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

'''Boone Pickens Stadium''' (previously known as '''Lewis Field''') has been home to the [[Oklahoma State Cowboys football|Oklahoma State University Cowboys football]] team in rudimentary form since 19131919, and as a complete stadium since 1920. TheAligned facilityin isan east-west direction since 1920, the oldestfield footballis stadiumthe oldest in the [[Big 12 Conference]].

Oklahoma State, then known as Oklahoma A&M, first began playing at thewhat currentwould sitebecome ofthe Booneoriginal PickensLewis StadiumField in 19131901. OriginallyLocated 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.

TheLewis Field was relocated to its current site at Boone Pickens Stadium for the 1919 season, following a traditional north-south orientation.<ref name=":0" /> In 1920, the school builtconstructed a permanentwooden 8,000-seat grandstand—roughlygrandstand, which approximately correspondingcorresponds to the lower level of the current facility's north grandstand—in 1920grandstand. The stadiumfield's originallyorientation was positionedadjusted into thean traditional northeast-southwest direction, butto wasmitigate reorientedthe east-westimpact to avoid theof 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.

The university planned to build a horseshoe-shaped stadium, similar to [[Ohio State University]]'s [[Ohio Stadium]], in the 1920s to be called War Memorial Stadium. These plans were scrapped before any construction of the proposed stadium started, and the first addition to Lewis Field came in 1924 with the first steel and concrete portion of the current stadium built on the south side.<ref name=":0" /> During the 1929&ndash;1930 seasons, 8,000 permanent seats were built on the north side for an overall capacity of 13,000. In 1947 the south stands were increased from 20 to 53 rows and capacity climbed to nearly 30,000. For the first time, a permanent press box was then added.

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.

On August 7, 1976, the field hosted an NFL exhibition game between the [[Cleveland Browns]] and the [[Atlanta Falcons]]. The field also hosted the [[Oklahoma Outlaws]] and the [[Houston Gamblers]] of the [[USFL]] professional football league in 1984. Due to a conflict at Tulsa's Skelly Stadium, the Outlaws were forced to play their last Exhibition game in Stillwater, losing to the visiting Gamblers by a score of 34–7. Only 6,120 attended the cold February 19 game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gamblers Trounce Outlaws 34–7|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19840220&id=a7oeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vGgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4941,11238445|newspaper=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=February 20, 1984|access-date=July 27, 2019|page=9B}}</ref>

The funds used for the expansion of the stadium have been a topic of controversy and discussion among students and the public, including the city of [[Stillwater, Oklahoma|Stillwater]]. The athletic village came under intense scrutiny within the community and garnered statewide attention. In 2005 and 2006, OSU held "town hall meetings" to allow members of the community to express their concerns. At one meeting in the Stillwater Public Library, Commissioner Hank Moore told then-OSU President [[David Schmidly]], the meeting's moderator, that OSU's actions in implementing the athletic village under the Campus Master Plan contradicted the principles of democracy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Athletic village — it could be all for nothing|work=The Daily O'Collegian|url=http://www.ocolly.com/printer_friendly_ver.php?a_id=30574|archive-url=https://archive.istoday/20130130155305/http://www.ocolly.com/printer_friendly_ver.php?a_id=30574|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2013}}</ref>

With their success on the football field under [[Mike Gundy]], the Cowboys have set numerous attendance records at Boone Pickens Stadium. The following are the top crowds in the history of Boone Pickens Stadium.

! Rank !
! Attendance !
! Date !
! Opponent !
! Score !
! Source

* [[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]