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Commonwealth Stadium (Kentucky)
Encyclopedia
Commonwealth Stadium is the name of a stadium
in Lexington, Kentucky
, USA
. This stadium, named for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is located on the campus of the University of Kentucky
and is the home field for the school's football
team, replacing the smaller Stoll Field/McLean Stadium
. The field is named C.M. Newton Field in honor of retired UK athletic director and former baseball and basketball player C.M. Newton.
Built in 1973, it is the newest football stadium in the Southeastern Conference
, as measured by date of original construction. The original capacity for the stadium was 57,800. In Commonwealth's first game, played on September 15, 1973, the Wildcats defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies
31–26. The facility currently seats 67,606.
In 1999 both ends of the stadium were enclosed and 40 suites were added, 10 in each corner of the stadium. The total cost of the expansion was $27.6 million USD
. During the 1999 season, Kentucky's average home attendance for football games was 67,756. Attendance for the game against Tennessee
that year was 71,022, which remained the record attendance until the Wildcats' 2007
game against Florida
drew 71,024. In recent years, crowds of over 70,000 have become very common.
Since 1999, fireworks have been shot from atop the suites after every Wildcat touchdown.
In July 2011, the University of Kentucky announced a massive audio and video upgrade to Commonwealth Stadium. These upgrades include two LED video boards each measuring approximately 37 feet (11.3 m) high by 80 feet (24.4 m) wide (2,960 square feet), making each display the 15th-largest scoreboard in the country. Combined, the 5920 square feet (550 m²) will make the new video boards one of the largest scoreboard systems in the country. Additionally, a new custom audio system and over 1,800 linear sq/ft of video ribbon board will be implemented by September 10, 2011.
The approximate cost of the upgrades total close to $6 million dollars.
^ Denotes Non-Kentucky Player
* Tied the NCAA record for most overtimes
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. This stadium, named for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is located on the campus of the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
and is the home field for the school's football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team, replacing the smaller Stoll Field/McLean Stadium
Stoll Field/McLean Stadium
Stoll Field/McLean Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. It was the home of the University of Kentucky Wildcats football team. The field was in use since 1880, but the concrete stands were opened in October 1916, and closed following the 1972 season, and was replaced by...
. The field is named C.M. Newton Field in honor of retired UK athletic director and former baseball and basketball player C.M. Newton.
Built in 1973, it is the newest football stadium in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
, as measured by date of original construction. The original capacity for the stadium was 57,800. In Commonwealth's first game, played on September 15, 1973, the Wildcats defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
31–26. The facility currently seats 67,606.
In 1999 both ends of the stadium were enclosed and 40 suites were added, 10 in each corner of the stadium. The total cost of the expansion was $27.6 million USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
. During the 1999 season, Kentucky's average home attendance for football games was 67,756. Attendance for the game against Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
that year was 71,022, which remained the record attendance until the Wildcats' 2007
2007 Kentucky Wildcats football team
The 2007 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the college football season of 2007-2008. The team's head football coach was Rich Brooks, in his 5th year as Kentucky's head coach. The Wildcats played their home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky...
game against Florida
2007 Florida Gators football team
The 2007 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2007 college football season...
drew 71,024. In recent years, crowds of over 70,000 have become very common.
Since 1999, fireworks have been shot from atop the suites after every Wildcat touchdown.
In July 2011, the University of Kentucky announced a massive audio and video upgrade to Commonwealth Stadium. These upgrades include two LED video boards each measuring approximately 37 feet (11.3 m) high by 80 feet (24.4 m) wide (2,960 square feet), making each display the 15th-largest scoreboard in the country. Combined, the 5920 square feet (550 m²) will make the new video boards one of the largest scoreboard systems in the country. Additionally, a new custom audio system and over 1,800 linear sq/ft of video ribbon board will be implemented by September 10, 2011.
The approximate cost of the upgrades total close to $6 million dollars.
Stadium records
| Record description | Record | Record holder(s) | Date | Opponent | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most rushing yards, game | 272 yds | Moe Williams Moe Williams Maurece Jabari "Moe" Williams is a former American football running back in the National Football League . He formerly played for the Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens... |
November 11, 1995 | Cincinnati Cincinnati Bearcats The Cincinnati Bearcats are the NCAA athletic teams representing the University of Cincinnati. Since July 1, 2005, the school's athletic teams have been members of the Big East Conference.... |
33-14 |
| Most passing yards, game | 528 yds | Jared Lorenzen Jared Lorenzen Jared Raymond Lorenzen is a former professional football quarterback, who is currently the commissioner of the Ultimate Indoor Football League. He most recently played for the Northern Kentucky River Monsters. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2004... |
October 21, 2000 | Georgia Georgia Bulldogs football The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54... |
30-32 |
| Most receptions, game | 16 | Craig Yeast Craig Yeast Craig Nelson Yeast was a Canadian Football League wide receiver and kick returner for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Previously, he played in the National Football League from 1999 through 2001... |
November 14, 1998 | Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Commodores football The Vanderbilt Commodores football program is a college football team that represents Vanderbilt University. The team currently competes in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference... |
55-17 |
| Most receiving yards, game | 269 yds | Craig Yeast Craig Yeast Craig Nelson Yeast was a Canadian Football League wide receiver and kick returner for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Previously, he played in the National Football League from 1999 through 2001... |
November 14, 1998 | Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Commodores football The Vanderbilt Commodores football program is a college football team that represents Vanderbilt University. The team currently competes in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference... |
55-17 |
| Longest run from line of scrimmage | 87 yards | Josh Clemons | September 10, 2011 | Central Michigan Central Michigan Central Michigan, often called Mid Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Southern Michigan can be considered as a subregion of Central Michigan. As its name implies, it is the central area of the Lower Peninsula. Lower Michigan is said to resemble a mitten, and... |
27-13 |
| Longest pass play | 91 yds | Buck Belue Buck Belue Benjamin Franklin "Buck" Belue played American football and baseball at the University of Georgia from 1978 to 1981. He was the quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs in 1980, when the team went 12-0, and, after beating Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, was named the consensus national champion... ^ to Amp Arnold^ |
October 25, 1980 | Georgia Georgia Bulldogs football The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54... |
0-27 |
| Longest field goal | 54 yds | Hap Hines^ | October 26, 1996 | Georgia Georgia Bulldogs football The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54... |
24-17 |
| Longest Punt | 86 yds | Donnie Jones Donnie Jones Donald Scott Jones, Jr. is an American football punter for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He played collegiately at Louisiana State University.-High school career:... ^ |
November 9, 2002 | LSU LSU Tigers football The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as... |
30-33 |
| Longest Kickoff Return | 100 yds | Willie Shelby^ Tyrone Prothro Tyrone Prothro Tyrone Prothro is a former American football wide receiver who played for the University of Alabama between 2003–2005.- Collegiate career :... ^ Derrick Locke Derrick Locke Derrick Locke is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2011... |
September 22, 1973 October 9, 2004 September 19, 2009 |
Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide football |TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team... Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide football |TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team... Louisville Louisville Cardinals football The Louisville Cardinals football team represents the University of Louisville in college football as a member of the Big East Conference. Howard Schnellenberger started the program's rise to relevancy after winning the Miami Hurricanes' first national championship... |
14-28 17-45 31-27 |
| Longest Punt Return | 84 yds | Rafael Little Rafael Little Rafael Little is an American football running back for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Kentucky.Little has also been a member of the Winnipeg Blue... |
November 18, 2006 | Louisiana-Monroe University of Louisiana at Monroe The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:... |
42-40 |
| Longest Interception Return | 91 yds | Greg Long Greg Long Greg Long is a contemporary Christian Music solo artist and also a member of the contemporary Christian pop group Avalon.... |
September 5, 1981 | North Texas St. North Texas Mean Green football The North Texas Mean Green football team represents the University of North Texas in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-FBS college football and competes as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. The Mean Green have attained several conference championships, including four... |
28-6 |
| Most Points Scored | 77 | Kentucky Kentucky Wildcats The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference... |
September 7, 2002 | UTEP University of Texas at El Paso The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,... |
77-17 |
| Most overtimes | 7* | Kentucky Kentucky Wildcats The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference... |
November 1, 2003 | Arkansas Arkansas Razorbacks football The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
63-71 |
See also
- Kentucky Wildcats footballKentucky Wildcats footballThe Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
- Bluegrass MiracleBluegrass MiracleThe "Bluegrass Miracle" refers to one of the most improbable finishes in NCAA college football history. It was a 74-yard game-winning touchdown pass by the #14 LSU Tigers with no time left on the clock against the Kentucky Wildcats on November 9, 2002 at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington,...
- 2003 Arkansas vs. Kentucky football game, a game at Commonwealth that took seven overtime procedures to decide
- Stoll Field/McLean StadiumStoll Field/McLean StadiumStoll Field/McLean Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. It was the home of the University of Kentucky Wildcats football team. The field was in use since 1880, but the concrete stands were opened in October 1916, and closed following the 1972 season, and was replaced by...