Daytona Stadium Explained

Stadium Name:Daytona Stadium
Nickname:Larry Kelly Field
Former Names:Municipal Stadium (1988–2018)
Image Alt:The stadium in 2007
Logo Image:Daytona_Stadium_logo.png
Location:3777 LPGA Boulevard
Daytona Beach, Florida 32114
Broke Ground:1987
Opened:September 2, 1988
Renovated:2018
Owner:City of Daytona Beach
Operator:City of Daytona Beach
Seating Capacity:10,000[1]
Surface:Artificial turf (since 2010)
Construction Cost:$6 million

Daytona Stadium, originally known as Municipal Stadium, is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida, that opened in 1988. The stadium is home to the Bethune–Cookman University Wildcats football team, which competes in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). It is also used to host home games for the Mainland High School and Seabreeze High School football teams. The gridiron is known as Larry Kelly Field,[2] a name honoring Lawrence J. Kelly, a former mayor of Daytona Beach.

History

The stadium opened as Municipal Stadium in 1988, funded partially by the City of Daytona Beach (from the sale of another stadium) and a donation from Daytona International Speedway,[3] located about 3miles to the east. In 1994, the playing field was named after Larry Kelly, who served as mayor of Daytona Beach from 1974 to 1993.[4] Originally with a natural grass surface, artificial turf was installed in 2010 and updated in 2017.[5]

Until the end of the 2009 Bike Week season, the stadium hosted the AMA Flat Track motorcycle championships during Daytona Beach Bike Week. When the city removed the track as part of changes to the stadium, those races moved to a new dirt track at Daytona International Speedway.[6]

In 2008 and 2009, the stadium was the location of the Florida Football Alliance annual "Alliance Bowl" season-championship game. It was held in Jacksonville for the 2010 season while the stadium underwent surface replacement. The Alliance Bowl returned in 2011.

From 2014 through 2018, the stadium hosted the NAIA Football National Championship game.

In 2018, DME Academy, a private sports training academy based in Daytona Beach, signed a 30-year lease for the stadium, changed its name from Municipal Stadium to Daytona Stadium, and undertook a $20 million renovation project.[7] However,, Daytona Stadium is absent from the DME Academy website.[8]

The stadium has hosted several playings of the Tropical Bowl, a postseason college football all-star game, in January of 2017,[9] 2018,[10] 2019,[11] and 2024.[12]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Daytona Stadium . daytonabeach.com . January 28, 2024.
  2. http://www.orlandosports.org/venuesearch.php Central Florida Sports Venues at OrlandoSports.org
  3. News: New Municipal Stadium Shines. Denise O'Toole. The News-Journal. August 29, 1988.
  4. Book: Lane, Mark. Legendary Locals of Daytona Beach. 2015. Arcadia Publishing. 9781467102223. en.
  5. News: There's no place like... Municipal Stadium . . S8 . August 24, 2017 . January 28, 2024 . newspapers.com.
  6. Web site: Home.
  7. Web site: DME Academy announces name change, other renovations to Municipal Stadium. The Daytona Beach New Journal. June 28, 2018.
  8. Web site: Facilities . dmeacademy.com . January 28, 2024.
  9. News: Tennessee tight end Croom named MVP of Tropical Bowl . Rhiannon . Potkey . . . 16 . January 16, 2017 . January 15, 2022 . newspapers.com.
  10. News: Ellis shines at all-star showcase . Chris . Hays . . C2 . January 15, 2018 . January 15, 2022 . newspapers.com.
  11. News: Transfer from USC picks Gophers . . . C3 . January 14, 2019 . January 15, 2022 . newspapers.com.
  12. News: Electric College Football Fills Municipal Stadium for the 2024 Tropical Bowl in Front of the NFL . Michael . Quartey . tropicalbowl.com . January 24, 2024 . January 28, 2024.