Strawberry Stadium

Strawberry Stadium is a 7,408-seat football/soccer stadium in Hammond, Louisiana. It is home to the Southeastern Louisiana University Lions American football team. The stadium also hosts St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School football, previously hosted Hammond High School football, and has been the site of numerous play-off games involving other schools from Tangipahoa Parish.

Strawberry Stadium
Location910 North Hazel Street
Hammond, LA 70402, U.S.
Coordinates30°30′39″N 90°28′6″W
OwnerSoutheastern Louisiana University
OperatorSoutheastern Louisiana University
Executive suitesVictory Club (116 seats) and five suites (15 seats each)
Capacity7,408 (2003–present)
8,396 (1970–2002)
7,200 (1937–1969)
SurfaceUBU-Intensity Series-S5-M Synthetic Turf (2012–present)
SprinTurf (2003–11)
Grass (1937–2003)
Construction
Broke groundMay 12, 1937[1]
OpenedSeptember 17, 1937[1]
Construction cost$144,000[2]
($2.93 million in 2022 dollars[3])
Tenants
Southeastern Louisiana University Lions (NCAA) (1936–present)
St. Thomas Aquinas High School (LHSAA)
Hammond High School (LHSAA) (1937–1995)
Strawberry Stadium

History

The facility was constructed in 1937 as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's WPA program under Project 1304.[4] The steel and concrete structure was built to hold 8,500 spectators and included 36 dorm rooms to house 144 students. Additional facilities in the stadium include a social room, café, music rooms, a band room, and dressing rooms for several sports teams.[1] "The stadium was completed in only 16 weeks, due in part to the eagerness of Governor Leche, who reputedly pulled workers from other government construction projects in the area to work on the stadium. Leche initially planned to name the stadium after himself, but it instead was decidedly named in honor of the local strawberry farmers. A plaque still remains on the north end of East Stadium in honor of governor Leche's contribution."[4]

Renovations

A renovation completed prior to the 2008 football season added club seating, six luxury suites, each accommodating 15 fans, as well as 116 seats outside of the Victory Club. The renovation also increased the press box size.[5][6] In addition, a new multilevel parking garage for 500 vehicles was constructed to the west of the stadium and connected to it.

Before the 2012 season, new turf was installed after being used at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Notable events

The 1975 Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class AAAA state championship game was contested at Strawberry Stadium. St. Augustine, New Orleans' all-black, all-male Catholic high school, won its first LHSAA championship by defeating Covington High 35–13.

See also

References
  1. Barker, Emily (October 31, 2011). "Strawberry Stadium to Host 74th Homecoming". The Lion's Roar. Southeastern Louisiana University. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  2. "Strawberry Stadium at Southeastern College in Hammond, Louisiana in 1939". State Digital Library of Louisiana. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  3. 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.
  4. "The Legacy of Strawberry Stadium". 9 October 2020.
  5. "Premium Seating". Southeastern Louisiana University Athletics. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  6. "Strawberry Stadium". Southeastern Louisiana University Athletics. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
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