BB&T Field

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = BB&T Field
nickname = Groves Stadium


location = 411 Deacon Blvd
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
broke_ground = 1967
opened = September 21, 1968
closed =
demolished =
owner = Wake Forest University
operator = Wake Forest University
surface = FieldTurf
construction_cost = $4,000,000(USD)
architect =
former_names =
tenants = Wake Forest Demon Deacons (NCAA) (1968-Present)
seating_capacity = 31,500

BB&T Field (formerly Groves Stadium) is a stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons. The stadium opened in 1968 and holds 31,500 people.

In September 2007, Wake Forest University and BB&T bank announced a 10 year deal to officially rename the stadium "BB&T Field" starting with the first 2007 home game against Nebraska [Citation
last = Daniels
first = Rob
title = What's in a name? $$$$
newspaper = Greensboro News & Record
date = 2007-09-06
url = http://www.newsandrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070906/NRSTAFF/709060304/-1/SPORTS] . The deal is part of a larger development process to secure funds for stadium renovations and upgrades.

The former stadium name of Groves Field goes back to the original stadium at the original location of Wake Forest (Wake Forest, North Carolina). The old stadium was financed by Henry Groves, and when the school announced the move to Winston-Salem, he and his brother, Earl, decided to make a further contribution to the school to keep their name on any new stadium. After moving to Winston-Salem, many games were played in Bowman Gray Stadium while the project to build a new stadium met with many setbacks. It was not until 1966 that the final fundraising was done, and the stadium opened in September 1968, with the Deacons losing to old rival NC State. The former Groves Stadium became the home football field for Wake Forest-Rolesville High School and is today known as Trentini Stadium. [cite web
title = Demon Deacons Facilities: BB&T Field
publisher = Wake Forest Sports
url = http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/facilities/wake-groves.html
accessdate = 2007-12-29]

The current stadium consists of two bowed grandstands on either side of the field. The southeast endzone is known as "Deacon Hill," and is used for berm seating during games. The Bridger Field House, originally built in 1968 with the stadium, was demolished in early 1996 and rebuilt during the 1996 football season. It opened midway through the 1997 football season. The structure is located behind the northwest endzone. In the summer of 2006, the natural grass surface was replaced with FieldTurf.

.

In 2006, the Wake Forest Athletics Department announced plans to further the renovations on BB&T Field (then Groves Stadium) with the construction of Deacon Tower which will house a new press box. Deacon Tower is set to open in 2008. The press box will be the centerpiece of the third of six levels of renovations set to take place at BB&T Field. The old press box, built in 1968, was successfully imploded & demolished on the morning of January 14, 2007 as numerous Demon Deacon fans watched on. Previous renovations included the bricking of the facade of the grandstand in 2005 and the implementation of FieldTurf in 2006.

BB&T Field is just west of Ernie Shore Field, home of the Winston-Salem Warthogs minor league baseball team (and future home of the Wake Forest baseball team).

References

External links

* [http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/facilities/wake-groves.html BB&T Field at WakeForestSports.com]
* [http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/ACC/WakeForest/ BB&T Field at Ballparks.com]
* [http://www.digtriad.com/video/default.aspx?aid=151230&cat=&storyid=78119 BB&T Field Implosion Video]

succession box
title = Home of the
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
years = 1966 – present
before = Bowman Gray Stadium
after = Current