Hanson Field is a 16,368-seat
multi-purpose stadium
A multi-purpose stadium is a type of stadium designed to be easily used by multiple types of events. While any stadium could potentially host more than one type of sport or event, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy tha ...
in
Macomb, Illinois
Macomb is a city in and the county seat of McDonough County, Illinois, United States. It is situated in western Illinois, southwest of Galesburg. The city is about southwest of Peoria and south of the Quad Cities. A special census held in 2 ...
, USA. The stadium which opened in 1950 is home to the
Western Illinois Leathernecks football team and track and field team. The field is named after former WIU football coach/A.D. and Marine legend
Rock Hanson. A unique feature of the facility is an extensive hillside that surrounds the field allowing for additional seating for thousands of spectators. Outside the stadium, a statue of former WIU
track and field
Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping eve ...
coach and two time
Olympic gold medalist
Lee Calhoun stands and a bulldog statue is located at the main entrance.
History
A record crowd of 19,850 watched the Leathernecks defeat Central Michigan, Oct. 20, 1973.
From 1996 through 2004, Hanson Field was the
training camp home of the
National Football League's St. Louis Rams.
Renovations
In 2001, the main entrance of the stadium was renovated by adding an iron gate, brick pillars and an arch displaying the words, Hanson Field. The stadium's east side received a $5 million face lift prior to the 2007 season. The renovation to the student seating section, funded largely by a facilities enhancement and life safety fee at the request of student leaders, included new bleachers, increased
seating capacity
Seating capacity is the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, in terms of both the physical space available, and limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile th ...
, a new entrance, restrooms and concession stands.
In 2011, Matrix Turf was installed on the field.
See also
*
List of NCAA Division I FCS football stadiums
The following is a list of current National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) College football, football stadiums in the United States.
Conference affili ...
References
External links
*
American football venues in Illinois
Athletics (track and field) venues in Illinois
College football venues
College track and field venues in the United States
Multi-purpose stadiums in the United States
Western Illinois Leathernecks football
Western Illinois Leathernecks sports venues
Sports venues completed in 1950
1950 establishments in Illinois
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