University Stadium (Waterloo, Ontario)
University Stadium, also known as Knight–Newbrough Field and formerly known as Seagram Stadium, is a football stadium in Waterloo, Ontario with a capacity of 6,000. It is home to the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks football, rugby, and lacrosse teams. It also served for several years as the home field of soccer side K–W United FC which ceased operations in 2018.[1] Facilities include space for recreational programs and Kinesiology classrooms; there is also a large gym and the football field.[2] The stadium is closed to the public.
| Former names | Seagram Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | Waterloo, Ontario |
| Coordinates | 43°28′13″N 80°31′48″W |
| Owner | Wilfrid Laurier University |
| Capacity | 6000 |
| Surface | FieldTurf |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1957 |
| Built | 1958 |
| Opened | 1958 |
| Renovated | 1992-1994, 2007 |
| Tenants | |
| Wilfrid Laurier University University of Waterloo (1957–2008) K–W United FC (2013–2017) | |
The field was also used by the nearby University of Waterloo Warriors for their home football games. The Warriors played their final season at the stadium in 2008; they then moved to the new Warrior Field on the University of Waterloo north campus on Columbia St.[3][4]
History
Seagram Stadium was built for the University of Waterloo in 1957 with a $250,000 donation from Joseph E. Seagram and Sons Ltd. and additional contributions from Ontario Hydro and the City of Waterloo. It formally opened on May 7, 1958. The Waterloo College Mules played the first football game on October 5 of that year.[5]
Initially owned by Waterloo College, the stadium was sold to UW which sold it to the City of Waterloo on August 12, 1974 for $1 million, after leasing it to the city from 1968 to 1974. At that time, the stadium was in need of extensive repairs. In July 1992, the city sold the facility to Wilfrid Laurier University, also for $1 million. Artificial turf was installed in 1994 at a cost of $1.7 million. The stadium was renamed University Stadium and Sports Centre in March 1995.[5]
In 2007, the stadium underwent a major $5-million renovation which changed the layout; that included replacing the field's playing surface with Fieldturf, overhauling the bleachers, rearranging existing rooms and expansion of the entrance, concession areas and washrooms. The football field was then renamed Knight–Newbrough Field (although the name of the field itself has changed, the stadium as a whole retains the name University Stadium.)[2]
The name honours two influential figures in Laurier athletics history, former football head coaches for the Laurier Golden Hawks and UW Warriors Dave "Tuffy" Knight and Rich Newbrough.[5]
University Stadium is located near Waterloo Park on Seagram Drive.
On February 18, 2023, the Golden Hawks football twitter feed announced that the stadium is being demolished, and to stay tuned for further announcements.[6]
References
- "K-W United FC on the sidelines". therecord.com. February 22, 2018.
- "University Stadium - LaurierAthletics.com". Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- "Waterloo Region News - Latest Daily Breaking News Stories". therecord.com.
- "Waterloo Warriors Football". www.athletics.uwaterloo.ca. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28.
- "Flash from the Past: Seagram Stadium's six decades began with a gift". therecord.com. June 29, 2018.
- @LaurierFootball (February 18, 2023). "Change is coming! Our beautiful historic stadium built in 1957 is coming down. Towards the end of March we'll have more exciting news to share" (Tweet) – via Twitter.