Harvard Stadium

Harvard Stadium
Aerial view of Harvard Stadium in August 2023
Map
Location95 N. Harvard Street
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
OwnerHarvard University
OperatorHarvard University
Capacity25,000 (1952–present)

Former capacity:

List
SurfaceFieldTurf (2006–present)
Natural grass (1903–2005)[1]
Construction
Broke groundJuly 1903
OpenedNovember 14, 1903
121 years ago
Construction cost$310,000
($10.5 million in 2023[2])
ArchitectLouis J. Johnson,
Class of 1887
Tenants
Website
gocrimson.com/harvardstadium
Harvard Stadium
Harvard Stadium is located in Greater Boston area
Harvard Stadium
Harvard Stadium is located in Massachusetts
Harvard Stadium
Harvard Stadium is located in the United States
Harvard Stadium
Location60 N. Harvard St., Boston, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°21′59″N 71°7′38″W / 42.36639°N 71.12722°W / 42.36639; -71.12722
Area11 acres (4.5 ha)
Built1903
ArchitectMcKim, Charles F.; et al.
Architectural styleClassical Revival
NRHP reference No.87000757[4]
Added to NRHPFebruary 27, 1987

Harvard Stadium is a U-shaped college football stadium in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The stadium is owned and operated by Harvard University and is home to the Harvard Crimson football program. In its current form, Harvard Stadium seats just over 25,000 spectators.[5]

Built in 1903, it was a pioneering execution of reinforced concrete in the construction of large structures. Because of its early importance in these areas, and its influence on the design of later stadiums, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.[6] The stadium is the nation's oldest permanent concrete structure dedicated to intercollegiate athletics. It seated up to 57,166 in the past, as permanent steel stands (completing a stadium shape)[7] were installed in the stadium's northeast end zone in 1929. They were torn down after the 1951 season, due to deterioration and reduced attendance. Afterward, there were smaller temporary steel bleachers across the stadium's open end until the building of the Murr Center (which is topped by the new scoreboard) in 1998.

Harvard Stadium hosted one Boston Patriots season in 1970. It was their first season in the NFL after the AFL–NFL merger and their last before becoming the New England Patriots. The team moved to Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough the following season.

  1. ^ Lisa Kennelly, "Extreme Makeover: Harvard Stadium", Harvard Crimson, April 13, 2006.
  2. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  3. ^ "Harvard Stadium Football History". Harvard University. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  4. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  5. ^ "Campus Spotlight Harvard Stadium". Harvard University. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  6. ^ "NRHP nomination for Harvard Stadium". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Archived from the original on 2015-09-05. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
  7. ^ "Aerial view of Harvard Stadium". Newton, Massachusetts): Digital Commonwealth. 1930. Retrieved December 1, 2017.