Know Your Stadiums: Navy-Marine Memorial Stadium

November 16, 2013 · By · Filed Under Football 

 

Navy-Marine Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. | bloguin.com

Navy-Marine Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. | bloguin.com

The Naval Academy plays in the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is an outdoor stadium near the campus of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. As well as being the home of the Navy football team, but also the men’s lacrosse team and the Chesapeake Bayhawks lacross team. It will also be the home of the Military Bowl starting in 2013.

The stadium opened on September 26, 1965 with a win over William & Mary 29-2.

The stadium serves as a memorial to the Navy and Marine Corps and is dedicated to those who have served, and will serve, as upholders of the traditions and renown of the Navy and Marine Corps.

Prior to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Navy played their football games at Thompson Stadium which seated only 12,000. Navy-Marine Memorial Stadium seats 34,000 officially but has a record attendance for the Navy vs Air Force game in October 5, 2013 is 38,225 to see the Midshipmen win 28-10.

In 2004 the stadium underwent a major renovation. Among the improvements the press box was expanded, 140 club seats and associated club lounge, private suites, new stadium seating in the northwest end zone, ADA enhancements, updated restrooms, concession areas and stadium operation facilities, new banquet facilities and renovated locker room facilities.

The stadium surface was natural grass until the 2005 season when it was replaced with FieldTurf.

Navy’s rivalry game against Army has never been played at Navy-Marine Memorial Stadium. Instead they play at a neutral site between the campuses on the east coast, most often in Philadelphia and with occasional visits to Baltimore and East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Also, the Navy’s rivalry game against Notre Dame has never been played in Annapolis since the series began in 1927. All of Navy’s home games have been played in either Baltimore, Philadelphia, Cleveland, East Rutherford, Orlando or Dublin, Ireland over the years. However, since 1953, all of Notre Dame’s home games have been played in South Bend.

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