Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is an open-air stadium located off the campus of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Opened in 1959, it serves as the home stadium of the Navy Midshipmen college football and lacrosse teams, and was the home of the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse. The stadium is also the host of the Military Bowl.[2]
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| Address | 550 Taylor Avenue Annapolis, Maryland |
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| Coordinates | 38°59′06″N 76°30′25″W / 38.985°N 76.507°W |
| Owner | Naval Academy Athletic Association (Private Enterprise) |
| Operator | U.S. Naval Academy |
| Capacity | 34,000 |
| Record attendance | 38,803 (vs. Air Force, October 21, 2023) |
| Surface | FieldTurf (2005–present) Natural grass (1959–2004) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1958 |
| Opened | September 26, 1959 65 years ago |
| Renovated | 2004 |
| Construction cost | $3.1 million[1] |
| Architect | 360 Architecture (formerly CDFM2) 2004 renovations |
| Tenants | |
| Navy Midshipmen (NCAA) 1959–present Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) 2007 Chesapeake Bayhawks (MLL) 2009–2020 Military Bowl 2013–present Annapolis Blues FC (NPSL) 2023–present | |
| Website | |
| navysports.com/stadium | |
The stadium's opener was a 29–2 win over William & Mary on September 26, 1959,[3] and its current seating capacity is 34,000.[4] The attendance record is 38,803, set in 2023 during Navy's 17–6 loss against Air Force on October 21.[5] Prior to 1959, Navy played its home games at Thompson Stadium, which seated only 12,000. Its site on campus is now occupied by Lejeune Hall, the venue for USNA water sports.
The stadium hosted soccer games as part of the 1984 Summer Olympics.[6] In April 2018, D.C. United of Major League Soccer played a regular season game versus the Columbus Crew.[7] Annapolis Blues FC of the National Premier Soccer League started playing home games at the venue in 2023, including setting a league regular season attendance record in their first game.[8][9]
Memorial
editThe stadium serves as a memorial to the Navy and Marine Corps; it is dedicated to those who have served (and will serve) as upholders of the traditions and renown of the Navy and Marine Corps of the United States. The thousands of memorial bench-back and wall plaques are a constant reminder, as well as the list of numerous battles involving the Naval and Marine Corps forces since the early 1900s.[citation needed]
Renovation
edit
In 2004 the stadium underwent a partial renovation – expanded west side press box- by 360 Architecture with Jay Schwarz – ABS Architects (formerly Alt Breeding Schwarz) acting as the local/Associate Architect[citation needed].
From 2005 through the present, Jay Schwarz – ABS Architects as the lead Architect has continued to design and develop the expansion and ongoing renovations. These include a new processional entrance face lift through which the entire Brigade of Midshipmen marches on game days. Additionally, the Schwarz led team has lowered the playing field to increase stadium capacity, designed club seating and associated club lounges, private suites, additional stadium seating (north and south end zones), ADA enhancements, updated restrooms, concessions and stadium operation facilities, new banquet facilities, and renovated locker room facilities.
Playing surface
editFor its first 46 years, the stadium's playing field was natural grass. Prior to the 2005 football season, the grass field was replaced with FieldTurf, a next-generation infilled synthetic turf. The field runs northwest to southeast, with the pressbox along the southwest sideline, and the elevation of the field is approximately 45 feet (14 m) above sea level.
Jack Stephens Field
editThe field at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is named "Jack Stephens Field", for Jackson T. Stephens (Class of 1947), whose gift aided (1) the renovation of the stadium, (2) the Class of 1947 Legacy project to benefit the Academy's Museum, and (3) other Academy projects.[4]
1984 Summer Olympics
editSeveral first round matches in the association football (soccer) tournament at the 1984 Summer Olympics were played at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
| Date | Time (EDT) |
Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 29, 1984 | 19.30 |  France |
2–2 |  Qatar |
Group A | 29,240 |
| July 30, 1984 | 19:00 |  Yugoslavia |
2–1 |  Cameroon |
Group B | 15,010 |
| July 31, 1984 | 19:00 |  Chile |
1–0 | Qatar |
Group A | 14,508 |
| August 1, 1984 | 19:00 | Yugoslavia |
1–0 |  Canada |
Group B | 20,000 |
| August 2, 1984 | 19:00 | Chile |
1–1 | France |
Group A | 28,114 |
| August 3, 1984 | 19:00 |  Iraq |
2–4 | Yugoslavia |
Group B | 24,430 |
Ice hockey
editOn March 3, 2018, the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2018 NHL Stadium Series, an outdoor regular season hockey game on an ice surface constructed at the stadium.[10][11][12]
| Date | Away Team | Score | Home Team | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 3, 2018 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 2–5 | Washington Capitals | 29,516 |
Military Bowl
editSince 2013, Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium has hosted the annual Military Bowl, a post-season National Collegiate Athletic Association-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game played annually in December, except in 2020 and 2021, when the game was cancelled.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Army gives $1107 to Navy stadium". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. November 19, 1957. p. 27.
- ^ Patterson, Chip (May 20, 2013). "Military Bowl moving to Annapolis, adds Conference USA for '13". CBSSports.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ "Navy is winner in new stadium". Sports. The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. September 27, 1959. p. 3.
- ^ a b "Facilities: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium". Naval Academy Varsity Athletics official website. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
- ^ "Zac Larrier throws a 94-yard touchdown and No. 22 Air Force shuts down Navy 17-6". ESPN. Associated Press. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ "Official Report of the Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad Los Angeles, 1984, Volume 1, Part 1" (PDF). pp. 129–131.
- ^ Olsen, Emily (April 14, 2018). "10-man D.C. United holds off Columbus Crew in its first win of the season". Pro Soccer USA.
- ^ "New Annapolis Professional Soccer Team To Play at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in 2023". Eye On Annapolis. August 9, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
- ^ "8,368 watch 4-2 win over FC Frederick". The Capital. June 4, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023. (subscription required)
- ^ Khurshudyan, Isabelle (May 27, 2017). "Capitals expected to play in outdoor game at Naval Academy next season". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
- ^ Gulitti, Tom (May 29, 2017). "Maple Leafs, Capitals to play in Stadium Series at U.S. Naval Academy". NHL.com. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
- ^ Wagner, Bill (May 28, 2017). "Capitals to play at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium". The Capital. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
- ^ Patterson, Chip (May 20, 2013). "Military Bowl moving to Annapolis, adds Conference USA for '13". Eye on College Football. CBSSports.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ "American Athletic Conference Partners With Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman". theamerican.org. July 11, 2013.
- ^ "Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman announces continued partnership with the Atlantic Coast Conference". August 7, 2013.
- ^ "Bowl game in U.S. capital renamed Military Bowl". ESPN.com. October 26, 2010.
- ^ "PERSPECTA NAMED PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THE MILITARY BOWL". September 30, 2020.
- ^ "Virginia-based Peraton is the bowl's new presenting sponsor". militarybowl.org. May 27, 2021.
- ^ Schwartz, Tim (December 21, 2020). "Military Bowl in Annapolis canceled due to lack of available teams". The Capital. Annapolis, Maryland. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
- ^ Adelson, Andrea (December 26, 2021). "Military, Fenway Bowls Canceled Because of COVID-19 Issues". ESPN. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
External links
edit
- Official website
- "Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis (photos)". WorldStadiums.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- "Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium". Ballparks.com. Retrieved July 1, 2023.