Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium
nickname = "The House That Bill Built"


location = 1800 College Ave
Manhattan, KS 66502-3308
broke_ground = October 1967
opened = September 21, 1968
expanded = 1970, 1993, 1999, 2006
closed =
demolished =
owner = Kansas State University
operator = Kansas State University
surface = FieldTurf
construction_cost = $1.6 million USD (original structure)
architect =
former_names = KSU Stadium (1968-1991)
KSU Stadium/Wagner Field (1991-2005)
tenants = Kansas State Wildcats
seating_capacity = 52,200 (est. after 2006 renovations)

Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium is a stadium in Manhattan, Kansas. It is used for American football, and is the home field of the Kansas State University Wildcats football team.

Construction and renovations

Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium opened as KSU Stadium in 1968, with a capacity of 35,000. It was the replacement for the on-campus Memorial Stadium, which hosted Kansas State football games since 1922 (and is still standing today). The first game played at the new stadium was on September 21, 1968 – Kansas State shut out Colorado State 21-0.

In 1970, 4,000 permanent bleacher seats were added to the east side and 3,000 temporary seats on the west side. Also that year, an AstroTurf playing field was installed in place of natural grass.

Over the next two decades, the stadium received only periodic updates. First, the original turf was replaced in 1980 with a product called Superturf, and lights were installed prior to the 1983 season. In 1988, the south end of the stadium was partially enclosed when the new Bramlage Coliseum was completed. A large reception room inside the coliseum now overlooks the south end of the stadium. Finally, prior to the 1991 season, another new artificial playing surface was installed and the playing field was named Wagner Field for the Dave and Carol Wagner family of Dodge City, Kansas. [cite web | title = KSU Buildings Chronology | url = http://www.lib.ksu.edu/depts/spec/flyers/ksu-bldgs.html | format = English | accessdate = 2007-07-28]

In 1993, on its 25th anniversary, KSU Stadium saw its first significant permanent additions – a five-level press box and luxury suites on the west side of the field. After the 1998 season, the stadium underwent another expansion, a $12.8 million USD project designed by HOK Sport that increased the official seating capacity to 50,300 and added an upper deck on the east grandstands, club seating, and more luxury suites. [Citation | title = KSU Stadium Project on Track | newspaper = The Topeka Capital-Journal | date = July 25, 1999 | url = http://cjonline.com/stories/072599/spo_ksustadiumproj.shtml] Prior to the 2002 season, the artificial turf was updated to a more cushioned FieldTurf surface at a cost of $800,000.

Prior to the 2006 season, another $5.6 million was used to renovate the locker-room complex and add new north end zone seating, raising the permanent seating capacity by approximately 1,900, to 52,200. [Citation | title = K-State Has Grand Plans | newspaper = The Topeka Capital-Journal | date = June 26, 2007 | url = http://cjonline.com/stories/062607/cat_180019837.shtml] The renovation also included new audio and visual electronics and a new hydrotherapy center. Although new permanent seating was added, the athletic department actually lowered the stadium's official seating capcity to 50,000 following the renovation.

Name

Before the final game of the 2005 season, Kansas State offered retiring head coach Bill Snyder the opportunity to rename KSU Stadium. Snyder had turned the Wildcats, once among the worst college football teams, into a frequent championship contender in the Big 12 Conference. When he was asked about renaming the stadium, Snyder told school officials, "If you are going to do it, name it after the people that I care about the most." [Citation | title = Snyder is retiring, but K-State stadium will be in the family | newspaper = USA Today | date = November 18, 2005 | url = http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2005-11-18-whiteside_x.htm ] Hence, the Regents renamed the stadium to honor the family of the coach who had led the team for 17 years. [cite press release | title = Board of Regents Re-Names Kansas State University's Football Stadium | date = November 16, 2005 | url = http://www.kansasregents.org/download/news/111605%20-%20Press%20Release%20-%20Snyder%20Stadium.pdf | accessdate = 2007-07-28|format=PDF]

Historical notes

* From 1996 to 2000, Kansas State won 26 consecutive games on its home field. This is the 25th-longest home winning streak in NCAA history.
* On August 31, 1996, the stadium hosted the first athletic competition in Big 12 Conference history: a football game between Kansas State and Texas Tech University. [Citation | title = Some key dates in Big 12 history (sidebar) | newspaper = The Topeka Capital-Journal | date = June 15, 2007 | url = http://cjonline.com/stories/061507/haw_177297634.shtml ] Kansas State won the game 21-14 amid pomp and ceremony, including a skydiver delivering the first conference game ball. [Citation | title = A Far Cry From 1996 | newspaper = The Topeka Capital-Journal | date = October 4, 2008 | url = http://cjonline.com/stories/100408/cat_340125955.shtml ]
* The first night game at the stadium was held on October 23, 1982, when TBS erected temporary lights to televise a game against the University of Kansas. Kansas State won the game 36-7, in front of a then-record crowd of 43,167.
* Kansas State's 100th game at Snyder Stadium was a 14-21 loss to Iowa State University on November 16, 1985.
* Kansas State's 200th game at Snyder Stadium was a 40-7 win over Louisiana Tech on November 17, 2001.
* The stadium has hosted several Kansas high school football State Championship contests and Kansas Shrine Bowl games.

Top 10 crowds at Snyder Stadium

Kansas State has exceeded the official capacity at Snyder Stadium several times; following are the top 10 crowds: [ [http://www.kstatesports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=400&KEY=&SPID=212&SPSID=3058 Kansas State list of top crowds] ]
* 53,811 Nebraska, November 11, 2000
* 53,310 Oklahoma, October 16, 2004
* 53,011 Oklahoma, October 14, 2000
* 52,254 Kansas, October 9, 1999
* 52,234 Nebraska, October 23, 2004
* 52,221 Nebraska, November 16, 2002
* 52,077 Colorado, November 6, 1999
* 51,614 Kansas, October 25, 2003
* 51,536 Colorado, October 18, 2003
* 51,234 Missouri, November 20, 1999

Future expansion

In 2008 the Wildcat Victory Campaign was established in order to upgrade most of K-States athletic facilities. Throughout this campaign Bramlage Coliseum and the west side of Bill Snyder Family Stadium will undergo drastic changes. The press box will be expanded in length to match the west side upper deck. The height will also be raised. The enlarged press box will include suites such as the ones on the east side, and more boxes for university staff, and other important people. The west side restrooms and concession stands as well as the existing Cat's Closet will also be brought up to date and remodeled. One of the final things to be done to the stadium will be a limestone fence around the base of the bleachers.

Non-football uses

The facility has hosted a very small number of non-football activities. On September 5, 1987, Willie Nelson performed a concert at the stadium to raise money for Farm Aid, following a Kansas State football game. [ [http://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/Kansas_State_University_Royal_Purple_Yearbook/1988/Page_20.html 1988 KSU yearbook on e-yearbook.com] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.kstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3333&SPID=228&DB_OEM_ID=400&ATCLID=676648 Kansas State athletics facilities website]

succession box
title = Home of the
Kansas State Wildcats
years = 1968 – present
before = Memorial Stadium (Kansas State)
after = Current