Home of the Kansas State
Wildcats, Bill Snyder Family Stadium is one of the newer stadiums in the Big 12
Conference. Prior to moving into Bill Snyder Family Stadium in 1968, the team had
played at Memorial Stadium since 1924. By the mid 1960s, the stadium
began showing its age and the Wildcats needed a new modern facility to
play at. Over $1.6 million was raised in order to construct Bill
Snyder Family Stadium. The Wildcats played their inaugural first game at the stadium
on September 21, 1968 when they battled Colorado State. The stadium
was originally known KSU Stadium
and had a capacity of 35,000, but that soon changed as the
stadium was expanded two years later. Nearly 4,000 permanent stands
were added on the east side, while 3,000 temporary stands were placed
on the west side of Bill Snyder Family Stadium in 1970.
After only two years of
having a grass field, the team decided to switch to Astroturf. By the
1972 season, locker rooms and athletic offices were constructed at the
north end of the stadium. In 1983 the Wildcats were able to play at
night as lights were installed. In the 1990s Bill Snyder Family
Stadium was
upgraded. In 1993 a new five story press box with luxury suites was
built and three years later a new state of the art video/scoreboard
was installed. Perhaps the largest expansion at Bill Snyder Family Stadium was completed
before the 1999 season when the upper decks on the east side were
built. This expansion also included the construction of 31 new luxury
suites and increased the seating capacity of Bill Snyder Family
Stadium to 50,300. During the 2005 the stadium was named Bill Snyder Family Stadium after KSU Coach Bill Snyder.
In 2006 $5.6 million was spent on new locker rooms and adding seating
in the north end zone increasing the seating capacity by 2,000. Throughout its more than three decades of existence, fans have seen
Bill Snyder Family Stadium expand along with the success of the football team.
"Good
architecture, a great view of the rollong plains, and the defening
sound of loud and passionate fans make Bill Snyder Family Stadium
one of the most exciting college football venues in the country.
There is plenty of wide open space around the stadium, which is
situated on the Northwest corner of campus."
- Eric
Bill
Snyder Family
Stadium
