Robertson Stadium

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Robertson Stadium
nickname =


location = 3874 Holman St
Houston, TX 77004
broke_ground = 1941
opened = 1941
closed =
demolished =
owner = University of Houston
operator = University of Houston
surface = Grass
construction_cost = $650,000 USD
architect = Harry Payne
former_names = Houston Public School Stadium (1941–1958)
Jeppesen Stadium (1958–1980)
Robertson Stadium (1980–1999)
tenants = Houston Cougars (NCAA) (1946–1950 and 1998–present)
Houston Oilers (AFL) (1960–1964)
Houston Dynamo (MLS) (2006–present)
seating_capacity = 32,000

John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium, often referred to as simply Robertson Stadium, is a sports stadium in Houston, Texas located on the campus of the University of Houston. It is the home of the Houston Cougars football and women's soccer teams. Additionally, the stadium hosts home games for the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer, which began play in the 2006 season.

The stadium hosted the Houston Oilers during the first five years of their existence from 1960 to 1964. On January 1, 1961, it hosted the American Football League Championship Game (for the 1960 title.) The Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, 24–16, to become the league's first champions. It was also the site for pro football's first ever double-overtime game on December 23, 1962. The Oilers lost to the Dallas Texans, 20-17, in that year's AFL title game. This was the only overtime game in the 10-year history of the AFL.

The current listed capacity of Robertson Stadium is 32,000.

History

. In 1980, it was renamed "Robertson Stadium" in his honor.

The University of Houston ended its lease agreement to hold home football games at the Astrodome before the 1998 season, moving the entire home slate of games back to Robertston Stadium on campus for the first time since 1949. The stadium was heavily renovated in 1999 to bring it up to NCAA Division 1-A standards for football venues. The playing surface was lowered nine feet and the running track eliminated to facilitate the addition of new seating on the sidelines and end zones. A total of twenty luxury suites were also constructed above both sides of the stadium. The playing field itself was named in honor of Houston attorney John O'Quinn, a donor to the project, thus modifying its official name to "John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium." [http://uhcougars.cstv.com/facilities/hou-robertson.html]

Several improvements were made in 2006 thanks in part to a $1.7 million donation from the Houston Dynamo. The lighting system was upgraded and a new scoreboard and a Philips Vidiwall video screen was added. This was completed in August 2006 despite the fact that Houston Dynamo plans to vacate the stadium for their own soccer-specific stadium within the next three years.

The University has hired the architecture firm of Leo A. Daly to assess the stadium and develop a plan for the long-term improvement of the facility. Plans have been proposed to replace the end zone sections with an integrated bowl and add an upper deck that would increase capacity to 50,000, but there is no immediate impetus to begin construction.

More recently, long-rumored plans of an endzone facility including locker rooms, offices, retail space, and luxury boxes have progressed to the fundraising stage. In April 2007, preliminary renderings of the new facility were displayed to high level Cougar Pride members. Planning appears to be in the very late stages and an official announcement should come soon.

With its current seating, the largest attendance for a single game at Robertson Stadium was on December 1, 2006 when 31,818 people watched the NCAA Conference USA Football Championship game between the Cougars and the University of Southern Mississippi. However, when its seating configuration was at 36,000, the largest attendance was 37,845 on December 3, 1961 during a Houston Oilers vs San Diego Chargers game. [cite web |url=http://www.titansonline.com/history/ |title=Tennessee Titans - History: 1959-1969 |publisher=Tennessee Titans |accessdate=2008-10-09]

Events hosted

The 1960 AFL Championship game and 1962 AFL Championship game were played at Robertson Stadium by the Oilers against the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Texans respectively. On January 16, 1965, the 1964 AFL All-Star game was also held there.

On December 1, 2006, the stadium was host to the Conference USA Football Championship, and on November 10, 2007, the Dynamo defeated the Kansas City Wizards in the 2007 MLS Western Conference final.

In 1972, ZZ Top, The Doobie Brothers, and Willie Nelson performed at Robertson Stadium, in addition to the The Beach Boys, Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young, and The Allman Brothers in 1974. Other concerts held at the stadium include Pink Floyd during their Animals tour, and Alice Cooper in 1980.

References

External links

* [http://www.uh.edu/ University of Houston]
* [http://www.uhcougars.com/ Houston Cougars Athletics]
* [http://uhcougars.cstv.com/facilities/hou-robertson.html Facilities: John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium]
* [http://info.lib.uh.edu/sca/digital/time/buildings_large.html?ID=22&type= UH Buildings: Corbin J. Robertson Stadium]

succession box
title = Home of the Houston Cougars
years = 1946 – 1950
1998 – present
before = first stadium
Astrodome
after = Rice Stadium
currentsuccession box
title = Home of the Houston Dynamo
years = 2006 – present
before = first stadium
after = currentsuccession box
title = Home of the Houston Oilers
years = 1960 – 1964
before = first stadium
after = Rice Stadium