Hancock Whitney Stadium Explained

Stadium Name:Abe Mitchell Field at Hancock Whitney Stadium
Location:Mobile, Alabama
Coordinates:30.6969°N -88.192°W
Pushpin Map:Alabama#United States
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Alabama##Location in the United States
Broke Ground:August 6, 2018
Opened:September 12, 2020
Owner:University of South Alabama
Operator:University of South Alabama
Surface:FieldTurf
Record Attendance:25,450 (October 20, 2022 vs. Troy)
Construction Cost:$78 million
Tenants:South Alabama Jaguars (NCAA) (2020–present)
Senior Bowl (2021–present)
68 Ventures Bowl (2021–present)
Seating Capacity:25,450

Hancock Whitney Stadium is a 25,450-seat multi-purpose stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. It is the home of the South Alabama Jaguars football program,[1] starting with the 2020 season. The stadium replaced Ladd–Peebles Stadium, a city-owned all-purpose stadium located some 9miles from the campus where the school had played its football games since 2009. The stadium carries the name of Hancock Whitney, a bank holding company headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, while its playing surface is designated as the Abraham A. Mitchell Field, named after a substantial donor to the program.[1] Hancock Whitney Stadium is located on the west part of the South Alabama campus near the football field house,[2] practice fields, and Jaguar Training Center, which is the largest covered practice facility in the state of Alabama.[3]

History

Construction on Hancock Whitney Stadium started on August 6, 2018, and cost $78 million. The stadium opened with on September 12, 2020, with a college football game against the Tulane Green Wave.[4] Due to COVID-19 restrictions, capacity for the opener and all other 2020 games was capped at 6,000 spectators to allow for social distancing.[5]

Hancock Whitney Stadium serves as home of the Senior Bowl, a postseason college football all-star game, since the 2021 edition. The game had previously been held at Ladd–Peebles Stadium for nearly 70 years.[6] Since the 2021 edition, Hancock Whitney Stadium has also served as home of the 68 Ventures Bowl, a postseason college bowl game, following 22 years at Ladd–Peebles.[7]

Facility features

[8]

Attendance records

RankAttendanceDateGame Result
1 25,450 October 20, 2022 South Alabama 6, Troy 10
2 20,156 September 4, 2021 South Alabama 31, Southern Miss 7
3 17,939 September 24, 2022 South Alabama 38, Louisiana Tech 14
4 16,764 October 2, 2021 South Alabama 18, Louisiana 20
5 16,089 October 14, 2021 South Alabama 41, Georgia Southern 14
6 15,459 October 15, 2022 South Alabama 41, Louisiana-Monroe 34
7 15,237 September 9, 2023 South Alabama 35, Southeastern Louisiana 17
8 15,204 September 18, 2021 South Alabama 28, Alcorn State 21
9 15,101 September 3, 2022 South Alabama 48, Nicholls 7
10 15,043 October 30, 2021 South Alabama 31, Arkansas State 13

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hancock Whitney Stadium . Issuu . 17 April 2019 . March 9, 2020 . en.
  2. Web site: Football Facilities.
  3. Web site: Facilities.
  4. Web site: 2020 Football Schedule . University of South Alabama Athletics . March 9, 2020 . en.
  5. News: South Alabama imposes limit of 25% capacity at Hancock Whitney Stadium this season. Stephenson. Creg. August 7, 2020. AL.com. https://archive.today/20201209050029/https://www.al.com/usa/2020/08/south-alabama-imposes-limit-of-25-percent-capacity-at-hancock-whitney-stadium-this-season.html. December 9, 2020. live.
  6. News: Senior Bowl to be played at South Alabama's Hancock Whitney Stadium beginning in 2021 . Creg . Stephenson . . March 4, 2020 . March 6, 2020.
  7. Web site: 2021-11-12 . LendingTree Bowl Moving to Hancock Whitney Stadium . 2021-12-04 . LendingTreeBowl.com . 2021-11-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211112214902/https://lendingtreebowl.com/2021/11/lendingtree-bowl-moving-to-hancock-whitney-stadium/ . dead .
  8. Web site: Hancock Whitney Stadium . University of South Alabama Athletics . October 14, 2021 . en.