Creighton Stadium Explained

Stadium Name:Creighton Stadium
Address:N. 27th & Burt Streets
Location:Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Pushpin Map:USA#Nebraska
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the United States##Location in Nebraska
Pushpin Label:Omaha
Broke Ground:1924
Closed:1963
Demolished:1966
Owner:Creighton University
Operator:Creighton University
Surface:Natural grass
Construction Cost:$335,000 [1]
Tenants:Creighton Bluejays (NCAA) (1925–1942)
Seating Capacity:22,500[2]

Creighton Stadium was an outdoor American football stadium in the midwestern United States, located on the campus of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. At the southeast corner of North 27th and Burt streets, it was the home field of the Creighton Bluejays of the Missouri Valley Conference.

Constructed in 1924,[3] and opened in 1925,[1] it was a concrete stadium in the shape of an oval, but lacked enclosed end zones.[4] Asymmetric, the larger grandstand on the south sideline was single level and included the press box, while the north grandstand had a second deck, bounded by Burt Street. After several seasons, lights were added, between the field and the running track.[5]

The football field had an unconventional east-west alignment at an elevation of approximately 1050feet above sea level. Located at the northwest corner of campus, the present-day North Freeway (U.S. Route 75) is immediately west of the site.

Like many colleges during World War II, Creighton put its football program on hiatus after the 1942 season;[6] the final varsity game was at home against Tulsa on November 21.[7] Bluejay football was not resumed after the war,[6] but the stadium was used for track competitions and ROTC drilling for the next two decades. It was demolished in the 1960s and the site where it stood is now occupied by the Criss research buildings of the Creighton University School of Medicine.[1]

In addition to college athletics, the stadium hosted religious and community affairs,[1] as well as rodeos.[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: A Century of teaching and healing 1892-1992 : the first one hundred years of the Creighton University School of Medicine. Boro . Carolyn. Mead . Beverly T.. Creighton University. 1991. 160.
  2. Book: Missouri Valley Conference Handbook. 1937. Missouri Valley Conference News Bureau. 56 (on page 3).
  3. Web site: 1924 Creighton Stadium construction . (photo) . Creighton University Archives . 1924 . November 10, 2016.
  4. News: 1929 stadium without light poles . (photo) . Creighton University Archives . 1929 . November 10, 2016.
  5. Web site: 1930 Creighton campus, aerial view . (photo) . Creighton University Archives . 1930 . November 10, 2016.
  6. Web site: History . Creighton University . November 10, 2016.
  7. News: Tulsa wins title . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington) . Associated Press . November 22, 1942 . 1, sports .
  8. News: 1944 rodeo in stadium . (photo) . Gonzaga University Archives . 1944 . November 10, 2016.