Nicknamed “The Rock,” Memorial Stadium has been the home of the Indiana Hoosiers for more than six decades. In the late 1950s, Indiana University decided to construct a new football stadium to replace the original Memorial Stadium, where the Hoosiers had played since 1925. The new stadium was completed in 1960, and Indiana officially christened Memorial Stadium on October 8, 1960, when the Hoosiers hosted Michigan State. Built at a cost of $4.5 million, the stadium originally had a seating capacity of 48,000.
Although Memorial Stadium has undergone several renovations throughout its history, much of the original structure has remained intact. In 1986, $4 million was spent on renovations and improvements. Two years later, the Hoosiers played their first night game at Memorial Stadium when lights were installed at the facility. Additional improvements followed over the next several decades. Before the start of the 1990 season, new scoreboards were installed in both end zones. After playing on Astroturf for several decades, Indiana returned to a natural grass playing surface before the 1998 season. The grass lasted only five seasons before being replaced with AstroPlay, a newer type of artificial turf. The playing surface has since been replaced with FieldTurf.
Prior to the 2003 season, the press box was renovated and nearly 300 club seats and nine luxury suites were added. In September 2006, Indiana University announced plans for another major expansion of Memorial Stadium. Completed in 2009, the project enclosed the north end zone and increased the seating capacity to 53,500. A Hall of Champions and a new athletic facility were also constructed as part of the project.
In October 2016, Indiana University approved a $53 million project to further transform Memorial Stadium. Completed before the 2018 season, the project enclosed the stadium into a complete bowl with the addition of the Excellence Academy. The new facility includes a football locker room, student athlete facilities, sports science and medicine research areas and classrooms. The project also included new video boards in both end zones, along with improvements to the concessions, restrooms, sound system and seating areas.
Today, Memorial Stadium combines the traditional character of “The Rock” with modern facilities designed to enhance the experience for both fans and Indiana student athletes.
