- Waldo Stadium
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Dwight B. Waldo Stadium 
Former names Western State Teachers College Field Location 1903 West Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008Coordinates 42°17′9″N 85°36′4″W / 42.28583°N 85.60111°WCoordinates: 42°17′9″N 85°36′4″W / 42.28583°N 85.60111°W Broke ground 1938 Opened October 7, 1939[1] Renovated 1995 Expanded 1973, 1989 Owner Western Michigan University Operator Western Michigan University Surface FieldTurf (2006–present)
NexTurf (2000–2005)
Prescription Athletic Turf (1992–1999)
Astroturf (1972–1991)
Natural Grass (1939–1972)Construction cost $250,000 USD
($3.95 million in 2011 dollars[2])Architect Hobbs+Black (1995 renovation) Capacity 30,200 (1989–present)
25,000 (1973–1988)
15,000 (1939–1972)Record attendance 36,361 (September 16, 2000 vs Indiana State)[3] Tenants Western Michigan Broncos (NCAA) (1939–present) Waldo Stadium is a stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is primarily used for football, and is the home field of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Opened in 1939, it now has a capacity of 30,200 spectators.
Contents
History
The stadium was built at a cost of $250,000, and it opened in 1939 with a 6-0 win over Miami University.[4] The cost for Waldo Stadium also included the construction of Hyames Field, the school's baseball stadium directly west of the football field. The stadium is named for Dwight B. Waldo, first president of the school.[5]
The location of Waldo Stadium has been home for Western football since 1914. A field, without a stadium or modern seating, existed through 1938, until the construction and completion of the stadium in 1939. It originally included an 8-lane track, which has since moved to Kanley Track across the street. Financing came through private donations, and those who donated were awarded tickets to the inaugural game against Western Kentucky University. Over the years, WMU continued adding seating to the stadium, and a renovation in 1989 pushed the available seats to 30,200[6]. Focal renovations have included the Bill Brown Alumni Center and the John Gill press box, added to the main seating on the north and south sidelines.[7]
A state-of-the-art scoreboard and video screen were also installed in 2003, located at the southwest endzone. It was made possible through a donation from Coca-Cola.[8]
Attendance
A Waldo Stadium-record crowd of 36,361 saw the Broncos defeat Indiana State University 56-0, in 2000.[9]
The highest season-average attendance occurred in 1999, with an average of 26,874 per game.[10]
Indiana University was the first Big Ten school to play at Waldo Stadium in 2007.[11] Over 32,000 fans saw IU defeat WMU in a rain-filled night game. Other BCS conference teams to visit Waldo Stadium include University of Virginia in 2003, and Virginia Tech in 2002. Waldo Stadium will host Western Michigan versus Michigan State and Illinois in 2015 and 2016, respectively.[12]
Waldo Stadium also holds two of the top four home attendance figures in Mid-American Conference history and five of the top 10 home crowds.
Seelye Center
In 2003, the stadium took on a new look with the completion of the 25 million dollar Donald J. Seelye Center. Also known as the "J", the Seelye Center rises 8 stories and houses an indoor practice field, weight and fitness rooms, and staff offices.[13][14] It is located on the edge of the northeast endzone, allowing the Seelye club suites to get a view of the game. The Seelye Center incorporated the existing Oakland Gymnasium into the structure, allowing for a very modern entrance on one side, and a retro style on the other.
High school football
In May 2010, the Kalamazoo Valley Association (a local high school athletic conference) announced that it would be playing an inaugural Kalamazoo Valley Association Football Classic at the stadium.[15]
References
- ^ http://www.databasefootball.com/College/teams/teamyear.htm?TeamID=118&Season=1939
- ^ Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2008. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
- ^ http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/MidAmerica/WesternMichigan/index.htm
- ^ http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=120527
- ^ http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=120527
- ^ 2007 WMU football media guide
- ^ http://www.collegegridirons.com/mac/WaldoStadium.htm
- ^ http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=120527
- ^ http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=120527
- ^ http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=120527
- ^ https://www.nmnathletics.com/pdf3/80853.pdf
- ^ http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2011/04/western_michigan_football_to_h.html
- ^ http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=120528
- ^ http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=120527
- ^ http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-8337641652735761102/coaches-players-filled-with-anticipation-for-inaugural-kva-football-classic
External links
- Waldo Stadium - WMUBroncos.com - Official Website of WMU Athletics
- Donald Seelye Athletic Center - WMUBroncos.com - Official Website of WMU Athletics
Western Michigan University Academics Haworth College of Business • International Congress on Medieval Studies • Lee Honors College • New Issues Press • Paper engineering • Sunseeker
Athletics Basketball (1997–98, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11) • Broncos • Buster Bronco • Central Collegiate Hockey Association • Ebert Field • Football (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) • Hyames Field • Ice hockey • Kanley Track • Lawson Arena • Michigan MAC Trophy • Mid-American Conference • Seelye Athletic Center • University Arena • Waldo Stadium • WMU–CMU Rivalry Trophy
Campus Bernhard Center • East Campus • Kalamazoo • Miller Auditorium • Oakland Drive Campus • Parkview Campus • Student Recreation Center • Waldo Library • West Campus
History William McCracken • Bill Spaulding • Buck Read • Charles Van Riper • Dwight B. Waldo • Western State Normal Railroad
People Alumni • Bill Cubit • John Dunn • Diether Haenicke • Steve Hawkins • Paul L. Maier • Andy Murray • Michael Swords
Student life Football stadiums of the Mid-American Conference East Division InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field (Akron) • Doyt Perry Stadium (Bowling Green) • University at Buffalo Stadium (Buffalo) • Dix Stadium (Kent State) • Yager Stadium (Miami) • Peden Stadium (Ohio) • Lincoln Financial Field (Temple)
West Division Scheumann Stadium (Ball State) • Kelly/Shorts Stadium (Central Michigan) • Rynearson Stadium (Eastern Michigan) • Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium (Northern Illinois) • Glass Bowl (Toledo) • Waldo Stadium (Western Michigan)
Championship College football venues in Michigan Division I
FBSBig Ten MAC Kelly/Shorts Stadium (Central Michigan) • Rynearson Stadium (Eastern Michigan) • Waldo Stadium (Western Michigan)
Division II GLIAC Adams Field (Wayne State) • Hantz Stadium (Northwood) • Lubbers Stadium (Grand Valley State) • Muddy Waters Stadium (Hillsdale) • Sherman Field (Michigan Tech) • Superior Dome (Northern Michigan) • Top Taggart Field (Ferris State) • Wickes Stadium (Saginaw Valley State)
Division III MIAA Categories:- College football venues
- Western Michigan Broncos football
- Sports venues in Michigan
- Buildings and structures in Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Sports in Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Event venues established in 1939
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