The playing surface is still named Shields–Watkins Field. The end zones, as well as the midfield logo, were unique in that they were separate pieces of contrasting turf rather than painted turf. Built in 1953 and affectionately nicknamed “The Hole”, the stadium hosted TSU Tigers football games until 1999, home games were then moved to what is now known as Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? The attendance helped push Middle Tennessee over the top for its I-A qualifying attendance of 17,000 per game. Shields, president of Knoxville's City National Bank and a University of Tennessee trustee, provided the initial capital to prepare and equip an athletic field. From 1921 to the end of the 1967 season, the field surface was natural grass. There are also approximately 7,500 parking spaces on the site. [14], Neyland Stadium has hosted several NFL exhibition games, most recently in 1995, when the Washington Redskins played the Houston Oilers. There were no injuries or deaths reported, Rescuers prepare to move a dead body found in a sink-hole on a road on May 21, 2013. The plan called for the addition of club seats, widening of concourses, creation of entry plazas, and updates to the stadium's infrastructure. The facility was named for William J. Hale, who served as TSU's first president. Hesler, University of Tennessee Libraries, Special Collections, unlisted students affairs box, Why Do They Call It That? Allowing the Tigers to play their home games at the new venue was a requirement for the funding the new facility received from the State of Tennessee. The Tigers defeated Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee Tech at Hale Stadium during the 2012 season. The stadium hosted a second-round NCAA Division I-AA playoff game in 1982, with the Tigers defeating Eastern Illinois University 20-19 in front of a crowd of 8,000. The next year, in 1938, the East Stands were expanded to 44 rows. [6], The two Upper Decks were connected to enclose the south end zone during two expansions in 1972 and 1976. [7], The stadium was first conceived in 1919. [9] The first UT football game at the stadium took place on September 24, 1921, with the Vols defeating Emory & Henry, 27–0. A picture of the sinkhole at the Austin Peay State University taken by Amber Ungaro, Huge sinkhole swallows part of Austin Peay State University football, swallowed up eight rare cars in a Corvette Museum, You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. The driver of the truck was hospitalized after driving into the 15-feet-deep hole while on his way to work. [6], Neyland Stadium is occasionally used for concerts, political rallies, and religious gatherings. [6], In 2004, the University of Tennessee implemented the Neyland Stadium Master Plan, a long-term strategy for expanding, renovating, and maintaining the stadium. Nissan Stadium grounds are also designed to help create a park-like setting along the Cumberland River, not just a showplace for bland concrete and asphalt. [2] However, the facility is still used for the annual Blue-White game held at the close of the Tigers' spring practice. The state-of-the-art facility has served as home of the Tigers and the Titans since the 1999 season. [6] The Vols have never had more than four consecutive losses at Neyland Stadium. One of Neyland Stadium's most notable non-sporting events took place in May 1970, when the stadium hosted the Billy Graham Crusade, with President Richard Nixon as a guest speaker. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. The stadium was renovated before the 2012 season to celebrate the University's centennial, and was reopened in time for the Tigers' game against Austin Peay. Built in 1953 and affectionately nicknamed “The Hole”, the stadium hosted TSU Tigers football games until 1999, home games were then moved to what is now known as Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans. Hale Stadium hosted a second-round NCAA Division I-AA playoff game in 1982, with the Tigers defeating Eastern Illinois University 20–19 in front of a crowd of 8,000.[1]. The sink-hole was 40 feet deep and 32 inches in diamete, Workers use excavators to fill in a sink-hole which occured overnight on Shiliuzhuang road, in Beijing on April 26, 2011.