Gonzaga Stadium

Gonzaga Stadium was an outdoor sports stadium in the northwest United States, located on the campus of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.[8] The home of Gonzaga Bulldogs football, it was built in five months and opened in 1922;[2][4][6][9] the first game was against Washington State on October 14, won by the Cougars with a late field goal, 10–7.[10] After the opening loss, Gonzaga was undefeated in the next ten games at the stadium, with eight wins and two ties.[9]

Gonzaga Stadium
LocationGonzaga University
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
(site: Foley Center Library)[1]
Coordinates47.667°N 117.4005°W / 47.667; -117.4005
OwnerGonzaga University
OperatorGonzaga University
Seating typewood bench
Capacity1922: 10,000 [2]
1913:   2,000 [3]
SurfaceNatural grass
Construction
Broke groundMay 16, 1922 [4][5][6][7]
OpenedOctober 14, 1922 [2][4]
(vs. Washington State)
Renovated1931 (lights)[4][6]
Closed1947
Demolished1949 [1]
Construction cost$100,000 [2]
General contractorHuetter Construction Co.[4][6]
Tenants
Gonzaga University (multiple sports)
Spokane
Location in the United States
Spokane
Location in Washington

The football field had a conventional north-south alignment at an elevation of approximately 1,900 feet (580 m) above sea level. Lights were installed in 1931,[4][6] between the field and the running track.[1]

Like many colleges, football was stopped at Gonzaga during World War II and the last season was in 1941.[11][12] The program had been in financial difficulty,[13][14][15] and was not resumed after the war; the stadium seating was demolished 71 years ago in 1949.[1][4]

Gonzaga Stadium was used for city high school football until it was deemed unsafe by the city after the 1947 season.[16][17][18] The wooden venue hosted a professional preseason game in 1946 under the lights, between the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers of the new All-America Football Conference.[19][20] High school football moved to Ferris Field in 1948 for two years, then to the new Memorial Stadium in 1950, later named for Gonzaga alumnus Joe Albi in 1962.

The stadium made its debut as a football venue in 1913, when Gonzaga hosted Idaho on October 11.[21] At its opening, it had seating for 2,000 and room for fifty automobiles to line up.[3]

Present day

The football field of Gonzaga Stadium is currently occupied by the Foley Center Library (1992) and the Foley Lawn.[1][22] The Crosby Center, originally a library, was constructed in 1957 on the site of the northern end of the west grandstand.[23][24]

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References
  1. "Then and Now: Gonzaga's former football stadium | The Spokesman-Review". Spokesman.com. 2012-04-30. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
  2. "Gonzaga's new stadium is ready for opening game". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. October 13, 1922. p. 1.
  3. "Idaho swamps Gonzaga team". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). October 12, 1913. p. 1, part 3.
  4. Duffy, Bernard (October 24, 1965). "Life and death of the Gonzaga Stadium". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Inland Empire. p. 4.
  5. "Gonzaga Stadium ground broken". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. (column 6). May 16, 1922. p. 1.
  6. Reed, Justin (September 22, 2016). "Undefeated since 1941". Gonzaga Bulletin. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  7. Paul Burgarino. "Fighting Bulldog football: the ghost of autumns past – The Gonzaga Bulletin: Home". The Gonzaga Bulletin. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
  9. Weber, W. W. (November 28, 1924). "Gonzaga has lost only one of eleven games in stadium". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 25.
  10. "Washington State Noses Out Gonzaga". Ogden Standard-Examiner. Utah. October 15, 1922. p. 11.
  11. "Gonzaga cancels its intercollegiate football program". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 7, 1942. p. 11.
  12. "Unofficial word says Hunton will be dismissed at Gonzaga". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 8, 1942. p. 17.
  13. "Gonzaga might drop football". Ellensburg Daily Record. (Washington). Associated Press. October 23, 1939. p. 6.
  14. Ashlock, Herb (October 23, 1939). "Financial problem may force Gonzaga University to drop collegiate football program". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 11.
  15. "Gonzaga looks for supporters". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington). October 24, 1939. p. 14.
  16. "City says stadium must be repaired". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. December 17, 1947. p. 1.
  17. "Gonzaga Stadium ruled out for prep grid games". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. March 24, 1948. p. 17.
  18. "Historic Gonzaga Stadium finally will be "retired"". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. April 8, 1949. p. 15.
  19. "Top pro teams in game tonight". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. August 24, 1946. p. 9.
  20. "Yankees winners; may return here". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. August 26, 1946. p. 15.
  21. "Idaho opens new Gonzaga field". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). October 11, 1913. p. 16.
  22. "Photograph taken from speeding airplane". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. May 13, 1939. p. 1.
  23. "Bing dedicates new Crosby Library". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. November 4, 1957. p. 5.
  24. "Bing gives Gonzaga University library". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 4, 1957. p. 9.
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