Martin Stadium

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Martin Stadium
Location	Pullman, Washington
Broke ground	1972
Opened	1972
Owner	Washington State University
Operator	Washington State University
Surface	FieldTurf
Construction cost	$1 million USD( Undergoing $70 million renovation)
Former names
N/A
Tenants
Washington State Cougars University of Idaho Vandals (1999-2004) (NCAA)
Capacity
35,117

Martin Stadium is the primary field of Washington State's football team. It is named after Clarence D. Martin, the governor of the state of Washington from 1932-40. Ironically, Martin was a graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle, WSU's in-state rival.

Martin Stadium opened in September 1972, two and a half years after Rogers Field was significantly damaged by fire, long believed as to be arson. The WSU Cougars played their home football games at Spokane's Joe Albi Stadium in 1970 & 1971.

As of 2006, the stadium has a seating capacity of 35,117. Since the renovation of Reser Stadium at Oregon State, Martin Stadium has dropped to tenth in seating capacity among Pac-10 football stadiums. The current attendance record was set on November 15, 1997, when WSU beat Stanford in front of 40,306 fans. Despite the relatively small size of Martin Stadium, it has one of the highest ratios of seating capacity to population base; almost 1.6 seats per every citizen in the city of Pullman.

Martin Stadium is an intimate football venue, putting the fans much closer to the action than most other stadiums. This is possible because it was the first college football stadium to expand (in 1979) by removing the track and lowering the field. This modification added over 12,000 new seats that were closer the field. Following a 10-3 season and an undefeated home campaign in 2003, Martin Stadium was ranked by Sports Illustrated as one of the toughest stadiums for visiting teams in college football.

1 Sharing with a rival
2 Fire at Rogers Field
3 Stadium renovation
4 External links

[edit] Sharing with a rival

For five years, the Idaho Vandals of nearby Moscow, had used Martin Stadium as its home field, as Idaho transitioned from Division I-AA to I-A. At the time the Vandals' on-campus stadium, the Kibbie Dome, was too small to support the attendance requirements for Division I-A. The attendance criteria for Division I-A has since been changed by the NCAA and Idaho is now a member of the Division I-A WAC, and uses its own facility. Idaho and Washington State renewed their football rivalry in 1998 and match up annually in a game known as the "Battle of the Palouse," played at Martin Stadium in September.

[edit] Fire at Rogers Field

At 10:30 PM on Saturday, April 4, 1970 (the day after Spring Break began), residents heard what they described as a gunshot at the football stadium. By 2:00 AM the wooden venue, Rogers Field, had burned to the ground, witnessed by a thousand residents and firefighters. The exact cause, or offender, was never found, though there were several suspects. The remains of Rogers Field has been used for track and soccer practices.[1]

[edit] Stadium renovation

Martin Stadium will begin a major renovation project following completion of the 2006-07 football season. In spring 2006 the Associated Students of Washington State University approved a measure to finance $10 million of the estimated $70 million cost of the multi-phase renovation. Pending finances, renovation could be completed as early as 2009. Among the plans for renovation are added seating capacity, improved amenities and new press boxes and luxury suites. A new seating capacity of 43,000 is expected following the renovation.

Cougar fans celebrate an Apple Cup win.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 46°43′54.5″N, 117°09′37.6″W

Football Stadiums of the Pacific Ten Conference
Arizona Stadium (Arizona) • Autzen Stadium (Oregon) • Husky Stadium (Washington) • Martin Stadium (Washington State) • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Southern California) • California Memorial Stadium (California) • Reser Stadium (Oregon State) • Rose Bowl (UCLA) • Stanford Stadium (Stanford) • Sun Devil Stadium (Arizona State)