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Commonwealth Stadium | |
---|---|
C.M. Newton Field | |
Location | 1540 University Drive, Lexington, Kentucky 40506 |
Broke ground | July 23, 1972[1] |
Opened | September 15, 1973[2] |
Expanded | 1999 |
Owner | University of Kentucky |
Operator | University of Kentucky |
Surface | Bermuda Grass |
Construction cost | $12 million ($59.3 million in 2024 dollars[3]) |
Architect | HNTB |
General Contractor | Huber, Hunt & Nichols[2] |
Tenants | Kentucky Wildcats (NCAA) (1973–present) |
Capacity | 67,942 (2009-present) 67,606 (2003-2008) 67,530 (1999-2002) 55,453 (1998) 57,800 (1991-1997) 56,696 (1979-1990) 58,000 (1973-1978) |
Commonwealth Stadium is the name of a stadium in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. This stadium, named for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is located on the campus of the University of Kentucky and is the home field for the school's football team, replacing the smaller Stoll Field/McLean Stadium. The field is named C.M. Newton Field in honor of retired UK athletic director and former baseball and basketball player C.M. Newton.
Built in 1973, it is the newest football stadium in the Southeastern Conference, as measured by date of original construction. The original capacity for the stadium was 57,800. In Commonwealth's first game, played on September 15, 1973, the Wildcats defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 31–26, as quarterback Ernie Lewis ran for two touchdowns and threw for another touchdown to lead the Wildcats. The facility currently seats 67,942.
In 1999 both ends of the stadium were enclosed and 40 suites were added, 10 in each corner of the stadium, resulting in a symmetrical oval bowl. The total cost of the expansion was $27.6 million. During the 1999 season, Kentucky's average home attendance for football games was 67,756. Attendance for the game against Tennessee that year was 71,022, which remained the record attendance until the Wildcats' 2007 game against Florida drew 71,024. In recent years, crowds of over 70,000 have become very common.
Since 1999, fireworks have been shot from atop the suites after every Wildcat touchdown.
In July 2011, the University of Kentucky announced a massive audio and video upgrade to Commonwealth Stadium. These upgrades include two LED video boards each measuring approximately 37 feet (11 m) high by 80 feet (24 m) wide (2,960 square feet), making each display the 20th-largest scoreboard in the country. Combined, the 5,920 square feet (550 m2) will make the new video boards one of the largest scoreboard systems in the country. Additionally, a new custom audio system and over 1,800 linear sq/ft of video ribbon board will be implemented by September 10, 2011.
The approximate cost of the upgrades total close to $6 million dollars.
Stadium records[]
Record description | Record | Record holder(s) | Date | Opponent | Final Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Most rushing yards, game | 272 yds | Moe Williams | November 11, 1995 | Cincinnati | 33-14 |
Most passing yards, game | 528 yds | Jared Lorenzen | October 21, 2000 | Georgia | 30-32 |
Most receptions, game | 16 | Craig Yeast | November 14, 1998 | Vanderbilt | 55-17 |
Most receiving yards, game | 269 yds | Craig Yeast | November 14, 1998 | Vanderbilt | 55-17 |
Longest run from line of scrimmage | 87 yards | Josh Clemons | September 10, 2011 | Central Michigan | 27-13 |
Longest pass play | 91 yds | Buck Belue^ to Amp Arnold^ | October 25, 1980 | Georgia | 0-27 |
Longest field goal | 54 yds | Hap Hines^ | October 26, 1996 | Georgia | 24-17 |
Longest Punt | 86 yds | Donnie Jones^ | November 9, 2002 | LSU | 30-33 |
Longest Kickoff Return | 100 yds | Willie Shelby^ Tyrone Prothro^ Derrick Locke |
September 22, 1973 October 9, 2004 September 19, 2009 |
Alabama Alabama Louisville |
14-28 17-45 31-27 |
Longest Punt Return | 84 yds | Rafael Little | November 18, 2006 | Louisiana-Monroe | 42-40 |
Longest Interception Return | 91 yds | Greg Long | September 5, 1981 | North Texas State | 28-6 |
Most Points Scored | 77 | Kentucky | September 7, 2002 | UTEP | 77-17 |
Most overtimes | 7* | Kentucky | November 1, 2003 | Arkansas | 63-71 |
^ Denotes Non-Kentucky Player
* Tied the NCAA record for most overtimes
See also[]
- Kentucky Wildcats football
- Bluegrass Miracle
- 2003 Arkansas vs. Kentucky football game, a game at Commonwealth that took seven overtime procedures to decide
- Stoll Field/McLean Stadium
Notes and references[]
- ↑ "Commonwealth Stadium 35th anniversary". Kentucky Sports Network. July 28, 2008. http://www.kentuckysportsnetwork.com/forum/topics/2148737:Topic:4427. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Commonwealth Stadium". University of Kentucky Department of Athletics. http://www.ukathletics.com/athletic-dept/commonwealth-stadium.html. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
- ↑ Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2008. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
External links[]
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