Old Byrd Stadium
Encyclopedia
Old Byrd Stadium, also known as Byrd Stadium or Byrd Field and nicknamed "the Byrd Cage", was the home stadium for the University of Maryland
from 1923 until 1947. It was located in College Park, Maryland
, east of Baltimore Avenue
on the site of the school's present-day fraternity row. The seating capacity
for the stadium was 5,000.
, head coach for what was then the Maryland Agricultural football
team, petitioned the school for funds for a stadium. At that time, the football team lacked any dedicated facilities and had one poorly-suited athletic field on which to practice and play games. The new stadium was originally to be called the University of Maryland Athletic Field, but the student body protested for a better name. The Board of Regents voted to name the stadium after Byrd, who was a former quarterback, the current coach, and future university president.
The stadium was built by the H. D. Watts Construction Company, which was owned by Harry Watts, an alumnus who played as a fullback
on the football team
from 1901 to 1903. Construction was completed in 1923 at a cost of $60,000. The inaugural game was played against on September 29, which Maryland won, 53–0. The stadium was officially dedicated on November 24, for the Homecoming
game against Catholic
. Maryland won that game as well, 40-6, in front of a crowd of 3,000. Between 1924 and 1947, Maryland played most home games in the facility, but for major games often traveled to Griffith Stadium
in Washington, D.C.
or Memorial Stadium
in Baltimore, both of which were significantly larger. In 1944, Byrd Stadium hosted the first night game in College Park, which pitted the Terrapins against Hampden-Sydney College
. During the 1948 season, the Terrapins played all of their home games at Griffith Stadium
in Washington, D.C.
In 1950, the old stadium was replaced by the significantly larger Byrd Stadium
, and the original stadium was razed in 1953.
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
from 1923 until 1947. It was located in College Park, Maryland
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
, east of Baltimore Avenue
U.S. Route 1 in Maryland
U.S. Route 1 is the easternmost and longest of the major north–south routes of the United States Numbered Highway System, running from Key West, Florida to Fort Kent, Maine. In the U.S...
on the site of the school's present-day fraternity row. The seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
for the stadium was 5,000.
History
In 1915, Harry "Curley" ByrdCurley Byrd
Harry Clifton "Curley" Byrd was an American university administrator, educator, athlete, coach, and politician...
, head coach for what was then the Maryland Agricultural football
Maryland Terrapins football: 1856–1946
The modern Maryland Terrapins football program representing the University of Maryland traces its lineage to the team first formed at what was then the Maryland Agricultural College in 1892...
team, petitioned the school for funds for a stadium. At that time, the football team lacked any dedicated facilities and had one poorly-suited athletic field on which to practice and play games. The new stadium was originally to be called the University of Maryland Athletic Field, but the student body protested for a better name. The Board of Regents voted to name the stadium after Byrd, who was a former quarterback, the current coach, and future university president.
The stadium was built by the H. D. Watts Construction Company, which was owned by Harry Watts, an alumnus who played as a fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
on the football team
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
from 1901 to 1903. Construction was completed in 1923 at a cost of $60,000. The inaugural game was played against on September 29, which Maryland won, 53–0. The stadium was officially dedicated on November 24, for the Homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
game against Catholic
Catholic Cardinals football
The Catholic University Cardinals football team represents the Catholic University of America in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III college football competition as a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference . The team played its first game in 1895 and was a major college...
. Maryland won that game as well, 40-6, in front of a crowd of 3,000. Between 1924 and 1947, Maryland played most home games in the facility, but for major games often traveled to Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium was a sports stadium that stood in Washington, D.C. from 1911 to 1965, between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street, and between W Street and Florida Avenue, NW. An earlier wooden baseball park had been built on the same site in 1891...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
or Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road...
in Baltimore, both of which were significantly larger. In 1944, Byrd Stadium hosted the first night game in College Park, which pitted the Terrapins against Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
. During the 1948 season, the Terrapins played all of their home games at Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium was a sports stadium that stood in Washington, D.C. from 1911 to 1965, between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street, and between W Street and Florida Avenue, NW. An earlier wooden baseball park had been built on the same site in 1891...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In 1950, the old stadium was replaced by the significantly larger Byrd Stadium
Byrd Stadium
Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium , is an outdoor athletic stadium on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. It is the home of the Maryland Terrapins football and lacrosse teams, which compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, and the original stadium was razed in 1953.