Lubbers Stadium
Location | Stadium Drive, Allendale, MI 49401 |
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Coordinates | 42°58′9.4″N 85°53′39.5″W / 42.969278°N 85.894306°W |
Owner | Grand Valley State University |
Operator | Grand Valley State University |
Capacity | 10,700 (2012-present) 8,950 (2011) 8,550 (1979-2010) |
Record attendance | 16,467 (2009)[2] |
Surface | FieldTurf (2012-present) Kentucky Bluegrass (1973-2011) |
Opened | September 15, 1979 [1] |
Tenants | |
Grand Valley State Lakers football (NCAA) (1973-present) |
Lubbers Stadium, or Arend D. Lubbers Stadium, is a stadium on the Grand Valley State University's campus in Allendale, Michigan, USA. The stadium was named after former university president Arend Lubbers.[3] It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the Grand Valley State Lakers. The stadium opened in 1973 and seats about 10,700 people-though it almost always holds thousands more fans.[3][4] The stadium is also home to a football weight training facility.[3]
History
Lubbers Stadium hosted its first football game on November 15, 1973 against Kalamazoo College. The stadium was officially dedicated in 1979.[3]
Location
Lubbers Stadium is located in the northwest part of campus along with most all other athletics facilities, just north of the Kelly Family Sports Center and just south of Lake Michigan Drive.
Expansion
Beginning in the spring of 2011, Lubbers Stadium began undergoing a series of expansions and renovations that will increase capacity, concessions, and restroom facilities. The improvements are being paid for by several large private gifts.[5]
2011
The first year of expansion included replacing the student seating section with new stands, increasing student seating by 400 seats and wrapping around the corners of the stadium creating a horseshoe. Permanent concession stands and restrooms behind student section were also built to accommodate the increase in seating and the fans sitting in the south end. The wooden benches in the east and west grandstands were wrapped in blue acrylic plastic to provide more comfortable seating and a longer lifespan.
2012
In second year of renovations the field was lowered by eight feet and the outdoor track surface was removed and replaced by the new track and lacrosse stadium that was constructed on the south side of campus. Lowering the field gave the opportunity to add four rows of seating down toward the field in a horseshoe configuration, adding 2,000 seats. Chair-back seats were added in four of the new sections behind the home sideline. A grass slope was built behind the north end zone and in front of the video board for overflow seating and the band section was moved to the southeast corner. The field was then replaced with an artificial turf playing surface.
Beyond
In the years beyond this expansion the University plans on adding visiting locker rooms under the east grandstand and remove the existing press box and replace it with a larger one to add more seating and sky boxes. These improvements would be paid for by a public fund raising campaign.
Attendance records
Rank | Attendance | Year | Game result |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 16,467 | 2009 | Grand Valley 38, Saginaw Valley 7 |
2 | 16,121 [6] | 2015 | Grand Valley 24, Ferris State 61 |
3 | 15,139[7] | 2012 | Grand Valley 83, Notre Dame (Ohio) 46 |
4 | 15,004 | 2011 | Grand Valley 44, Western Oregon 20 |
5 | 14,612 | 2008 | Grand Valley 31, Ferris State 13 |
6 | 14,557 | 2005 | Grand Valley 30, Ferris State 10 |
7 | 14,472 | 2005 | Grand Valley 31, Saginaw Valley 10 |
Stadium traditions
- "Cannons" – After every touchdown or field goal score by GVSU, "cannons" or fireworks are shot off behind the student section on the south end of the stadium.
- "Grass slopes" – Grass slopes have existed in Lubbers Stadium since its initial construction. Through various expansions and renovations, the athletic department has made it a priority to preserve a grass slope in the stadium.[5]
- "Rowing" – After every touchdown or field goal score by GVSU, the Laker student section sits down and "rows" like a rowboat the total number of points scored by the team thus far in the game.
- "Lubbers Leap" - When the team enters the field from the north ramp prior to kickoff they run across the field and leap into the student section in the south endzone.
References
- ^ "50th Anniversary - GVSU Historical Timeline". Grand Valley State University. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ "No. 1 Grand Valley State Claims A 38-7 Win Over No. 13 Saginaw Valley State" GVSU Lakers, Accessed September 13, 2009
- ^ a b c d e "Lubbers Stadium". GVSU Lakers. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
- ^ "GVSU - Grand Valley Stadium (Lubbers Stadium)". D2Football.com. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ a b "Expansion, renovations begin at Grand Valley State's Lubbers Stadium". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ "Tonight's Attendance". September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
- ^ "Offensive Fireworks Lead #7 Lakers to 83-46 Victory". September 8, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2012.