FIU Stadium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| FIU Stadium | |
|---|---|
| "The Cage" | |
| Location | 11200 SW 8th St Miami, FL 33199 |
| Opened | 1995 |
| Owner | Florida International University |
| Operator | Florida International University |
| Surface | AstroPlay |
| Construction cost | $3,000,000 USD |
| Former names | |
| FIU Community Stadium | |
| Tenants | |
| FIU Golden Panthers (NCAA) (2002-Present) | |
| Capacity | |
| 12,673 (45,000 by 2011) | |
FIU Stadium is a stadium located at the University Park campus of Florida International University in Miami, Florida. It is primarily used for American football and track and field, serving as the home venue of the Golden Panthers football and track and field teams. The facility opened in 1995 and has a seating capacity of 12,673 people.
Aside from hosting FIU football home games, the stadium serves as a practice facility for the team. Additionally, the stadium has served as a venue for local high school football and track competitions since opening in 1995. The facility contains around 7,500 permanent seats, but capacity is increased to 12,673 by bringing in temporary seating during football season. Other temporary improvements such as an additional scoreboard in the west endzone, press box, and a skybox are used only during the football season.
For track and field, the stadium features a GTE Rack 4000 running track around the playing field and other standard amenities used in field events.
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[edit] Stadium expansion
The university is currently planning to expand the stadium to an approximate capacity of 25,000 permanent seats. This expansion would also include features such as new luxury suites, new press box and media area, and upgrades to the existing fieldhouse. [1]
On March 22, 2006, the Miami Herald reported that the new stadium would begin construction in January 2007 and be ready for the 2008 football season. [2] Due to this, FIU will play its 2007 season at the Orange Bowl and return to the expanded/new stadium in 2008.
The Herald article also states that the stadium's capacity is to be 45,500 and can be expanded up to 50,000 seats. Also, it will have "13 luxury suites, 1,400 club seats, a new press box, new lighting, a jumbotron scoreboard and new coaches offices, locker rooms and expansion of the weight room."
[edit] Trivia
The stadium is also known as the "The Cage" by FIU students.
The largest crowd to ever witness a game at the stadium was 17,314 on August 29, 2002 in FIU's inaugural football game against Saint Peter's College, which FIU won 27-3.
Until the end of the 2006 football season, FIU was the only university in the State of Florida south of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida to play their home football games on campus. Beginning with the 2007-08 season, this distinction will belong to the University of Central Florida Golden Knights, who will begin play in the on-campus Bright House Networks Stadium while FIU plays at the Orange Bowl for one season. This distinction will be shared by both schools as the Golden Panthers move back to FIU Stadium for the 2008 season after the stadium's renovation/expansion is complete.
[edit] See also
- Shula Bowl
- University Park Stadium (FIU baseball)
- Pharmed Arena (FIU basketball)
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Current Football Stadiums in the Sun Belt Conference |
|---|
| Cajun Field (Louisiana-Lafayette) • FIU Stadium (Florida International) • Fouts Field (North Texas) • Indian Stadium (Arkansas State) • Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium (Middle Tennessee) • Lockhart Stadium (Florida Atlantic) • Malone Stadium (Louisiana-Monroe) • Movie Gallery Stadium (Troy) |
