"Kenan Stadium brings back so many memories," says [former] Head Coach John Bunting. "So many players have given so much of themselves on that field. I had some great times as a player in Kenan Stadium and as head coach, I want to help produce many more memories for our fans. In my opinion, it is the best place to experience college football."
http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/facilities/unc-kenan-stadium.html
Kenan Statdium
104 Stadium Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/facilities/unc-kenan-stadium.html
Site and Situation
Carolina football plays its home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The stadium houses the Carolina football program - the football team's locker room, weight room, training room, equipment room, players' lounge, computer labs, study areas, 100-plus seat auditorium, coaches' offices, theater and Hall of Honor.
The stadium is situated in the heart of the campus, amongst the dorms, dining hall, academic building, and the bell tower. Nestled among the tall pine trees, in one of the natural valleys of Carolina's hilly campus, the football stadium is a picturesque sports haven. Because of the beautiful natural surroundings, the stadium has been rated among the top five college football stadiums. It has become an unwritten rule that the height of the stadium can never exceed the height of the surrounding pine trees.
Accessibility and Demographics
For students, the football field is a short walk away from their dorms, easily accessible by foot. For other game-goers coming from outside of the campus that must drive, finding parking can be tricky - make sure you're in the right parking lot with a parking pass or beware of parking tickets and tow trucks! Limited parking is avaliable on campus for the general public on game days, but there is a fee for parking in all campus lots.
For students, the football field is a short walk away from their dorms, easily accessible by foot. For other game-goers coming from outside of the campus that must drive, finding parking can be tricky - make sure you're in the right parking lot with a parking pass or beware of parking tickets and tow trucks! Limited parking is avaliable on campus for the general public on game days, but there is a fee for parking in all campus lots.
 |
| Public Parking Decks/Lots |
Parking for those with disabilities is available at several locations around Kenan Stadium on a first-come first-serve basis. Those wishing to access disability parking must contact the UNC Public Safety Department.
The targeted demographic includes UNC students & UNC Football fans - families, couples young and old, individuals, groups of friends - aka anyone that loves UNC FOOTBALL!
http://pictures.replayphotos.com/images/UNC/md/university-of-north-carolina-football-2008-season-ram-and-tar-heel-fans-cheer-on-heels-unc-f-2008-00101md.jpg
History and Background
The history behind Kenan Memorial Stadium dates back to 1925. This year marked the turning point for the University of North Carolina’s team and fans. Prior to this time period, the home of the Tar Heels was Emerson Field, which was shared by both the football and the baseball teams. Emerson field was first opened after it’s construction in 1916, which was located on the current site of Davis Library. Emerson’s maximum capacity could only seat 2,400 people, which was a problem with the growing popularity and fan base. Expansion on this facility was ruled out, because the addition of new seats for the football spectators would be too far away for baseball.
When the initial plan for the construction of a new stadium leaked out, William Rand Kenan, Jr. heard of the plan and made a $303,000 contribution that funded the new project. Kenan, a graduate of UNC’s chemistry program that led him to the discovery of calcium carbide, desired to commemorate his family’s name, so he financed the stadium as a memorial to his late parents. The stadium, which plush grass surfaces was made to seat 24,000 people and was only 360x160ft, officially opened to the public on November 12, 1927. This day fortunately marked a victory for the Tar Heels, with a 27-0 win against Davidson College. On Thanksgiving day of the same month, the stadium was dedicated to the Kenan family after a close win over the Virginia Cavaliers.
 |
| Kenan in it's Early Days |
With an ever-increasing fan base, bleachers had to be added to the end zones most games to have capacity for overflowing crowds, which could seat up to 40,000 people. This was a common trend during the reign of the great player Choo Choo Justice during his time here in the 1940’s.
More recently, Kenan Memorial stadium has undergone a lot of expansion in the following years: 1963, 1979, 1987-1988, 1995-1998 and 2010-2011. In 1963, the late Kenan who died in 1965 donated $1million to double-deck the sideline seats and add permanent bleachers to the end zones and thereby increasing the seating capacity to 48,000. In addition, in 1979, the seating capacity was increased to 50,000 and in 1988 the old press box and chancellor’s box were replaced by 2000 seats between the 40-yards lines thereby increasing the seating capacity to 52,000. Part of the 1987-88 projects were a permanent lighting system, and the lettermen’s lounge on the south side. These lights are part of a General Electric low-mount system which minimizes the height of the light poles. The cost of the entire project was $7million and was funded by private gifts and bonds.
The period between 1995 and 1988 witness the biggest renovation in the history of the stadium as a result of numerous gifts. With the funds, there was an addition of a new playing field and a brand- new facility for the football team which resulted in additional 8,000 new seats in the west end zone and that turned the stadium into a horseshoe. Also added was a “preferred seating box” atop the north stands.
However due to the state law, only 6,000 of the new end zone seats were available in 1997. The stadium capacity dropped to 48,500 in 1996, but leaped to 57,800 in 1997, and in 1998 , 2,200 seats were added bringing the stadium to its current capacity of 60,000.
In 2003, a modern scoreboard with video capability was added in front of Kenan Field House and the old matrix boards on the sidelines were replaced with ribbon boards.
 |
| Modern Scoreboard (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2248/2073602404_e9b469246a.jpg?v=0) |
However earlier in December 2006, the Chapel Hill Town Council approved changes to UNC’s development plan that included at least 8,800 additional seats for Kenan Stadium. As of July, 23,2008, Kenan Stadium has been approved for a $50 million Phase 1 renovation that will add two floors to the western end of the complex comprising of one floor offices and one floor of luxury suites. The phase 2 will include the closure of the east end into an official bowl and the athletic education support center and is yet to be approved by the board of trustees.
 | ||
| Future Kenan (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/XXMOQTSJQEHIOLJ.20090930164046.jpg |
The Evolution of the Stadium
Since Kenan has opened, it has consistently expanded as it can be seen through all of these pictures. This is not only due to the fact that the population has been increasing over the years, but also because of the growth of college football. There is so much money into to college football that the University has to take such steps to keep up with the growing demand. Not only have they been adding new seats to accommodate for people, they have added new facilities such as the Blue Zone and the Athletic Student Center. Such facilities attract better athletes to the University, and thus bringing in more revenue. Last year, The Daily Tar Heel reported that the UNC Football team earned about $70 million in revenue. It is evident that football has the ability to bring in so much money and this is a big reason why Kenan has continued to expand and improve.
No comments:
Post a Comment