From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Amon G. Carter Stadium is an open-air football stadium on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. It is the home stadium of the TCU football team, the Horned Frogs. It also hosts the annual Armed Forces Bowl, which has been played since 2003. It was named after Amon G. Carter, a prominent Fort Worth businessman, newspaper publisher, and city booster. The stadium is currently under a $175 million renovation-project spanning five years.
The stadium was opened in 1930, with a seating capacity of 22,000. It was built to replace Clark Field. Dedication of the stadium was on October 11, 1930. TCU defeated the University of Arkansas, 40-0. Several different expansions of stadium's end zone and east grand stands took place in the 1940s and 1950s. The first of which took place in 1948, with construction raising the capacity by 8,500 to 30,500. In 1951 and 1953, 2,500 and 4,000 more seats were added to the sections giving the facility 37,000 seats. A two-level press box was added to the structure in 1956.
The upper deck of the stadium
The same year the press box was added, an upper deck was added that features a giant 60 ft. x 120 ft. display of the school's logo, the curved purple & white "TCU". The letters are displayed on bleacher seats and clearly visible when flying into DFW airport. The upper deck brought the stadium capacity to 46,083. Improvements were made to the seating in 1985 and 1991. First the seats in the lower grandstands were removed and aluminum seats were put in their place. Then the upper-deck seats were replaced with the aluminum seats. In 1992, the artificial turf, which had been in place since 1973, was replaced with natural grass. Today, with seating modifications and removals, the stadium seats 44,008 spectators.
In 2002, the David E. Bloxom Sr. Foundation helped install a new scoreboard and videoboard. In addition, TCU recently completed its expansion of the John Justin Athletic Center, which is attached to the stadium complex. Bids are under review to 3/4-bowl the stadium; some estimate this would bring the stadium to a seating capacity of nearly 50,000. Here's an image of the record setting crowd of more than 50,000 who saw TCU defeat Utah in 2009. http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/tcu/graphics/BCSSplashFiesta2.jpg
Panorama of the stadium, taken during the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium most recently sold out for the November 14th, 2009 TCU vs. Utah game.[1]. The previous sell-out came on September 16, 2006 when TCU defeated Texas Tech 12–3, and prior to that was on November 17, 1984, when the 12th-ranked TCU fell to 10th-ranked Texas in a regionally televised contest on ABC. The attendance at the '84 Texas game was listed as 47,280. That was the record until the '09 Utah game, which was played before 50,307.
Amon Carter Stadium and its monstrous upper deck give it an intimidating and fierce environment that has resulted in a phenomenal home field advantage for the Horned Frogs over all of their opponents, except Texas, against whom TCU is 9-21 at home all-time. The 2008 addition of luxury boxes that are the closest suites to the field of any American stadium just add to the steeply menacing environment. The player's new and unrivaled luxurious football practice and locker room facilities are located directly below and adjacent to the new stadium luxury boxes and Daniel Myer Coliseum, including the "Slingin' Sammy" Sam Baugh indoor 80-yard practice field. TCU will host a 2011 Super Bowl participant at its facilities during all practices leading up the the game in Arlington, TX.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
|
TCU Horned Frogs football |
|
| All-time record |
569-511-57 (.500)
|
|
| Teams |
|
|
| Rivalries |
|
|
| Rivalry Game |
|
|
| Key Personnel |
Head Coach: Gary Patterson • Offensive Coordinator: Justin Fuente & Jarrett Anderson • Defensive Coordinator: Dick Bumpas |
|
| Bowl Game Victories |
|
|
| Prominent players |
|
|
| Coaches |
|
|
| National Championships |
|
|
| Award Winners |
|
|
| Home Fields |
Clark Field • Amon G. Carter Stadium
|
|
