Griffiths Stadium
Encyclopedia
Griffiths Stadium is a stadium
located on the grounds of the University of Saskatchewan
in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The current stadium was opened on June 23, 1967 to host the Saskatchewan Huskies
football team. There was previously a Griffiths Stadium 200 metres to the east of the current location from October 3, 1936 until the new site was opened.
In 2005, the University of Saskatchewan received a $5 million donation from PotashCorp to improve the facilities to meet the requirements of hosting the 2006 Vanier Cup
. In recognition of this donation, the University of Saskatchewan renamed the fields surrounding the stadium Potash Corp Park. Improvements included Next Generation FieldTurf
, expanded seating capacity
(to 4,997), improved washroom facilities, and improved dressing room facilities. The 2006 Vanier Cup was a sellout of 12,567 fans, with temporary seating added for the event.
The Saskatchewan Huskies football team of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA) of CIS
are the only current resident of the facility. It has previously been used by soccer teams and the Saskatoon Hilltops
of the CJFL. Griffiths Stadium also hosted the 2004 and 2005 Mitchell Bowl
games, the 1998 and 1989 Churchill Bowls, as well as numerous Hardy Trophy
games.
On June 23, 2010, it was announced that the Graham Huskies Clubhouse, which was originally built in 2006 with a dressing room, meeting room and offices for the coaching staff, will be expanded with a new two-storey building to the east of the current clubhouse. Thanks to a $3 million donation from Ron and Jane Graham, who donated $1.2 million to construct the original clubhouse, and $160,000 from David Dubé and Heather Ryan, who have funded many things Huskie Football (including the gameday fireworks, championship flags, inflatable mascots, and team jerseys), the Huskies will have a new building that will include a gym, multiple meeting rooms, coaches offices, and a rooftop viewing deck.
The first-floor training center will be outfitted with six lifting stations, including an Olympic lifting platform, a lifting power cage, and dumbbell stations as well as a number of cardio areas. There will also be a narrow Field-Turf track, about 25 meters long, which will allow for some winter speed training and agility work. When players are working out, they will be using brand new equipment and have an incredible view of Griffiths Stadium through large windows.
The second floor will be used for meetings. There is one small permanent meeting room and one large permanent meeting room. The large room will sit approximately 100 people. This room can be divided into three smaller meeting rooms, allowing the Huskies to meet as a team or in individual groups. Players and coaches will be able to watch game film together or on their own.
There will be a mechanical and film center on the third floor and there are plans for a rooftop patio which can be used during Griffith Stadium events.
With this addition comes a new work flow for the Huskies and their coaches. A new video scouting system has been purchased and the team will have 11 stations to view video (up from five this year). There will be new HD TVs, projectors, cameras and the same film software capabilities that NFL teams use. The clubhouse will get some new furniture and an upgraded sound system, among other details.
Griffiths Stadium was expanded in August and September of 2011, adding 1,174 seats. Funding for the new seats will be provided by University of Saskatchewan Alumni David Dube and his wife Heather Ryan. Ten rows of seats were added to the east side stands between the 30 yard lines. These seats are premium seats which are wider, have more leg room, featuring armrests and cup holders. These seats are modeled after stadium seats in NFL stadiums.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
located on the grounds of the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The current stadium was opened on June 23, 1967 to host the Saskatchewan Huskies
Saskatchewan Huskies
The University of Saskatchewan began in 1907 and has operated teams that compete with others since 1911. The term Huskie Athletics is defined as those student athletes from the University of Saskatchewan that compete in elite interuniversity competition administered by Canadian Interuniversity...
football team. There was previously a Griffiths Stadium 200 metres to the east of the current location from October 3, 1936 until the new site was opened.
In 2005, the University of Saskatchewan received a $5 million donation from PotashCorp to improve the facilities to meet the requirements of hosting the 2006 Vanier Cup
Vanier Cup
The Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
. In recognition of this donation, the University of Saskatchewan renamed the fields surrounding the stadium Potash Corp Park. Improvements included Next Generation FieldTurf
FieldTurf
FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass...
, expanded seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
(to 4,997), improved washroom facilities, and improved dressing room facilities. The 2006 Vanier Cup was a sellout of 12,567 fans, with temporary seating added for the event.
The Saskatchewan Huskies football team of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA) of CIS
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
are the only current resident of the facility. It has previously been used by soccer teams and the Saskatoon Hilltops
Saskatoon Hilltops
The Saskatoon Hilltops are a Canadian Junior Football team based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The Hilltops play in the six-team Prairie Football Conference, which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl. The team...
of the CJFL. Griffiths Stadium also hosted the 2004 and 2005 Mitchell Bowl
Mitchell Bowl
The Mitchell Bowl is one of the two semifinal bowls of Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's football, and is the semifinal held in the westernmost location of the two semifinal venues. The winner of this game goes on to play against the Uteck Bowl champions for the Vanier Cup...
games, the 1998 and 1989 Churchill Bowls, as well as numerous Hardy Trophy
Hardy Trophy
The Hardy Trophy is a Canadian sport trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association Football Conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation...
games.
On June 23, 2010, it was announced that the Graham Huskies Clubhouse, which was originally built in 2006 with a dressing room, meeting room and offices for the coaching staff, will be expanded with a new two-storey building to the east of the current clubhouse. Thanks to a $3 million donation from Ron and Jane Graham, who donated $1.2 million to construct the original clubhouse, and $160,000 from David Dubé and Heather Ryan, who have funded many things Huskie Football (including the gameday fireworks, championship flags, inflatable mascots, and team jerseys), the Huskies will have a new building that will include a gym, multiple meeting rooms, coaches offices, and a rooftop viewing deck.
The first-floor training center will be outfitted with six lifting stations, including an Olympic lifting platform, a lifting power cage, and dumbbell stations as well as a number of cardio areas. There will also be a narrow Field-Turf track, about 25 meters long, which will allow for some winter speed training and agility work. When players are working out, they will be using brand new equipment and have an incredible view of Griffiths Stadium through large windows.
The second floor will be used for meetings. There is one small permanent meeting room and one large permanent meeting room. The large room will sit approximately 100 people. This room can be divided into three smaller meeting rooms, allowing the Huskies to meet as a team or in individual groups. Players and coaches will be able to watch game film together or on their own.
There will be a mechanical and film center on the third floor and there are plans for a rooftop patio which can be used during Griffith Stadium events.
With this addition comes a new work flow for the Huskies and their coaches. A new video scouting system has been purchased and the team will have 11 stations to view video (up from five this year). There will be new HD TVs, projectors, cameras and the same film software capabilities that NFL teams use. The clubhouse will get some new furniture and an upgraded sound system, among other details.
Griffiths Stadium was expanded in August and September of 2011, adding 1,174 seats. Funding for the new seats will be provided by University of Saskatchewan Alumni David Dube and his wife Heather Ryan. Ten rows of seats were added to the east side stands between the 30 yard lines. These seats are premium seats which are wider, have more leg room, featuring armrests and cup holders. These seats are modeled after stadium seats in NFL stadiums.