Roos Field facts for kids
| "The Inferno" | |
The red field's first game in 2010
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| Former names | Woodward Field |
|---|---|
| Location | Eastern Washington University Cheney, Washington, U.S. |
| Owner | Eastern Washington University |
| Operator | Eastern Washington University |
| Capacity | 8,600 (2004–present) 7,500 (1967–2003) |
| Record attendance | 11,702 (September 18, 2010) |
| Surface | SprinTurf (red) (2010–present) Natural grass (1967–2009) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1966 |
| Opened | 1967, 58 years ago |
| Construction cost | $1.5 million |
| Architect | T.W. Clark Construction LLC |
| Tenants | |
| Eastern Washington Eagles (1967–present) | |
Roos Field is a famous outdoor college football stadium located at Eastern Washington University. It's in Cheney, Washington, which is southwest of Spokane. This stadium is the home field for the Eastern Washington Eagles. They play in the Big Sky Conference as part of Division I (FCS).
The stadium first opened in 1967. The Eagles have a great record playing at home. In 2004, the stadium's seating was increased to 8,700 permanent seats. Sometimes, temporary seats are added for big games, bringing the total to almost 12,000 fans!
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Why Is It Called Roos Field?
The stadium was first called Woodward Field. This name honored Arthur C. Woodward, who was a coach for both football and basketball at Eastern Washington. The original Woodward Field was in a different spot on campus.
Before the 2010 football season, the stadium was renamed Roos Field. It was named after Michael Roos, a former Eastern Washington football player. Michael Roos became a professional football player in the NFL and was a big helper for the "Red Turf" project.
What Is the Red Turf?
On February 26, 2010, news spread that Eastern Washington planned to change its natural grass field. They wanted to replace it with a bright red SprinTurf surface. This made Roos Field the second college football stadium in Division I to have a non-green field. The first was Boise State, which has had a blue field since 1986.
The idea for the red turf came from a fundraising effort. Michael Roos donated $500,000 to help pay for the new field. Another former student, Colin Cowherd (who works for Fox Sports), also donated. On May 20, 2010, the university officially approved naming the field Roos Field once the red turf was installed. The field is often called "The Inferno" because of its fiery red color.
How Has Roos Field Grown?
Roos Field has had several upgrades over the years to make it better for fans and players.
2004 Stadium Improvements
In 2004, Roos Field went through a big renovation. This project improved things like public restrooms, the press box, and the locker rooms. It also increased the number of permanent seats. New suites were added for donors, and a media center was built. These changes helped the university host events and recruit new players.
Record-Breaking Crowds
The stadium has seen many exciting games and large crowds. In 2010, a record 11,702 fans came to watch the Eagles play against Montana. This was the very first game played on the new red turf, and the Eagles won! In 2011, Roos Field had its highest average attendance for a season, with 8,889 fans per game.
What's Next for Roos Field?
Eastern Washington University has plans to make Roos Field even better in the future.
New Video Scoreboard
In June 2012, it was announced that a new, modern video scoreboard would be added. This scoreboard was ready for the first home game of the 2012 season on September 29. The money for this came from advertising on the scoreboards, which also helps fund scholarships for students.
The Gateway Project
In April 2012, a big plan called the "Gateway Project" was suggested. This project aims to add thousands more seats to Roos Field, bringing the total capacity to over 18,000. These new seats would be permanent, not just temporary bleachers.
The Gateway Project also includes plans for covered seating areas, new concession stands, and a special club for donors. It would also add facilities for athletes, like an academic success center, a training room, and new locker rooms for both home and visiting teams. The project also hopes to include a new university bookstore and other shops. This project is still being planned, but it shows how much the university wants to improve Roos Field.
Images for kids
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Sold out Roos Field in 2010
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Suites in the new press box
