Boone Pickens Stadium: Difference between revisions

| stadium_name = Boone Pickens Stadium

| nickname = ''"The Boone"''

| image = Boone Pickens Stadium - Night.jpg

| caption = Interior of Boone Pickens Stadium during the 2017 season opener

| image_size = 300px

| location = 700 West Hall of Fame Avenue, [[Stillwater, Oklahoma|Stillwater, OK]] 74078

| coordinates = {{coord|36|7|33|N|97|3|59|W|type:landmark|display=it}}

| pushpin_map = USA Oklahoma#USA

| pushpin_relief = 1

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Oklahoma##Location in the United States

| broke_ground = 1920

| opened = October 2, 1920

| expanded = 1924, 1929, 1947, 1950, 1971, 2009

| renovated = 2003-2009

| closed =

| demolished =

| operator = Oklahoma State University

| owner = OklahomaT. StateBoone UniversityPickens

| surface = FieldTurf Vertex CORE (2022-present)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://fieldturf.com/en/articles/detail/oklahoma-state-university/ | title=Oklahoma State Cowboys Replace Football Field with Latest FieldTurf Technology }}</ref><br> AstroturfAstroTurf 3D Decade (2013–present2013–2022)<ref>{{cite web |title=Oklahoma State Picks Astroturf for Boone Pickens Stadium|url=http://www.astroturf.com/oklahoma-state-boone-pickens/|publisher=Astroturf|date=March 19, 2014|access-date=July 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808071516/http://www.astroturf.com/oklahoma-state-boone-pickens/|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><br>Desso Artificial Grass (2005–2013)<ref>{{cite web |title=Oklahoma State University - Data Sheet [PDF File]|url=http://www.1stturf.com/pdfs/oklahoma_state.pdf|publisher=1st Turf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015165042/http://www.1stturf.com/pdfs/oklahoma_state.pdf|archive-date=October 15, 2006}}</ref><br>Astroplay (2000–2004)<br>[[AstroTurf]] (1972–1999)<br>Grass (1920–1971)

| architect = Gary Sparks (Renovation) [http://www.craftontullsparks.com Crafton Tull Sparks]

| former_names = Lewis Field (1920–2002)

| tenants = [[Oklahoma State Cowboys]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) (1920–present)<br>[[Orange Peel (event)|Orange Peel]] Concert (1996–2006)

| seating_capacity = 5552,509305 (2019–presentpresent)<ref name="2019okstfbmg">{{cite web |title=2019 Oklahoma State Football Media Guide|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/okstate.com/documentssports/20192015/76/18/2019_Oklahoma_State_Football_Guide.pdfGEN_0618155302 |publisher=Oklahoma State University Department of Athletics|datetitle=JulyBoone 18,Pickens 2019|access-date=JulyStadium 27, 2019|page=1}}</ref> <br>56,790 (2017–2018)<ref>{{cite news |title=Boone Pickens Stadium Capacity to Shrink, Seats to Widen in 2017|first=Mark|last=Cooper|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/osusportsextra/boone-pickens-stadium-capacity-to-shrink-seats-to-widen-in/article_b52679a7-d149-5a11-968d-e04caad236f4.html|newspaper=[[Tulsa World]]|date=February 20, 2017|access-date=February 21, 2017}}</ref><br>60,218 (2009–2016)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.okstate.com/facilities/boone-pickens-stadium.html |title=OKState.com - Boone Pickens Stadium |access-date=2011-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606163026/http://www.okstate.com/facilities/boone-pickens-stadium.html |archive-date=2011-06-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref><br>60,000 (2008)<br>44,700 (2007)<br>43,500 (2006)<br>48,000 (2005)<br>47,800 (2004)<br>48,500 (1999–2003)<br>50,614 (1993–1998)<br>50,440 (1972–1992)<br>39,000 (1950–1971)<br>30,000 (1947–1949)<br>13,000 (1930–1946)<br>8,000 (1920–1929)

| record_attendance = 60,218

Oklahoma State, then known as Oklahoma A&M, first began playing at what would become the original Lewis Field in 1901. Located just north of Morrill Hall and originally known simply as "Athletic Field,"<ref>{{cite web |title=Boone Pickens Stadium|url=http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Big12/OSU/index.htm|publisher=Ballparks.com|access-date=November 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123094427/http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Big12/OSU/index.htm|archive-date=January 23, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> it was renamed '''Lewis Field''' in 1914 after Lowery Laymon Lewis, a former dean of veterinary medicine and of science and literature and one of the most popular figures in the school’s history.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Boone Pickens Stadium|url=https://okstate.com/sports/2015/6/18/GEN_0618155302.aspx|access-date=2021-04-25|website=Oklahoma State University Athletics|language=en}}</ref> In addition to his duties as dean and instructor at OAMC, Lewis served as the school's acting president in 1914. Under his brief administration, OAMC established the first school of commerce and marketing in the nation and developed experimental stations around the state. In addition to naming the field after him, the students also dedicated the 1914 yearbook, its first, to Lewis.

Lewis Field movedwas relocated to theits current site ofat Boone Pickens Stadium for the 1919 season, infollowing a traditional north-south directionorientation.<ref name=":0" /> TheIn 1920, the school builtconstructed a wooden 8,000-seat grandstand—roughlygrandstand, which approximately correspondingcorresponds to the lower level of the current facility's north grandstand—in 1920grandstand. The field's orientation was reorientedadjusted to an east-west direction to avoidmitigate the impact of strong prevailing winds. It remainsstands as one of only a handful offew major stadiums in the United States with goals positioned at both the east and west ends. Notably, andit is the onlylone onestadium orientedwith thatthis wayorientation inwithin the Big 12. BecauseAs ofa thisresult, the sun becomesprovides ana strategic advantage to the team defending the west end zone during sunny afternoon games, becausewhile the team defending the east goal hasmust tocontend lookwith directlydirect intoand the brightintense sunlight glare.

Prior to the 1950 season, 10,600 seats were added to the north stands, increasing capacity to 39,000 (including temporary endzone bleachers). After the 1971 season the cinder track was removed, lowering the field 12 feet and making the space between the field and the stadium retaining walls among the smallest in college athletics. Twenty rows of permanent seats were also added to both sides of the stadium. This expansion, including a complete conversion to an artificial turf playing surface, cost $2.5 million and was financed through private donations.

Press box construction was completed in 1980 at a cost offor $1.8 million. The press box has seating for more than 200 members of the print media, with separate levels for radio/television broadcasters, photographers and VIP seating on the first level capable of handling 300. A lighting system for night games was installed in time for the 1985 season and cost approximately $750,000.

* [[List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums]]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110606163026/http://www.okstate.com/facilities/boone-pickens-stadium.html Official Websitewebsite]