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Rynearson Stadium
The Factory | |
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![]() ![]() Rynearson Stadium Location in Michigan | |
Location | 184 Westview Street Ypsilanti, MI 48197 |
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Coordinates | 42°15′21″N 83°38′50″W / 42.25583°N 83.64722°WCoordinates: 42°15′21″N 83°38′50″W / 42.25583°N 83.64722°W |
Owner | Eastern Michigan University |
Operator | Eastern Michigan University |
Capacity | 30,200 (1992–present) 22,227 (1974–1991) 15,500 (1969–1973) |
Surface | FieldTurf (gray) (2014–present) FieldTurf (green) (2005–2013) Astroturf (1991–2004) Natural Grass (1969–1990) |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1968 |
Opened | September 27, 1969 |
Expanded | 1974, 1992 |
Construction cost | $1.4 million (approximate) ($9.88 million in 2020 dollars[1]) |
Architect | HNTB (renovations) |
Tenants | |
Eastern Michigan Eagles (NCAA) (1969–present) Detroit Wheels (WFL) (1974) |
Rynearson Stadium is a stadium in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the Eastern Michigan University Eagles. Currently, the stadium has seating for 30,200 people. Standing room is available in the south end zone, allowing for crowds larger than the listed capacity. The stadium is located on the school's west campus, just south of the Huron River.
History[]
The stadium held its first game on September 27, 1969, when EMU upset the University of Akron, 10–3. It originally consisted of two opposite sideline stands around the field and running track. It is one of only two stadiums in the MAC which shares its football field with a running track (UB Stadium being the other). The stadium was named for the late Elton J. Rynearson, Sr., who coached football at Eastern Michigan for 26 seasons. His teams compiled a record of 114–58–15. In one six-year period, from 1925–30, Rynearson’s teams won 40 games, tied two, and lost just four.
The largest attendance for an EMU game at Rynearson Stadium was 26,188 (87% of capacity), on November 28, 2008, for a 56–52 win over Central Michigan.[2]
Renovations[]
In 1992, the seats were expanded south from each grandstand but not connected, giving the stadium the look of an unfinished horseshoe. This was done to conform to the new Division I-A rules for minimum stadium size. Originally a grass field, the field has been artificial since 1991 and was upgraded to FieldTurf in 2005. More recently, the original FieldTurf was replaced prior to the 2014 season by a new gray FieldTurf surface. This made Rynearson Stadium only the second Division I FBS stadium with a non-traditional field color (after Albertsons Stadium at Boise State) and the sixth college football stadium overall with this feature.[3] Lighting was added in 1974, partially due to the Detroit Wheels of the World Football League using the stadium as their home field. The stadium has also hosted high school football games.
Olds/Marshall Track in Rynearson Stadium, with the Convocation Center in the background |
![]() The "home" (west) side of the stadium |
![]() The "away" (east) side of the stadium |
See also[]
- List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums
References[]
- ^ 1634 to 1699: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy ofthe United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700-1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How much is that in real money?: a historical price index for use as a deflator of money values in the economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
- ^ "Eastern Michigan University 2010 Media Guide". p. 132. Archived from the original on 2013-02-02. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ^ "EMU Installing Gray FieldTurf Surface at Rynearson Stadium" (Press release). Eastern Michigan University Athletics. June 17, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
External links[]
Media related to Rynearson Stadium at Wikimedia Commons
- World Football League venues
- American football venues in Michigan
- College football venues
- Eastern Michigan Eagles football
- Buildings at Eastern Michigan University
- Eastern Michigan Eagles
- Sports venues completed in 1969
- 1969 establishments in Michigan
- College track and field venues in the United States
- Sports venues in Washtenaw County, Michigan
- Athletics (track and field) venues in Michigan