Memorial Stadium (Terre Haute)
Encyclopedia
Memorial Stadium is the current home of Indiana State University
football in Terre Haute, Indiana
, USA. Constructed in 1923-24 by the City of Terre Haute to seat approximately 16,000 people, the facility's initial primary use was as the home of the Terre Haute Baseball Club, aka the Terre Haute Tots, a minor league team in the Three-I League; a Class B
team. Class B is the equivalent of today's Class A
baseball. The stadium was officially dedicated on May 4, 1925 and was universally hailed as the nation's finest minor league baseball stadium. Baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
was present to throw out the first pitch of the season opening game between Terre Haute and the Peoria Tractors. The stadium and its grounds also were used for semi-pro, high school and college football and baseball, professional boxing, circuses, fireworks exhibitions, ice skating and miscellaneous conventions and other events.
Later tenants of Memorial Stadium were the Terre Haute Phillies
, a farm club of the Philadelphia Phillies
, and the Terre Haute Huts
, which had a working agreement with the Detroit Tigers
. Unfortunately, Terre Haute's long association (since 1883) with professional baseball ended on July 3, 1956.
In 1967, Indiana State University
became the first university in the world to own and operate an outdoor artificial playing surface. The stadium, except for its outside wall and memorial arch, was razed in 1968-69, and converted to a football stadium. As a result, it has little resemblance to the majestic amphitheater constructed in the early Twenties. The field was upgraded in 2009 with a new FieldTurf
playing surface, at a cost of $750,000.
Memorial Stadium, which has a current capacity of 12,000, also hosts the annual High School football game (previously the homecoming game) between Terre Haute rivals North-South as they play for the 'Liberty Bell'.
There are tentative plans to construct a new multi-purpose stadium on the Indiana State campus, 3 miles to the west. Memorial Stadium would likely then be razed; with the exception of the last portion of original Memorial Stadium; the Arch.
In June 2010, Head Coach Trent Miles, requested permission to begin construction of two practice field, immediately north of Memorial Stadium; they would alleve scheduled conflicts for practices and provide additional fields for Terre Haute-area youth football and high school programs.
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
football in Terre Haute, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, USA. Constructed in 1923-24 by the City of Terre Haute to seat approximately 16,000 people, the facility's initial primary use was as the home of the Terre Haute Baseball Club, aka the Terre Haute Tots, a minor league team in the Three-I League; a Class B
Class B
The term Class B may refer to:* Class B amplifier, an electronic amplifier category* Class B stars* Class B , a defunct class in minor league baseball in North America* Class B airspace class, as defined by the ICAO for the busiest U.S...
team. Class B is the equivalent of today's Class A
Class A
Class A may refer to:* Class A airfield, a standardised design for military airfields built throughout Britain from 1942* Class A airspace, an airspace class defined by the ICAO* class A amplifier, a category of electronic amplifier...
baseball. The stadium was officially dedicated on May 4, 1925 and was universally hailed as the nation's finest minor league baseball stadium. Baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
was present to throw out the first pitch of the season opening game between Terre Haute and the Peoria Tractors. The stadium and its grounds also were used for semi-pro, high school and college football and baseball, professional boxing, circuses, fireworks exhibitions, ice skating and miscellaneous conventions and other events.
Later tenants of Memorial Stadium were the Terre Haute Phillies
Terre Haute Phillies
The Terre Haute Phillies were a baseball team in Terre Haute, Indiana from 1946-1954. They were a Three-I League team affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies. Their games were played at Memorial Stadium ballpark in Terre Haute.-Year-by-year record:...
, a farm club of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and the Terre Haute Huts
Terre Haute Huts
The Terre Haute Huts were a minor league professional baseball team in Terre Haute, Indiana in the Three-I League. The team was in existence from 1955–1956, and was affiliated with the Detroit Tigers. They played at Indiana State University's Memorial Stadium....
, which had a working agreement with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. Unfortunately, Terre Haute's long association (since 1883) with professional baseball ended on July 3, 1956.
In 1967, Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
became the first university in the world to own and operate an outdoor artificial playing surface. The stadium, except for its outside wall and memorial arch, was razed in 1968-69, and converted to a football stadium. As a result, it has little resemblance to the majestic amphitheater constructed in the early Twenties. The field was upgraded in 2009 with a new FieldTurf
FieldTurf
FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass...
playing surface, at a cost of $750,000.
Memorial Stadium, which has a current capacity of 12,000, also hosts the annual High School football game (previously the homecoming game) between Terre Haute rivals North-South as they play for the 'Liberty Bell'.
There are tentative plans to construct a new multi-purpose stadium on the Indiana State campus, 3 miles to the west. Memorial Stadium would likely then be razed; with the exception of the last portion of original Memorial Stadium; the Arch.
In June 2010, Head Coach Trent Miles, requested permission to begin construction of two practice field, immediately north of Memorial Stadium; they would alleve scheduled conflicts for practices and provide additional fields for Terre Haute-area youth football and high school programs.
External links
- ISU Athletics
- Indiana State University
- McCormick, Mike, "Terre Haute: Queen City of the Wabash"