Stagg Field facts for kids
Amos Alonzo Stagg Field is the name of two different football fields at the University of Chicago. The first Stagg Field (used from 1893 to 1957) is famous for more than just sports. It was the site of a huge scientific breakthrough. Here, Enrico Fermi and his team performed the first artificial nuclear chain reaction.
This historic spot was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1965. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. In 1971, it became a Chicago Landmark. Today, a sculpture called Nuclear Energy by Henry Moore marks the location of this important experiment. The university's current Stagg Field is a few blocks away. It even uses one of the original gates from the old field.
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First Nuclear Chain Reaction: A Big Discovery
The world's first artificial nuclear reactor, called Chicago Pile-1, was built here. It was hidden under the west stands of the first Stagg Field. By then, the field was no longer used for football games.
On December 2, 1942, a major event happened. Scientists created the first man-made, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. This was a huge step in understanding nuclear energy.
Stagg Field: A Place for Sports
The First Stagg Field: A Look Back
The first Stagg Field was a large stadium in Chicago. It was mainly used for college football games. It was the home field for the University of Chicago's team, the Maroons.
The stadium first opened in 1893. It was called Marshall Field then. It got its name from Marshall Field, who gave land for the university to build the stadium. In 1913, the field was renamed Stagg Field. This honored their famous coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg. After growing several times, the stadium could hold 50,000 people.
The University of Chicago stopped its football program after 1939. They left the Big Ten Conference in 1946. The stadium was torn down in 1957. Much of its land is now where the Regenstein Library stands.
Besides football, the stadium hosted many other events. It held several national outdoor track and field championships. It also hosted the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships many times.
Other teams sometimes played at Stagg Field too. The Northwestern team played some home games there. They used it when their own stadium was too small for big crowds. For example, they played against Michigan there in 1925. This was a notable win for Northwestern.
The famous University of Michigan fight song, "The Victors," was written in 1898. A Michigan student wrote it after a close 12-11 victory. This exciting game against the University of Chicago happened at Stagg Field.
The New Stagg Field: Today's Home Field
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The current Stagg Field is a modern athletic field. It is located a few blocks northwest of the old site. It keeps the historic Stagg Field name. It also has a gate from the original stadium.
This new field is home to the University of Chicago's current football team. They play in NCAA Division III. It is also used by the Chicago Maroons soccer, softball, and outdoor track teams. The new Stagg Field can seat 1,650 people. Its playing surface is made of FieldTurf.
