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In 2006, a record-crowd packed the stadium to see the Scarlet Knights upset Louisville, 28-25 |
Rutgers, the Birthplace of College Football, is in the midst of a 102-millon dollar expansion of Rutgers Stadium to increase the capacity to 56,000.
Construction is underway with approximately 1,000 new mezzanine seats added to the existing structure by the start of the 2008 season. Another 1,000 bench seats will be added to the north end zone and 12,000 new seats will be built as part of a newly constructed south end zone section. Plans also call for a new entrance off River Road that will increase the stadium’s visibility while helping to ease traffic congestion on game days.
In addition to the new seating, the expansion will upgrade the stadium’s sound system, scoreboard and video screen; add new elevators, concession stands and restrooms; and upgrade and add player and spectator support facilities.
The project is expected to be completed by fall 2009.
Rutgers Stadium has always been a place where students, alumni and friends could get together on a crisp Saturday afternoon in the fall, and cheer on their Knights.
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The Hale Center, which recently underwent a $12.5 million
expansion, is the home of the Rutgers Football program.
Along
with the Rutgers Stadium adjacent to it, this facility houses
some of the most advanced sports and training facilities
in
the country. |
The excitement at Rutgers Stadium on game days is at an all-time high in the Tri-State area. The Scarlet Knights have played in front of a school-record 10 consecutive sell-out crowds at Rutgers Stadium.
In 2007, 349,306 fans attended Rutgers Stadium, the most in school history. Rutgers averaged a school-record 43,633 fans per game.
The new stadium, financed by a New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority bond issue proposal, which was approved by the legislature and then Governor Jim Florio in January of 1992, was kicked off officially on March 9, 1993.
The historic groundbreaking ceremony drew over 500 as a host of state dignitaries spoke glowingly of the meaning for the University and the state. The stadium project would include expansion to nearly 42,000 seats with all the amenities of a first-class facility. Permanent lights, lit to a level of 150 foot-candles, will make possible night games and television broadcast. A two-tiered press box seats over 150. The main concourse includes eight concession stands and the stadium is equipped with a state-of-the-art sound system. A huge scoreboard towers over the south end zone.
Stadium Features
** Looming above both upper-decks are light stantions that brought the stadium up to par for night games and network television broadcasts.
** A two-level press box on the west mezzanine, immediately identified by the glass facade, holds up to 125 print and broadcast media members.
** Eight 1,000 square-foot concession stands are strategically located throughout the stadium.
** In 2003, the natural grass surface was replaced with FieldTurf, allowing year-round use of the stadium.
** In 2004, a state-of-the-art video scoreboard was added.
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