Glass Bowl facts for kids
Glass Bowl Stadium facing northwest, 2004
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 Glass Bowl Stadium
Glass Bowl Stadium
Location in Ohio##Location in the United States
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| Former names | University Stadium (1937–1945) |
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| Location | 3044 N. Glass Bowl Dr. Toledo, Ohio 43606 |
| Coordinates | 41°39′25″N 83°36′49″W / 41.65694°N 83.61361°W |
| Owner | University of Toledo |
| Operator | University of Toledo |
| Capacity | 8,000 (1937–1939) 11,500 (1940–1948) 12,800 (1949–1965) 15,900 (1966–1970) 18,210 (1971–1989) 26,248 (1990–2015) 26,038 (2016–present) |
| Record attendance | 36,852 (2001 vs Navy) |
| Surface | Field Turf (2008–present, replaced in 2016) AstroTurf (1975–2007) Grass (1937–1974) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1936 |
| Opened | September 27, 1937 |
| Renovated | 1990,2016 |
| Expanded | 1940, 1949, 1966, 1971, 1990 |
| Construction cost | $313,558 USD ($6.38 million in 2022 dollars ) $18 million (renovation) ($40.3 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | SSOE, Inc. (renovation) |
| Tenants | |
| Toledo Rockets (NCAA) (1937–present) Glass Bowl Game (NCAA) (1946–1949) Ohio Cannon (RFL) (1999) |
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The Glass Bowl is a famous stadium located in Toledo, Ohio. It is mainly used for American football games. It is the home field for the University of Toledo Rockets football team. The stadium is on the school's campus, near the Ottawa River. It is known for mixing old and new styles. It still has its traditional stonework around the field, even after many expansions.
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History of the Glass Bowl
The stadium first opened in 1937. It was originally called University Stadium. It cost about $313,558 to build. This was part of a government project called the Works Progress Administration. This program helped people find jobs during a tough economic time.
When it first opened, the stadium could hold 8,000 people. There were two main seating areas along the sides. At the south end, there was a grass hill. At the open north end, two stone towers stood. These towers were used as temporary housing for the football team in the early years.
Renaming the Stadium
After World War II, the stadium was updated. Many parts made of glass were added. Because of this, and because Toledo was known for its glass industry, the stadium was renamed the Glass Bowl in 1946.
More seating was added in 1966 at the south end. The stadium grew even more after the Toledo Rockets football team had an amazing winning streak. They won 35 games in a row from 1969 to 1971. This brought the stadium's capacity up to 18,500 people.
Stadium Upgrades
In 1990, the Glass Bowl had its biggest expansion. A second level of seats was added to both sidelines. This big project cost about $18.5 million. It included a new three-story press box. This is where reporters and broadcasters work during games. They also added 45 luxury suites. These are special private rooms for watching games. A 400-seat Stadium Club was also built.
Other improvements were made over the years. A video scoreboard was added in 1999. In 2008, the playing field was upgraded to a Field Turf surface. A new, improved video board was put in place in 2010.
In 2016, the stadium had another $3.5 million renovation. The field turf was replaced again. The outside of the stadium was updated. Concession stands, restrooms, locker rooms, and ticket booths were also improved. Many other small changes made the stadium look even better.
Big Crowds at the Glass Bowl
The Glass Bowl has seen some very large crowds. The biggest crowd for a University of Toledo football game was 36,852 people. This happened on October 27, 2001, when the Rockets played against the United States Naval Academy.
Top Attendance Records
Here are some of the largest crowds at the Glass Bowl:
- 36,852 vs. Navy (2001)
- 36,502 vs. Northern Illinois (2001)
- 34,950 vs. Minnesota (2001)
- 34,900 vs. Marshall (2000)
- 33,040 vs. Indiana State (1994)
Cool Features of the Glass Bowl
In 1961, the University of Toledo got a real rocket from the U.S. Army. This one-ton rocket sits outside the Glass Bowl. It is aimed towards the 50-yard line of the rival team, Bowling Green's Doyt Perry Stadium! It's a fun way to show team spirit.
The Glass Bowl is also used for other events. It hosts exciting monster truck rallies. It is also used for college graduation ceremonies, called commencements. Sometimes, big concerts are held there too.
