Harvard Stadium

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Harvard Stadium is a U-shaped college football stadium in Allston, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is owned and operated by Harvard University. The stadium is primarily used for American football, and is the home of the Harvard Crimson football team. It was the first large permanent stadium for American intercollegiate athletics and is considered a pioneering work in the development of modern stadiums.

History

Harvard Stadium was built in 1903 and was designed by the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White. The construction cost was $310,000, a significant sum at the time. The stadium was a gift from the Harvard Class of 1879 and was built to replace Soldiers Field.

The stadium's design was influenced by the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece, and it was the first stadium in the United States to be built with reinforced concrete. This construction method allowed for the creation of a large, permanent structure that could accommodate thousands of spectators.

Design and Features

Harvard Stadium is notable for its U-shaped design, which was innovative at the time of its construction. The stadium originally had a seating capacity of 57,166, but this has been reduced over the years to its current capacity of 30,323. The reduction in capacity was due to renovations and the addition of modern amenities.

The playing surface of the stadium is FieldTurf, a type of artificial turf that is commonly used in modern sports facilities. The stadium also features a press box, locker rooms, and other facilities for players and officials.

Significance

Harvard Stadium is considered a National Historic Landmark due to its architectural significance and its role in the history of American sports. It was the first large stadium to use reinforced concrete, a technique that would later be used in the construction of many other stadiums around the world.

The stadium has hosted numerous important events over the years, including Harvard-Yale football games, which are part of one of the oldest rivalries in American college football. It has also been used for other sports, including rugby, soccer, and lacrosse.

Related Pages

• Harvard University
• Harvard Crimson football
• Harvard-Yale football game
• McKim, Mead & White
• FieldTurf
• Panathenaic Stadium
• Soldiers Field