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Dix Stadium

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Coordinates: 41°08′21″N 81°18′48″W / 41.1391°N 81.3134°W / 41.1391; -81.3134
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41°08′21″N 81°18′48″W / 41.1391°N 81.3134°W / 41.1391; -81.3134

Dix Stadium
Center
Map
Former namesMemorial Stadium (1969-1971)[1]
LocationUnited States Kent, Ohio, USA
OwnerKent State University
OperatorKent State University
Capacity25,000 (since 2008)[1]
29,287 (2003-2007)
30,520 (1969-2002)
SurfaceFieldTurf
Construction
OpenedSeptember 13, 1969[1]
Construction cost$3.5 million USD[1]
Tenants
Kent State Golden Flashes Football (1969-present)
Kent State Golden Flashes Field Hockey (1997-2005)

Dix Stadium is a stadium in Kent, Ohio, USA. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. It lies at the far eastern end of the KSU campus along Summit Street, just east of State Route 261 and is the center piece of what has become an athletic complex. From 1997-2005, the field hockey team also played its games at the stadium until a new field hockey stadium was constructed behind Dix Stadium. The KSU Softball, Women's Soccer, Field Hockey, and Indoor Track teams all play their home matches in facilities around Dix Stadium. The stadium also hosts the occasional high school football game and served as the host of the 2001 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship. It opened on September 13, 1969 with a win against in-state rival Dayton. It was named in honor of Robert C. Dix, a member of Kent State's Board of Trustees for more than three decades.[1]

The 25,000-seat stadium consists of three separate grandstands on each side of the field except the south side. The west side is the largest, and the recently rebuilt east side (student seating) is the smallest. On either side of the east grandstands are spaces for party tents. Although the first night game was held in 1990, permanent lights were not added until 1996. Artificial turf was installed in 1997 and replaced in 2005 with the latest version of FieldTurf. Prior to the 2002 season, the east side stands, remnants of the original Memorial Stadium, were demolished. The current east side bleachers were constructed after the 2002 season and were completed in time for the 2003 season opener. The configuration slightly altered the stadium's seating capacity reducing it from 30,520 to 29,287 before the latest renovations reduced capacity to the current figure of 25,000.

Upgrades

In June 2007, the university began phase one of a two year project of renovations and upgrades to Dix Stadium. Phase one included repainting the north end zone bleachers as well as upgrades to the press box and a permanent canopy over the camera areas. Entryways to the west stands were upgraded with improved signage and cosmetic improvements were done around the main concourse. A new road to the neighboring field house was also constructed.

Phase two of the renovations began in February 2008 with the demolition of the sound end zone seats and scoreboard[2] and removal of the perimeter fencing around the stadium. Improvements included replacing the fencing with a brick and wrought iron fence as well as the construction of new entrances and ticket booths at the west entry.[3] In the south end zone, a new concession area and scoreboard were constructed. Phase one was mostly completed by the beginning of the 2007 home football season in September[4][5] and phase two was completed in time for the Flashes' first home game on 13 September 2008 against the Delaware State University Hornets.

Trivia

  • The current north end zone section of Dix Stadium dates to 1948 and was one of the sideline seats at KSU's old Memorial Stadium (the south end zone, demolished in 2008, was the other sideline), which stood on what is now the visitor parking lot in front of the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center and Student Center.[1] When Dix Stadium was built in the late 1960s, the old stadium was dismantled and then reassembled at the current site in its current configuration.
  • Although many crowds have come close, Dix Stadium has never officially been sold out for a Kent State game. The largest KSU football crowd ever at Dix Stadium was 27,363 on November 10, 1973 for a game versus Miami University. The stadium was, however, sold out in August 1980 for a scrimmage between the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills and nearly sold out for a November 28, 1998 high school playoff game between Cleveland St. Ignatius and Canton McKinley.
  • Dix Stadium's west grandstand seen from the parking lot.
    Dix Stadium's west grandstand seen from the parking lot.
  • The east stands, built in 2003, are the primary student section.
    The east stands, built in 2003, are the primary student section.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Dix Stadium". KentStateSports.com. Kent State University. 2008-09-02. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
  2. ^ Krell, Steph (2008-02-01). "KSU's Dix Stadium getting makeover". Record-Courier. Kent and Ravenna, Ohio. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. ^ David, Carducci (2008-02-06). "The birth of a 'new' of Dix Stadium". Record-Courier. Kent and Ravenna, Ohio. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
  4. ^ Offseason will feature upgrade of Dix Stadium http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/1131721
  5. ^ Dix Stadium renovation set to commence http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/2001132
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