Husky Stadium
Encyclopedia
Husky Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium
on the campus of the University of Washington
in Seattle, Washington, United States
. It is the home of the Washington Huskies
of the Pacific-12 Conference, hosting its football
and track and field
competitions. The university holds its annual commencements at the stadium. It is located at the southeastern corner of campus, between Montlake Boulevard N.E. and Union Bay, just north of the Montlake Cut
. Husky Stadium opened in 1920 (the last major renovation occurred in 1987), and its U-shaped design was specifically oriented (18.167° south of due east) to minimize glare from the early afternoon sun in the athletes' eyes. The open end overlooks scenic Lake Washington
and the Cascade Mountains
, including Mount Rainier
. Its total capacity of 72,500 makes it the largest stadium in the Pacific Northwest
.
in 1920 with a seating capacity
of 30,000. The first game at the stadium was the final game of the 1920 season, a 28-7 loss to Dartmouth
on November 27. Husky Stadium replaced Denny Field, which was located on the north end of upper campus, south of the intersection of NE 45th St. and 20th Ave. NE.
Husky Stadium has gone through four remodels (two major, two minor) to expand the seating capacity. Just three years after its construction, the stadium was the site of President Warren Harding's final address before his unexpected death. In 1936, 10,000 seats were added around the rim. In 1950
, an upper deck of 15,000 covered seats was added to the south side - the new structure covered a portion of the lower seats.
In 1968
, a few thousand more seats were added along the rim. In 1987
, 13,000 covered seats were added with the upper deck on the north side. Similar to the south side with a cantilevered steel roof, this structure also covered a portion of the lower seats. The 1987 construction project made headlines in February when the first version of the grandstand collapsed.
Husky Stadium was a primary venue for the 1990 Goodwill Games
, where the crowd saw an address by former President
Ronald Reagan
, as well as an address by Arnold Schwarzenegger
, and a performance by the Moody Blues. The stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the track & field competition.
Following the ceiling tile incident at the Kingdome
in July 1994, Husky Stadium was the temporary home of the Seattle Seahawks
for five games (two pre-season and three regular season) in 1994
. After the demolition of the Kingdome in March 2000, the Seahawks played at Husky Stadium for two seasons, 2000
and 2001
, then moved into Qwest Field
for the 2002
season.
The playing field at Husky Stadium was originally dirt, replaced with natural grass in 1938. In 1968
, Washington became one of the first major college team to play on AstroTurf
; at the time the Houston
Astrodome and Neyland Stadium
were the only major facilities to use the surface. The AstroTurf at Husky Stadium was replaced in 1972
, 1977
, 1987
, and 1995
. The next generation of synthetic turf, FieldTurf
, was installed in 2000
, paid for by the Seattle Seahawks
. The first of its kind in the NFL, the surface was so popular with both the players that the Seahawks, who had planned to use natural grass at Qwest Field, instead installed their own FieldTurf surface in the new stadium. The university replaced the field after nine seasons in 2009.
In addition to the new playing surface, other improvements were made to the stadium by the Seahawks before it became an NFL venue for two seasons. A larger scoreboard, with a 23' x 42' "HuskyTron" video screen, debuted in 1998. Improved lighting for television, including corner lights, was added in 1999, and official NFL
goalposts (optic yellow, 40' (12.2 m) in height) were installed in 2000.
During the 1980s and early 1990s the end zones were painted gold. Starting in 1995 the endzones became purple, then were changed to natural green
in 2000
with the FieldTurf installation. This last lasted until 2009 when the endzones reverted to gold. Purple end zones saw a returnin the 2010 season. During the November 18th, 2010 game against UCLA the endzones were painted black to coincide with the Huskies first "blackout".
originated in Husky Stadium on Halloween
1981, at the prompting of Dave Hunter (Husky band trumpet player). Contrary to Hunter's account, former Washington yell leader Robb Weller
has also claimed credit for the first wave. Weller was the guest yell-king during the Huskies' homecoming football game against the Stanford Cardinal
(led by junior quarterback John Elway
). His initial concept for the wave was for it to travel vertically, from the bottom of the stands to the top, within the UW student section. He claimed to have done this at games when he was yell king. When that was met with limited interest, he then came up with the idea to move the wave from top to bottom. This failed miserably, as it was necessary to turn backward to see the wave progressing downward. Weller then gave up and returned his attention to the game. However, some fans toward the open (East) end of the stadium on the student side started yelling "sideways". Weller did not hear them, but the students tried to initiate a "sideways" wave on their own. After a few attempts, and more yelling of "sideways" by students, Weller took notice. He instructed the crowd to stand as he ran past. He moved along the track toward the open end of the stadium, explaining to the student crowd what he would do, then ran along the track toward the closed end of the stadium, in front of the student section. After a couple of tries, this caught on, and continued around the entire Husky Stadium, and was repeated throughout the rest of the game and the season. Longtime UW band director Bill Bissell also claimed co-creator credit with Weller, suggesting that the wave was devised by both of them prior to the game. The following week Bill Scott (known as "Bill the Beer Man") started the wave in Husky Stadium and then also started it at the Seattle Seahawks
professional football game in the Kingdome
and has been a staple of sports ever since.
Husky Stadium has long been reckoned as one of the loudest stadiums in the nation. This is in part due to the stadium's design; almost 70 percent of the seats are located between the end zones, covered by cantilevered metal roofs.
At times, the high decibel levels typical of Husky games (especially from fans stomping their feet in the bleachers) causes television cameras to shake. During the 1992 night game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers
, ESPN
measured the noise level at over 130 decibels, well above the threshold of pain
. This is the highest decibel level ever recorded for a college football stadium.
at Tennessee
and Heinz Field
in Pittsburgh). There can be upwards of 12,000 more people out on Lake Washington next to Husky Stadium, some of which stay on the lake the entire weekend camping out. Right before kickoff, the UW crew team offers shuttles to anyone that wants to go to and from the boats and docks for the game.
The north and south parking lots are packed with cars and tailgaters
. There is currently controversy surrounding the south parking lot because the Pacific Interchange Option for expansion to the SR 520 Floating Bridge
would effectively eliminate the south parking lot for tailgating.
Fans also gather at the Dempsey Indoor Facility just north of the stadium for Husky Huddles. After the game, the Tyee Sports Council and the University of Washington Athletic Department put on the 5th Quarter where fans can gather and hear analysis of the game from UW Coaches and Husky Legends, and listen to the Husky Marching Band. They can also enjoy refreshments and a raffle for prizes.
, a new track and field stadium, renovated soccer stadium, $20–40 million basketball operations and practice facility and recently completed projects such as the Husky Legends Center, the Connibear Shellhouse and Alaska Airlines Arena renovations, and the construction of the Dempsey Indoor facility. This major remodel of the athletic village is coinciding with construction for an underground station for a northern extension of the Link Light Rail
system and a planned replacement of the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge
. The stadium project is expected to consist of a new grand concourse, individual student entry and seating section, enclosed west end of the stadium, replacement of bleachers with individual seating, removal of the track, new press box, private lodge and suite seating, lowering of the field by 4 ft, video and audio system, football offices, permanent seating in the east end zone, and new and improved amenities, concession stands and bathrooms throughout. Previous plans have called for open concourses allowing spectators to still view the action on the field while browsing the concession stands. The new seating capacity will be lowered to 71,900. Along with the Husky Stadium remodel, new parking garages will be constructed as well as renovated facilities throughout the athletic village.
The stadium has developed numerous structural problems, particularly in the lower bowl, caused by age and the continually moist weather. Renovation plans are slated to begin on November 7, 2011 with the goal of being completed in time for the 2013 season. The team will play at CenturyLink Field until construction is completed.
The new stadium will be developed by Wright Runstad & Company, designed by 360 Architects, and constructed by Turner Construction
company. Plans were set to be released in Fall of 2010.
Seattle Seahawks
at Husky Stadium was due to repairs to the interior ceiling of the Kingdome
in the summer of 1994
. The second residency (2000
-01
) was because of the demolition of the Kingdome in March 2000. The Seahawks' new stadium (now CenturyLink Field) would take over two years to complete, and was built in the Kingdome's footprint.
In order to evaluate its suitability for use in the NFL, Seahawks' owner Paul Allen
paid to install a FieldTurf
surface at Husky Stadium in the summer of 2000
. Visiting players were so impressed with the surface at Husky Stadium that it was rated as the best non-grass field in the NCAA, and rated higher than many of the grass fields. Originally, natural grass was to be installed in the new NFL stadium, but the Seahawks' management and players were so impressed by the performance of FieldTurf that it became the original playing surface at CenturyLink Field in 2002
.
Husky Stadium is the northernmost facility ever to serve as a regular home field in the NFL (Wembley Stadium in London has hosted one regular-season game in London per season since 2007, with one participant as a designated "Home" team).
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...
on the campus of the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle, Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the home of the Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The school is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The athletic program is made up of 9 men's sports and 10 women's sports Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The...
of the Pacific-12 Conference, hosting its football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
competitions. The university holds its annual commencements at the stadium. It is located at the southeastern corner of campus, between Montlake Boulevard N.E. and Union Bay, just north of the Montlake Cut
Montlake Cut
The Montlake Cut is the easternmost section of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, which passes through the city of Seattle, linking Lake Washington to Puget Sound. It is approximately long and wide. The center channel is wide and deep....
. Husky Stadium opened in 1920 (the last major renovation occurred in 1987), and its U-shaped design was specifically oriented (18.167° south of due east) to minimize glare from the early afternoon sun in the athletes' eyes. The open end overlooks scenic Lake Washington
Lake Washington
Lake Washington is a large freshwater lake adjacent to the city of Seattle. It is the largest lake in King County and the second largest in the state of Washington, after Lake Chelan. It is bordered by the cities of Seattle on the west, Bellevue and Kirkland on the east, Renton on the south and...
and the Cascade Mountains
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
, including Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
. Its total capacity of 72,500 makes it the largest stadium in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
.
History
The original stadium--the lower portion of the current facility--was built by Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging CompanyPuget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company
Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company was a major shipbuilding and construction company, located in Seattle, Washington. The firm was established in 1898 on Elliott Bay in Puget Sound. The company was engaged in construction projects around the United States and built ships for the U.S. Navy at...
in 1920 with a 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...
of 30,000. The first game at the stadium was the final game of the 1920 season, a 28-7 loss to Dartmouth
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
on November 27. Husky Stadium replaced Denny Field, which was located on the north end of upper campus, south of the intersection of NE 45th St. and 20th Ave. NE.
Husky Stadium has gone through four remodels (two major, two minor) to expand the seating capacity. Just three years after its construction, the stadium was the site of President Warren Harding's final address before his unexpected death. In 1936, 10,000 seats were added around the rim. In 1950
1950 in sports
-American football:* NFL Championship – Cleveland Browns win 30–28 over the Los Angeles Rams* Oklahoma Sooners – college football champions.* Coaches Poll established to rank top 20 American college football teams-Association football:...
, an upper deck of 15,000 covered seats was added to the south side - the new structure covered a portion of the lower seats.
In 1968
1968 in sports
1968 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall champion: Jean-Claude Killy, France** Women's overall champion: Nancy Greene, Canada-American football:...
, a few thousand more seats were added along the rim. In 1987
1987 in sports
1987 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Pirmin Zurbriggen, Switzerland** Women's overall season champion: Maria Walliser, Switzerland-American football:...
, 13,000 covered seats were added with the upper deck on the north side. Similar to the south side with a cantilevered steel roof, this structure also covered a portion of the lower seats. The 1987 construction project made headlines in February when the first version of the grandstand collapsed.
Husky Stadium was a primary venue for the 1990 Goodwill Games
1990 Goodwill Games
The 1990 Goodwill Games was the second edition of the international multi-sport event created by Ted Turner, which was held between July 20 and August 5, 1990. Following an inaugural edition in Moscow, the second games took place in Seattle, United States, highlighting the competition's role in...
, where the crowd saw an address by former President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, as well as an address by Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
, and a performance by the Moody Blues. The stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the track & field competition.
Following the ceiling tile incident at the Kingdome
Kingdome
The Kingdome was a multi-purpose stadium located in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood. Owned and operated by King County, the Kingdome opened in 1976 and was best known as the home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League , the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball , and the...
in July 1994, Husky Stadium was the temporary home of the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
for five games (two pre-season and three regular season) in 1994
1994 NFL season
The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season...
. After the demolition of the Kingdome in March 2000, the Seahawks played at Husky Stadium for two seasons, 2000
2000 NFL season
The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000...
and 2001
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
, then moved into Qwest Field
Qwest Field
CenturyLink Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington, United States. It serves as the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer...
for the 2002
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
season.
The playing field at Husky Stadium was originally dirt, replaced with natural grass in 1938. In 1968
1968 in sports
1968 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall champion: Jean-Claude Killy, France** Women's overall champion: Nancy Greene, Canada-American football:...
, Washington became one of the first major college team to play on AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
; at the time the Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
Astrodome and Neyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium is a sports stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. It serves primarily as the home of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, but is also used to host large conventions and has been a site for several NFL exhibition games. The stadium's official capacity is 102,455...
were the only major facilities to use the surface. The AstroTurf at Husky Stadium was replaced in 1972
1972 in sports
1972 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Gustav Thöni, Italy** Women's overall season champion: Annemarie Pröll, Austria-American football:...
, 1977
1977 Washington Huskies football team
The 1977 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the 1977 college football season.-Schedule:*Games subsequently forfeited to Washington.-Team Players in the NFL:...
, 1987
1987 in sports
1987 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Pirmin Zurbriggen, Switzerland** Women's overall season champion: Maria Walliser, Switzerland-American football:...
, and 1995
1995 in sports
1995 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Alberto Tomba, Italy** Women's overall season champion: Vreni Schneider, Switzerland-American football:...
. The next generation of synthetic turf, 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...
, was installed in 2000
2000 Washington Huskies football team
The 2000 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the 2000 NCAA Division I-A college football season. The Huskies won the 2001 Rose Bowl.-Regular season:...
, paid for by the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. The first of its kind in the NFL, the surface was so popular with both the players that the Seahawks, who had planned to use natural grass at Qwest Field, instead installed their own FieldTurf surface in the new stadium. The university replaced the field after nine seasons in 2009.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
goalposts (optic yellow, 40' (12.2 m) in height) were installed in 2000.
During the 1980s and early 1990s the end zones were painted gold. Starting in 1995 the endzones became purple, then were changed to natural green
Green
Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
in 2000
2000 Washington Huskies football team
The 2000 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the 2000 NCAA Division I-A college football season. The Huskies won the 2001 Rose Bowl.-Regular season:...
with the FieldTurf installation. This last lasted until 2009 when the endzones reverted to gold. Purple end zones saw a returnin the 2010 season. During the November 18th, 2010 game against UCLA the endzones were painted black to coincide with the Huskies first "blackout".
The Wave
Many claim that the first audience waveAudience wave
The wave or the Mexican wave is an example of metachronal rhythm achieved in a packed stadium when successive groups of spectators briefly stand and raise their arms...
originated in Husky Stadium on Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
1981, at the prompting of Dave Hunter (Husky band trumpet player). Contrary to Hunter's account, former Washington yell leader Robb Weller
Robb Weller
Robb Weller is an American game show host and television personality and producer .He hosted Entertainment Tonight from 1984 to 1989. He currently appears as the co-anchor of FOX 11 Sunday Morning News with Gina Silva at KTTV in Los Angeles...
has also claimed credit for the first wave. Weller was the guest yell-king during the Huskies' homecoming football game against the Stanford Cardinal
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
(led by junior quarterback John Elway
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
). His initial concept for the wave was for it to travel vertically, from the bottom of the stands to the top, within the UW student section. He claimed to have done this at games when he was yell king. When that was met with limited interest, he then came up with the idea to move the wave from top to bottom. This failed miserably, as it was necessary to turn backward to see the wave progressing downward. Weller then gave up and returned his attention to the game. However, some fans toward the open (East) end of the stadium on the student side started yelling "sideways". Weller did not hear them, but the students tried to initiate a "sideways" wave on their own. After a few attempts, and more yelling of "sideways" by students, Weller took notice. He instructed the crowd to stand as he ran past. He moved along the track toward the open end of the stadium, explaining to the student crowd what he would do, then ran along the track toward the closed end of the stadium, in front of the student section. After a couple of tries, this caught on, and continued around the entire Husky Stadium, and was repeated throughout the rest of the game and the season. Longtime UW band director Bill Bissell also claimed co-creator credit with Weller, suggesting that the wave was devised by both of them prior to the game. The following week Bill Scott (known as "Bill the Beer Man") started the wave in Husky Stadium and then also started it at the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
professional football game in the Kingdome
Kingdome
The Kingdome was a multi-purpose stadium located in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood. Owned and operated by King County, the Kingdome opened in 1976 and was best known as the home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League , the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball , and the...
and has been a staple of sports ever since.
Crowd noise
At times, the high decibel levels typical of Husky games (especially from fans stomping their feet in the bleachers) causes television cameras to shake. During the 1992 night game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers
1992 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1992 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1992 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:...
, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
measured the noise level at over 130 decibels, well above the threshold of pain
Threshold of pain
The threshold of pain is the point at which pain begins to be felt. It is an entirely subjective phenomenon. The intensity at which a stimulus begins to evoke pain is the threshold intensity. So, if a hotplate on a person's skin begins to hurt at 42°C , then that is the pain threshold temperature...
. This is the highest decibel level ever recorded for a college football stadium.
Tailgating
Husky Stadium is unusual in that fans can go to the football games by boat (other stadiums with this feature include Neyland StadiumNeyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium is a sports stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. It serves primarily as the home of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, but is also used to host large conventions and has been a site for several NFL exhibition games. The stadium's official capacity is 102,455...
at Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
and Heinz Field
Heinz Field
Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...
in Pittsburgh). There can be upwards of 12,000 more people out on Lake Washington next to Husky Stadium, some of which stay on the lake the entire weekend camping out. Right before kickoff, the UW crew team offers shuttles to anyone that wants to go to and from the boats and docks for the game.
The north and south parking lots are packed with cars and tailgaters
Tailgate party
In the United States, a tailgate party is a social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle. Tailgating often involves consuming alcoholic beverages and grilling food. Tailgate parties usually occur in the parking lots at stadiums and arenas, before and occasionally after games and...
. There is currently controversy surrounding the south parking lot because the Pacific Interchange Option for expansion to the SR 520 Floating Bridge
Evergreen Point Floating Bridge
The Governor Albert D. Rosellini Bridge—Evergreen Point is the longest floating bridge on Earth at and carries State Route 520 across Lake Washington from Seattle to Medina.The Evergreen Point of the bridge's original name is the westernmost of the three small Eastside...
would effectively eliminate the south parking lot for tailgating.
Fans also gather at the Dempsey Indoor Facility just north of the stadium for Husky Huddles. After the game, the Tyee Sports Council and the University of Washington Athletic Department put on the 5th Quarter where fans can gather and hear analysis of the game from UW Coaches and Husky Legends, and listen to the Husky Marching Band. They can also enjoy refreshments and a raffle for prizes.
2011–2013 renovation
The new Husky Stadium is the first and primary income source of a completely remodeled athletic district which includes a new $15 million dollar Husky BallparkHusky Ballpark
Husky Ballpark at Chaffey Field is a college baseball stadium on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. It is the home field of the Washington Huskies of the Pac-12 conference....
, a new track and field stadium, renovated soccer stadium, $20–40 million basketball operations and practice facility and recently completed projects such as the Husky Legends Center, the Connibear Shellhouse and Alaska Airlines Arena renovations, and the construction of the Dempsey Indoor facility. This major remodel of the athletic village is coinciding with construction for an underground station for a northern extension of the Link Light Rail
Link Light Rail
Sound Transit Link Light Rail is a rapid transit project in the Greater Seattle region, originally approved by a ballot measure in November 1996. Two lines are currently operating as of 2009: Tacoma Link, which uses 3 vehicles built by Škoda, and Central Link, which uses 35 vehicles built by Kinki...
system and a planned replacement of the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge
Evergreen Point Floating Bridge
The Governor Albert D. Rosellini Bridge—Evergreen Point is the longest floating bridge on Earth at and carries State Route 520 across Lake Washington from Seattle to Medina.The Evergreen Point of the bridge's original name is the westernmost of the three small Eastside...
. The stadium project is expected to consist of a new grand concourse, individual student entry and seating section, enclosed west end of the stadium, replacement of bleachers with individual seating, removal of the track, new press box, private lodge and suite seating, lowering of the field by 4 ft, video and audio system, football offices, permanent seating in the east end zone, and new and improved amenities, concession stands and bathrooms throughout. Previous plans have called for open concourses allowing spectators to still view the action on the field while browsing the concession stands. The new seating capacity will be lowered to 71,900. Along with the Husky Stadium remodel, new parking garages will be constructed as well as renovated facilities throughout the athletic village.
The stadium has developed numerous structural problems, particularly in the lower bowl, caused by age and the continually moist weather. Renovation plans are slated to begin on November 7, 2011 with the goal of being completed in time for the 2013 season. The team will play at CenturyLink Field until construction is completed.
The new stadium will be developed by Wright Runstad & Company, designed by 360 Architects, and constructed by Turner Construction
Turner Construction
Turner Construction Company is one of the largest construction management companies in the United States with a construction volume of $8 billion in 2010. It is a subsidiary of HOCHTIEF Germany.-The early years:...
company. Plans were set to be released in Fall of 2010.
Seattle Seahawks
The first residency of the NFL'sNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
at Husky Stadium was due to repairs to the interior ceiling of the Kingdome
Kingdome
The Kingdome was a multi-purpose stadium located in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood. Owned and operated by King County, the Kingdome opened in 1976 and was best known as the home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League , the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball , and the...
in the summer of 1994
1994 Seattle Seahawks season
-Schedule:-External links:* *...
. The second residency (2000
2000 Seattle Seahawks season
The 2000 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 25th season with the National Football League. The 2000 season was the first of two seasons the Seahawks played at Husky Stadium while Qwest Field was being built.-2000 NFL Draft:-Staff:-Preseason:...
-01
2001 Seattle Seahawks season
The 2001 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 26th season with the National Football League, finishing the season at 9-7. The Seahawks were in the playoff hunt until the very last game of the season; Baltimore's win over Minnesota on the last Monday Night game of the year ended Seattle's...
) was because of the demolition of the Kingdome in March 2000. The Seahawks' new stadium (now CenturyLink Field) would take over two years to complete, and was built in the Kingdome's footprint.
In order to evaluate its suitability for use in the NFL, Seahawks' owner Paul Allen
Paul Allen
Paul Gardner Allen is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. Allen co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates...
paid to install a 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...
surface at Husky Stadium in the summer of 2000
2000 Seattle Seahawks season
The 2000 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 25th season with the National Football League. The 2000 season was the first of two seasons the Seahawks played at Husky Stadium while Qwest Field was being built.-2000 NFL Draft:-Staff:-Preseason:...
. Visiting players were so impressed with the surface at Husky Stadium that it was rated as the best non-grass field in the NCAA, and rated higher than many of the grass fields. Originally, natural grass was to be installed in the new NFL stadium, but the Seahawks' management and players were so impressed by the performance of FieldTurf that it became the original playing surface at CenturyLink Field in 2002
2002 Seattle Seahawks season
The 2002 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 27th season with the National Football League. The Seahawks returned to the NFC West for the first time since their inaugural season of 1976 and opened their new stadium, Seahawks Stadium, on the site of their former stadium, the Kingdome.-2002 NFL...
.
Husky Stadium is the northernmost facility ever to serve as a regular home field in the NFL (Wembley Stadium in London has hosted one regular-season game in London per season since 2007, with one participant as a designated "Home" team).
External links
- Go Huskies.cstv.com - official athletics site - Husky Stadium
- Large picture of Husky Stadium and boat tailgaters
- SFO.com - details and pictures of Husky Stadium
- Columns, the UW Alumni Magazine - Husky Stadium
- UW campus map - Husky Stadium - SE corner of campus
- HistoryLink.org - article describing the 19871987 in sports1987 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Pirmin Zurbriggen, Switzerland** Women's overall season champion: Maria Walliser, Switzerland-American football:...
collapse - Columns, the UW Alumni Magazine - photos from the 1987 north deck collapse
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer - Husky Stadium: Aging not so gracefully - 27-Sep-2007
- Aerial image (2002) and topographic map of UW campus from USGS via Microsoft Research Maps
- Go Huskies.com - UW Releases Latest Renderings of Husky Stadium Renovation - 2-Sep-2010