Holleder Memorial Stadium
Encyclopedia
Holleder Memorial Stadium was a 20,000 seat football stadium in Rochester, New York
.
Located on Ridgeway Avenue, at the south east corner of Mount Read Blvd., it was built in 1949 to serve as the home of Aquinas Institute football.
Originally named Aquinas Stadium, it was renamed in 1974, in memory of former Aquinas and Army quarterback Don Holleder
, who was killed in 1967, in an ambush 40 miles outside of Saigon, throwing himself into enemy fire to save fallen comrades.
The first ever win for the Buffalo Bills
of the American Football League
was held at the stadium; on August 13, 1960, the Bills won an exhibition game against the Denver Broncos
.
Holleder Stadium was the home pitch for professional soccer's Rochester Lancers
, who played at Holleder from 1967-69 as members of the American Soccer League, and 1970-80 while in the NASL
. The largest crowd to ever attend a Lancers game at Holleder Stadium was on August 21, 1977, when 20,005 people watched the great Pelé
lead his Cosmos to a 2-1 victory over the hometown Lancers in the first round of the 1977 NASL playoffs.
Holleder Stadium also hosted the Rochester Flash
soccer team, who called Holleder Stadium home in 1981-82 (ASL) and 1984 (USL).
The stadium was torn down in 1985. An industrial park, named Hollender Technology Park, in honor of the historic stadium, now sits on the site.
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
.
Located on Ridgeway Avenue, at the south east corner of Mount Read Blvd., it was built in 1949 to serve as the home of Aquinas Institute football.
Originally named Aquinas Stadium, it was renamed in 1974, in memory of former Aquinas and Army quarterback Don Holleder
Don Holleder
Donald Walter Holleder was an American college football star and a hero of the Vietnam War.-Early life and football career:...
, who was killed in 1967, in an ambush 40 miles outside of Saigon, throwing himself into enemy fire to save fallen comrades.
The first ever win for the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
was held at the stadium; on August 13, 1960, the Bills won an exhibition game against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Holleder Stadium was the home pitch for professional soccer's Rochester Lancers
Rochester Lancers
The Rochester Lancers were a soccer team based in Rochester, New York that played in the American Soccer League from 1967 until 1969 and the North American Soccer League from 1970 to 1980 at Aquinas Stadium...
, who played at Holleder from 1967-69 as members of the American Soccer League, and 1970-80 while in the NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. The largest crowd to ever attend a Lancers game at Holleder Stadium was on August 21, 1977, when 20,005 people watched the great Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
lead his Cosmos to a 2-1 victory over the hometown Lancers in the first round of the 1977 NASL playoffs.
Holleder Stadium also hosted the Rochester Flash
Rochester Flash
The Rochester Flash was an American soccer club based in Rochester, New York that was a member of the American Soccer League.After the ASL folded, the club joined the newly formed United Soccer League....
soccer team, who called Holleder Stadium home in 1981-82 (ASL) and 1984 (USL).
The stadium was torn down in 1985. An industrial park, named Hollender Technology Park, in honor of the historic stadium, now sits on the site.
Concerts
- The Grateful DeadGrateful DeadThe Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
- September 1, 1979 - JourneyJourney (band)Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
- June 5, 1983 - The PoliceThe PoliceThe Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
- August 7, 1983