Falcon Stadium

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Falcon Stadium
nickname =


location = Stadium Blvd
USAFA, CO 80840
broke_ground = 1962
opened = September 22, 1962
closed =
demolished =
owner = Department of the Air Force - United States Armed Forces
operator = U.S. Air Force Academy
surface = FieldTurf
construction_cost = $3.2 Million
architect =
former_names =
tenants = Air Force Academy Falcons (NCAA) (1962-Present) | seating_capacity = 52,480

Falcon Stadium is an outdoor football stadium on the campus of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is the home field of the Air Force Falcons of the Mountain West Conference. It also serves as the site for the academy's graduation ceremonies each spring.

Falcon Stadium opened in 1962, at a cost of $3.5 million, and has a current seating capacity of 52,480. The first game was on September 22, 1962, when Air Force defeated Colorado State 24-0.

From 1956-61, Air Force played its home games at various sites across the state. [http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/mountainwest/air_force/yearly_results.php?year=1956] [http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/mountainwest/air_force/yearly_results.php?year=1960] Most games were played at the University of Denver, but several were played in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and CU's Folsom Field in Boulder. [MacCambridge, Michael, ed. "ESPN College Football Encyclopedia." New York: Hyperion, 2005. Pg. 68.]

Falcon Stadium was built into a natural bowl southeast of the center of the academic campus (and 500 feet (152 m) below). The entire academy campus lies at the base of the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains, providing spectacular views. The design of Falcon Stadium is uniquely unbalanced, with the western side having two large grandstand tiers above the main bowl and the eastern having a single tier bordered by seven separate sections of grandstands. The playing field is aligned in the traditional north-south configuration at an elevation of over 6620 feet (2017 m) above sea level. [http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=13&X=642&Y=5395&W=2&qs=%7cUnited+States+Air+Force+Academy%7cCO%7c] It is the second highest elevation in Division I-A college football, exceeded only by Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium, which is 600 feet (183 m) higher. The Walkup Skydome at Division I-AA Northern Arizona in Flagstaff is also slightly higher, by 250 feet (76 m).

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 was installed in 2004.

Falcon Stadium had a natural grass field for its first 44 years. Prior to the 2006 football season, synthetic FieldTurf was installed at a cost of $750,000. Natural grass remains around the perimeter of the FieldTurf surface. A new sound system was also installed for the 2006 season.

In 1991 a prank was played by the Midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy prior to an Air Force - Navy game that was played in the stadium. Several Midshipmen sneaked into the stadium and repainted the seats that spelled out "AIR FORCE" to read "AIR FARCE". [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20051005/ai_n15667245 Midshipmen paint academy plane as prank before game | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs) | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ]

References

External References

* [http://www.airforcesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=14158&SPID=820&DB_OEM_ID=3000&ATCLID=109480 Air Force Sports.com] - Falcon Stadium - Fan Guide
* [http://www.sports-venue.info/NCAAF/Falcon_Stadium.html Sports-Venue.Info] - Falcon Stadium information & photos
* [http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=13&X=642&Y=5395&W=2&qs=%7cUnited+States+Air+Force+Academy%7cCO%7c Terraserver.microsoft.com] - USGS topo map (& aerial views) of Falcon Stadium