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Falcon Stadium
American football stadium at the U.S. Air Force Academy
American football stadium at the U.S. Air Force Academy
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Falcon Stadium |
| image | Air Force Academy Falcon Stadium by David Shankbone.jpg |
| image_size | 250 |
| caption | View from northeast corner in 2008 |
| address | 4900 Stadium Boulevard |
| location | U.S. Air Force Academy, |
| Colorado, U.S. | |
| near Colorado Springs | |
| coordinates | |
| mapframe | yes |
| mapframe-zoom | 8 |
| pushpin_map | USA#Colorado |
| pushpin_relief | 1 |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in the United States##Location in Colorado |
| pushpin_label | USAF Academy |
| elevation | 6621 ft AMSL |
| broke_ground | |
| opened | |
| expanded | 1972, 1990 |
| owner | U.S. Air Force Academy |
| operator | U.S. Air Force Academy |
| surface | FieldTurf (2006–present) |
| Natural grass (1962–2005) | |
| construction_cost | $3.5 million |
| ($ in ) | |
| architect | Praeger-Kavanaugh-Waterbury |
| Slater Paul Architects (renovations), HKS, Inc. (2024 renovations) | |
| structural_engineer | HKS, Inc. (2024 renovations) |
| general_contractor | B. H. Baker Inc. |
| record_attendance | 56,409 |
| (vs. Notre Dame, 2002) | |
| tenants | Air Force Falcons (NCAA) (1962–present) |
| seating_capacity | 39,441 (2024–present) |
| 46,692 (2005–present) | |
| 52,480 (1996–2004) | |
| 50,126 (1995) | |
| 52,000 (1993–1994) | |
| 52,123 (1986–1992) | |
| 46,668 (1972–1985) | |
| 40,828 (1962–1971) |
Colorado, U.S. near Colorado Springs | mapframe-zoom = 8 Natural grass (1962–2005) ($ in ) Slater Paul Architects (renovations), HKS, Inc. (2024 renovations) (vs. Notre Dame, 2002) 46,692 (2005–present) 52,480 (1996–2004) 50,126 (1995) 52,000 (1993–1994) 52,123 (1986–1992) 46,668 (1972–1985) 40,828 (1962–1971) Falcon Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in the western United States, on the campus of the U.S. Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is the home field of the Air Force Falcons football and lacrosse teams of the Mountain West Conference, and also holds the academy's graduation ceremonies each spring.
History
From 1956 to 1961, Air Force played its home games at various sites along the Front Range in Colorado. Most games were played in Denver at the University of Denver's stadium, but several were played in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and CU's Folsom Field in Boulder.
Planned in 1955, Falcon Stadium opened in 1962, at a cost of $3.5 million, and has a current seating capacity of 46,692. The first game was on September 22, a 34–0 victory over Colorado State. It was officially dedicated four weeks later on October 20, with a ceremony which included the Thunderbirds.
Construction
The U.S. Air Force Academy lies at the base of the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains, northwest of adjacent Colorado Springs. Built into a natural bowl about two miles (3 km) southeast and 500 ft below the cadet area, Falcon Stadium is approximately a mile (1.6 km) west of Interstate 25.
With an unbalanced design and a traditional north–south alignment, the western sideline has the press box and two large grandstand tiers above the main bowl; the eastern side has a single tier, bordered by seven separate sections of grandstands.
Elevation
The FieldTurf playing field is at an elevation of 6621 ft above sea level, the second highest in FBS college football, exceeded only by conference foe Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, which is 600 ft higher.
Bill Belichick decided to use the stadium to prepare his New England Patriots for their NFL Mexico Game at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City in mid-November. The Patriots had played in nearby Denver the previous Sunday, so they remained in Colorado to prepare for their Mexico trip. Estadio Azteca is at a similar altitude of 7200 ft, and the Patriots defeated the Oakland Raiders there by 25 points.
The Los Angeles Rams employed a similar strategy the following year, with practices at Falcon Stadium, but the game was moved to Los Angeles because of poor field conditions at Azteca.
Improvements
Falcon Stadium had a natural grass field for its first 44 years, although the sideline areas where teams stood were artificial turf since the 1980s. Prior to the 2006 season, synthetic FieldTurf was installed at a cost of $750,000.
The stadium has been expanded twice, and the 2005 renovation lowered the total seating capacity. Permanent lighting was installed in Falcon Stadium in 2002 at a cost of $500,000, and the video screen at the south end of the field debuted in 2004. A new sound system was also installed for the 2006 season.
The scoreboard was removed after the 2015 season, and a new, larger video board measuring tall by wide, with a total surface area of more than 2500 sqft. At its installation in 2016, it was the largest in the Mountain West Conference and amongst the service academies. A second video board was also installed behind the northeast stands prior to the 2016 season.
Events
Ice hockey
Falcon Stadium hosted the 2020 NHL Stadium Series outdoor game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings.
| Air Force Falcons | color=#FFFFFF}};" | Date | Air Force Falcons | color=#FFFFFF}};" | Winning Team | Air Force Falcons | color=#FFFFFF}};" | Result | Air Force Falcons | color=#FFFFFF}};" | Losing Team | Air Force Falcons | color=#FFFFFF}};" | Event | Air Force Falcons | color=#FFFFFF}};" | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 15, 2020 | Los Angeles Kings | 3–1 | Colorado Avalanche | 2020 NHL Stadium Series | 43,574 |
References
References
- [http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=465398503489714&set=a.465397860156445.119162.153333714696196&type=3&permPage=1 Falcon Stadium, United States Air Force Academy, 6/30/2012]
- "Falcon Stadium". Air Force Academy Athletics.
- (June 5, 1969). "Nixon defends military in A.F. Academy speech". Lodi News-Sentinel.
- Hilliard, Carl. (May 29, 1986). "Bush addresses Air Force class". Times-News.
- link. (November 18, 2007)
- link. (November 18, 2007)
- (October 14, 1958). "Army & Middies snubbing Falcons?". Spokesman-Review.
- MacCambridge, Michael, ed. ''ESPN College Football Encyclopedia.'' New York: Hyperion, 2005. Pg. 68.
- (October 28, 1955). "Plan stadium for Air Force football team". Ellensburg Daily Record.
- (October 30, 1955). "Air academy stadium planned in Colorado". Tuscaloosa News.
- (September 23, 1962). "Rockies: Air Force 34–0". Eugene Register-Guard.
- (October 17, 1962). "Air Force will dedicate stadium". Florence Times.
- "Ducks sail past airmen". Spokesman-Review.
- Strite, Dick. (October 21, 1962). "Oregon shoots down Air Force 35-20". Eugene Register-Guard.
- Sutton, Horace. (October 22, 1961). "Sky blue". Toledo Blade.
- [http://msrmaps.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=13&X=642&Y=5395&W=2&qs=%7cUnited+States+Air+Force+Academy%7cCO%7c Topographic map] from [[USGS]] via [[Microsoft Research Maps]]
- Namnoum, Rob. (2018-01-31). "The time the Patriots spent a week in Colorado Springs".
- Longman, Jeré. (2009-08-10). "In Mexico City, a Soccer Stadium Where Visitors Rarely Breathe Easy". The New York Times.
- brent.briggeman@gazette.com, BRENT BRIGGEMAN. (13 November 2018). "Rams to stay in Colorado Springs despite NFL's decision not to play in Mexico City".
- Kesting, Amanda. (January 1, 2019). "NHL Stadium Series coming back to Colorado in 2020". [[Tegna, Inc..
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