Woodward Field (stadium)

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Woodward Field


location = Cheney, Washington 99004
broke_ground = 1966
opened = 1967
owner = Eastern Washington University
operator = Eastern Washington University
surface = Natural (close cut) Green Turf construction_cost = $1.5 million USD
architect = T.W. Clark Construction LLC
tenants = EWU Eagles Football Team (NCAA) (1967-Present)
seating_capacity = 12,000 max 30,000 when complete [cite web | url=http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/ucda/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2007MediaGuide | title= UC Davis Football 2007 Media Guide | publisher = UC Davis Athletics | accessdate=August 21 | accessyear = 2007]

Woodward Field is a 12,000-seat outdoor football stadium in Cheney, Washington on the campus of Eastern Washington University. It is home to the Eastern Washington University Eagles football team of the Big Sky Conference, a dominant program in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision. The facility opened in 1967 and since then the Eagles have racked up an impressive 101-51(.664) record at home. The stadium has a current seating capacity of 12,000. [http://goeags.cstv.com/facilities/ewas-woodward.html]

Naming

Named in honor of former Eagle head football and basketball coach Arthur C. Woodward, the "New" Woodward Field in Cheney, Washington, has been used by the Eagles since 1967. Prior to that, Woodward Field was located near where Eastern's JFK Library now sits. [http://goeags.cstv.com/facilities/ewas-woodward.html]

Renovation

In 2004 Woodward Field went under a massive renovation that upgraded public facilities, the press box, new locker room, and also updated the stadium's capacity. The suites and media center represent phase two of a three-phase $4.5 million stadium upgrade. Phase one consisted of a $350,000 renovation of the stadium's entrance and ticket office. Completed in 2002, the project was funded with state dollars. Phase three will increase Woodward Field's seating capacity to 12,000 from 6,000, and will be paid for with a combination of public funds and private donations.

"Our ability to bring prospective donors and entertain them is important," says Barnes. "It will create a revenue stream for us over time. It's also an important piece in the recruiting process."

Scott Barnes says EWU will market the suites to donors, who will pay $30,000 to lease them for five years.

The project call [ed] for a two-level 6,800-square foot structure to replace the existing about 800-square foot press box with the enclosed suites and a new press box on the west side of the stadium. The first floor of the elevated structure contains the donor suites and the second level [is] for the media and coaches.

Each of the donor suites [has] 12 seats and room for four additional people. The suites also have cable television, stereos, and refrigerators. Bathrooms are located in an area which can be accessed only by the people leasing the suites. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5289/is_200403/ai_n24276831]

Attendance

With more than 2,000 bleachers added, record crowds of 11,583 in 2006 and 10,754 in 2004 attended the Eastern versus University of Montana showdowns that were both won by the Grizzlies. The previous record was 6,879 for the Eastern - University of Idaho game on Oct. 17, 1992, when Eastern also added temporary bleachers to the 5,000 permanent seats the stadium had at that time. Eastern's top 25 all-time attendance figures at Woodward Field have come in the past 17 seasons, including the top seven in the last three seasons alone. [http://goeags.cstv.com/facilities/ewas-woodward.html]

External links

* [http://goeags.cstv.com/facilities/ewas-woodward.html] - Woodward Field Facts
* [http://goeags.com] - Information about Eastern Washington University.D.Ford