Location GVSU Main Campus | Opened 15 November 1973 | |
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Full name Arend D. Lubbers Stadium Former names Lakers Stadium (1973 - 1979) Capacity 10,444 (2012-present)8,950 (2011)8,550 (1979-2010) Similar GVSU Fieldhouse, Cook Carillon Tower, Kirkhof Center, Beckering Family Carillon T, The Meadows at Grand | ||
Welcome to lubbers stadium
Lubbers Stadium, or Arend D. Lubbers Stadium, is a stadium on the Grand Valley State University's main campus in Allendale, Michigan, USA. The stadium was named after former university president Arend Lubbers. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the Grand Valley State Lakers. "Lakers Stadium" - as it was originally known - was constructed in 1972, and opened in 1973. It now officially seats 10,444 people - though it almost always holds thousands more fans. The stadium is also home to a football weight training facility.
Contents
- Welcome to lubbers stadium
- New lubbers stadium videoboard reveal
- History
- Location
- Expansions
- 2011
- 2012
- 2016
- Beyond
- Stadium traditions
- References
New lubbers stadium videoboard reveal
History
"Lakers Stadium" - as it was originally known - hosted its first football game on September 15, 1973 against Kalamazoo College. The Lakers won their first ever home game by defeating the Hornets 27-14. The stadium was officially dedicated and formally named "Arend D. Lubbers Stadium" on September 15, 1979.
Location
Lubbers Stadium is located in the northwest part of campus along with most all other athletics facilities, just north of the Kelly Family Sports Center and just south of Lake Michigan Drive.
Expansions
Beginning in the spring of 2011, Lubbers Stadium began undergoing a series of expansions and renovations that will increase capacity, concessions, and restroom facilities. The improvements are being paid for by several large private gifts.
2011
The first year of expansion included replacing the student seating section with new stands, increasing student seating by 400 seats and wrapping around the corners of the stadium creating a horseshoe. Permanent concession stands and restrooms behind student section were also built to accommodate the increase in seating and the fans sitting in the south end. The wooden benches in the east and west grandstands were wrapped in blue acrylic plastic to provide more comfortable seating and a longer lifespan.
2012
In second year of renovations the field was lowered by eight feet and the outdoor track surface was removed and replaced by the new track and lacrosse stadium that was constructed on the south side of campus. Lowering the field gave the opportunity to add four rows of seating down toward the field in a horseshoe configuration, adding 2,000 seats. Chair-back seats were added in four of the new sections behind the home sideline. A grass slope was built behind the north end zone and in front of the video board for overflow seating and the band section was moved to the southeast corner. The field was then replaced with an artificial turf playing surface.
2016
The existing video board in the stadium was replaced. The new board is 40 feet tall and 72.5 feet wide, a total display area of 2,900 square ft. making the new board nine times larger than the old one. It is the largest board in Division II and would rank second among all FCS schools, it is the third largest in the state of Michigan and the 40th largest on-campus display board in the country. In addition a 18 x 8 scoreboard was added to the south side of the stadium.
Beyond
Designed with the future in mind, the stadium can have permanent seating added when needed, with ultimate expansion to 20,000 seats. In the years beyond this expansion the University plans on adding visiting locker rooms under the east grandstand and remove the existing press box and replace it with a larger one to add more seating and sky boxes. These improvements would be paid for by a public fund raising campaign.