- Drake Stadium
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- For Elvin Drake Stadium at UCLA, see Drake Stadium (UCLA).
Drake Stadium 
Location 2719 Forest Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50311Coordinates 41°36′18″N 93°39′18″W / 41.605°N 93.655°WCoordinates: 41°36′18″N 93°39′18″W / 41.605°N 93.655°W Broke ground 1925 Opened October 10, 1925[1] Renovated 2005 Owner Drake University Operator Drake University Surface FieldTurf Construction cost $15 million (2005 renovation)[2] Architect RDG Planning & Design (2005 renovation)[3] Capacity 18,000 (1925-2005)
14,557 (2006-present)Tenants Drake football (NCAA) (1925-2004, 2006-present)
Drake Relays (1925-present)
2010 USA Outdoor Track & Field ChampionshipsDrake Stadium is a stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It is primarily used for the Drake Relays, and is the home field of the Drake University Bulldogs. It opened in 1925 and underwent a $15 million renovation in 2005. Widening the track reduced the stadium's seating capacity from 18,000 to 14,557.[4] The football field at Drake Stadium is named in honor of Drake alumnus and football great, Johnny Bright and the track is name after famed announcer Jim Duncan.
Drake Stadium has seen the Drake Bulldogs win ten conference championships in football, while advancing to twelve college football bowl games. As part of the stadium renovation an artificial surface was installed for both football and soccer. The stadium is also the home field for Des Moines Roosevelt High School and for some games for Dowling High School. It is the largest stadium in the Pioneer Football League.
Drake Stadium is also the home to the Drake Relays, one of the premier track and field meets in the country. Thousands of high school, college, and professional track athletes come to Drake Stadium in late April to compete in one of the largest track meets in the United States. The stadium also hosts the Iowa boys and girls high school track state championships.
The 2005-06 renovation project improved many aspects of the stadium. The surface area of the stadium was flattened (previously the infield sat several feet lower than the track surface). It created a reconfigured track to meet NCAA, national and international standards, improved seating, and added a "safety lane" on the outside of the track for athletes (in the old configuration, fans could easily make contact with a competitor in lane 8). In addition, a new scoreboard with video screen was placed at the northeast corner of the stadium. In addition, Drake Stadium hosted the 1970 and 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships[5] and will host the 2010 USA Open Track and Field Outdoor Championships[6] in addition to the 2011 and 2012 NCAA Outdoors[7]. The 2008 NCAAs doubled the previous four-day record crowd with a total attendance of 41,187 (including over 11,000 for the final day) despite heavy flooding in Des Moines. The renovated stadium is considered a contender for more future prestigious events, such as the U.S. Olympic Trials [8].
References
- ^ http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=1137066
- ^ http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=1137066
- ^ http://www.rdgusa.com/projects/drake-stadium-renovation-phase-i
- ^ "Drake Stadium History - GoDrakeBulldogs.com—Official Web site of Drake University Athletics". Godrakebulldogs.com. 2007-10-01. http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=899758. Retrieved 2010-11-19.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "News". USATF. 2007-12-13. http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?DUID=USATF_2007_12_13_11_46_01. Retrieved 2010-11-19.
- ^ "Drake Awarded NCAA Track & Field Championships in 2011 and 2012". Foxsportsmidwest.com. http://www.foxsportsmidwest.com/12/16/09/Drake-Awarded-NCAA-Track--Field-Champion/landing.html?blockID=104114&feedID=3595. Retrieved 2010-11-19.
- ^ "Drake’s Olympic Quest | Drake Blue Magazine". Drake.edu. http://www.drake.edu/magazine/?p=383. Retrieved 2010-11-19.
External links
Stadiums of the Pioneer Football League Butler Bowl (Butler) • Barker–Lane Stadium (Campbell) • Richardson Stadium (Davidson) • Welcome Stadium (Dayton) • Drake Stadium (Drake) • D. B. Milne Field (Jacksonville) • Leonidoff Field (Marist) • Jayne Stadium (Morehead State) • Torero Stadium (San Diego) • Brown Field (Valparaiso)
College football venues in Iowa Division I
FBSBig Ten Big 12 Division I
FCSMissouri Valley Pioneer Drake Stadium (Drake)
Division II Northern Sun Eischeid Stadium (Upper Iowa)
Division III IIAC Ash Park Field (Cornell) • Bill Buxton Stadium (Simpson) • Carlson Stadium (Luther) • Chalmers Field (Dubuque) • Clark Field (Coe) • J. Leslie Rollins Stadium (Buena Vista) • Rock Bowl (Loras) • Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium (Central) • Walston-Hoover Stadium (Wartburg)
Midwest Rosenbloom Field (Grinnell)
NAIA Great Plains City Stadium (Dordt) • Elwood Olsen Stadium (Morningside) • Korver Field at De Valois Stadium (Northwestern) • Memorial Field (Briar Cliff)
Heart of America Huntsman Field (Graceland)
Mid-States A. David Bolstorff Stadium (Waldorf) • Brady Street Stadium (Saint Ambrose) • Mapleleaf Stadium (Iowa Wesleyan) • Oskaloosa Community Stadium (William Penn) • Williams Stadium (Grand View)
Categories:- College football venues
- Sports in Des Moines, Iowa
- Sports venues in Iowa
- Drake University
- Buildings and structures in Des Moines, Iowa
- Visitor attractions in Des Moines, Iowa
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