium, located just to the east overlooking the stadium.

Description

The 800' x 475' stadium was oval-shaped, with a track (originally dirt) and a natural grass football field. The west end zone, the stadium's main entrance, was marked by a grand castle-like façade with turrets framing the gateway arch. There was originally a wooden roof over the central section of the south grandstands for the reserved seating.

Grandstand expansion

In the 1950s, the stadium was expanded to the north and south, bringing the capacity up to 40,000. However, by the 1970s, stricter fire codes forced a reduction in capacity to 26,000.

This proved to be the stadium's undoing. By the mid-1970s, Syracuse faced the prospect of being demoted to Division I-AA unless it got a more modern stadium, and quickly. It was closed following the 1978 season, to be razed for the building of the Carrier Dome, which occupies Archbold's former footprint.

Final game

In the final game at Archbold Stadium, on November 11, 1978, the Orangemen defeated nationally ranked Navy, 20-17.

During its history, Syracuse compiled a 265-112-20 record at Archbold.

Notes

  1. The school did not adopt its current nickname of "Orange" until 2004.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Archbold Stadium.
Events and tenants
Preceded by
The Oval
Home of
Syracuse Orange football

1905 1978
Succeeded by
Carrier Dome
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