Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Gerald J. Ford Stadium is a stadium in Dallas, Texas.[1] The stadium is owned by Southern Methodist University (SMU) and used primarily for games played by the SMU Mustangs football team.
 | |
  Gerald J. Ford Stadium Location in Texas  Gerald J. Ford Stadium Location in the United States | |
| Location | 5801 Bush Avenue Dallas (Dallas), TX 75205 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32°50′11.92″N 96°47′2.38″W |
| Owner | Southern Methodist University |
| Operator | Southern Methodist University |
| Capacity | 32,000[1] |
| Surface | FieldTurf |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 10, 1999[2] |
| Opened | September 2, 2000 |
| Construction cost | $42 million[2] ($71.4 million in 2022 dollars[3]) |
| Architect | Ellerbe Becket |
| General contractor | Huber, Hunt & Nichols |
| Tenants | |
| SMU Mustangs (NCAA) (2000–present) Armed Forces Bowl (NCAA) (2010–2011) First Responder Bowl (NCAA) (2019–present) | |
About Ford Stadium
The stadium is named after Gerald J. Ford, a billionaire banker who provided most of the funding for its construction.[4]
Outside the northeast corner of the stadium is Doak Walker Plaza, honoring the former Heisman Trophy winner and SMU's greatest football star. The plaza includes a life-sized replica of the Doak Walker Award trophy, awarded annually to the nation's top college football running back. The northwest corner is connected to the Loyd All-Sports Center, which contains locker, training, and office space for SMU Athletics.[5]
History
The building stands on the site of the former Ownby Stadium, the school's previous on-campus football stadium. Ownby was demolished starting in late October 1998 in order to clear the land designated for the new stadium. Ford Stadium opened on September 2, 2000, with a football game against the University of Kansas.[6]
On September 24, 2022, the regular season attendance record was set at Gerald J. Ford Stadium when 35,481 people watched the TCU Horned Frogs face off against the SMU Mustangs in the Battle for the Iron Skillet. The overall attendance record is set at 36,742 for the 2010 Armed Forces Bowl between SMU and the Army Black Knights.[7]
Future expansion
The north-south oriented stadium is bowl-shaped, with stands on three sides (west, east, and north). The stadium is expandable to 45,000 seats by enclosing the horseshoe on the south end.[6]
Renovations
In 2012, SMU Mustang Athletics announced the construction of additional luxury suites, as well as the upgrading of infrastructure to the Paul B. Loyd, Jr. All-Sports Center to allow access to designated outdoor seating areas in the stadium. Construction was completed prior to the start of the 2013 season.[8]
On July 26, 2016, SMU officials announced plans for an upcoming facilities project that will include a new indoor performance center for the Mustangs football team, as well as an outdoor natural grass football practice field. The additions are part of the initial phase of SMU's $150 million comprehensive facilities upgrade. [9]
On December 2, 2022, SMU broke ground on the Garry Weber Endzone Complex, a new, $100 million dollar state-of-the-art facility for the school's football team. The complex, named after Garry Weber, an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist and former SMU football player, will include a new weight room, training facilities, meeting rooms, and offices for the football program. The complex is expected to be completed in time for the start of 2024 football season. [10]
Attendance records
| Rank | Attendance | Date | Game Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36,742 | December 30, 2010 | SMU 14, Army 16 |
| 2 | 35,569 | September 24, 2022 | SMU 34, TCU 42 |
| 3 | 35,481 | September 24, 2010 | SMU 24, 4 TCU 41 |
| 4 | 34,820 | September 20, 2014 | SMU 6, 6 Texas A&M 58 |
| 5 | 34,790 | August 30, 2013 | SMU 23, Texas Tech 41 |
| 6 | 34,749 | September 5, 2009 | SMU 31, Stephen F. Austin 23 |
| 7 | 33,458 | September 11, 2004 | SMU 13, Texas Tech 27 |
| 8 | 32,267 | September 2, 2000 | SMU 31, Kansas 17 |
| 9 | 32,074 | September 4, 2015 | SMU 21, 4 Baylor 56 |
| 10 | 32,016 | September 15, 2012 | SMU 3, Texas A&M 48 |
| 11 | 32,000 | October 22, 2016 | SMU 38, 11 Houston 16 |
| 12 | 32,000 | September 7, 2002 | SMU 14, Texas Tech 24 |
| 13 | 30,987 | September 23, 2016 | SMU 3, TCU 33 |
| 14 | 30,923 | September 20, 2008 | SMU 7, TCU 48 |
| 15 | 29,538 | September 3, 2005 | SMU 23, Baylor 28 |
| 16 | 29,528 | November 9, 2019 | 23 SMU 59, East Carolina 51 |
| 17 | 29,121 | September 11, 2021 | SMU 35, North Texas 12 |
| 18 | 28,436 | September 29, 2012 | SMU 16, 15 TCU 24 |
| 19 | 28,142 | October 5, 2019 | 24 SMU 43, Tulsa 373OT |
| 20 | 27,106 | September 20, 2003 | SMU 6, Oklahoma State 56 |
Gallery
Home Side, 2016
Wide Shot, 2016
References
- "Facilities". SMU Athletics.
- "Gerald J. Ford Stadium". football.ballparks.com.
- 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- "Gerald J. Ford - Profile". Forbes.com. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- "Loyd All-Sports Center". SMUMustangs.com. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- "Gerald J. Ford Stadium". SMUMustangs.com. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- "College football establishes new attendance records for the bowl and regular seasons". MilitaryBowl.org. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- "Gerald J. Ford Stadium Premium Seating and Mini-Suites". SMU.edu. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- "SMU Athletics reveals future facilities projects". SMU.edu. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- "Expanding SMU's Gerald J. Ford Stadium". SMU.edu. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
