Facilities & Directions

Memorial Stadium

Memorial Stadium began as a project of the Ex-Students Association in the fall of 1945. The ESA and friends of the University raised a portion of the funds before the University itself received a state appropriation for the rest of the $300,000 to build the facility. Construction on the facility was started in the fall of 1949 and work continued fast and furious to have the stadium ready for the start of the 1950 season.

The stadium was opened and dedicated on Sept. 23, 1950. The dedication ceremony featured U.S. Speaker of the House and East Texas State alumnus Sam Rayburn and former lieutenant governor Walter Woodul. General Douglas MacArthur, while not in attendance, wrote to then University President James Gee that "I am delighted and honored," to have his quotation affixed to the plaque honoring the Lions' fallen comrades. That quote, also chiseled on the stadium at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, is a famous one: "Upon the fields of friendly strife, are sown the seeds that, Upon other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory."

The Lions opened the stadium by playing regional rival North Texas before 12,000 fans that night, but the Eagles came out on top 42-20. It has proven over the history of the stadium to be one the few losses for Lion football, as they have won nearly 70 percent of the games they have played. The stadium had not changed radically over the decades it has been in existence, however there have been modifications that has seen the stadium become one of the best in North Texas and one of the best in the Lone Star Conference.

In 1973, a President's suite and box was added to the press box, along with four other rooms for viewing the game, making 5 suites in all. In 1980, due to the changing Lone Star Conference and the proximity of the schools becoming longer, the school athletic department found it no longer necessary to have the 2,000 visitor seats on the east side of the stadium, as they were torn down and replaced with tennis courts, reducing the capacity to 10,000 fans, and a new track was put in. In 1987, a new ticket booth was put at the main entrance and an iron fence was built around the stadium for extra appeal.

Modern renovations that were badly needed came starting first in 2006 when the natural grass surface was replaced with FieldTurf and the track was replaced once again to collegiate championship standards. A new scoreboard was also put in that had a digital message board, sponsor boards, and banner notating the 1972 national championship team. A new locker room was installed for both home and visitor teams in 2009. In 2010 and 2011, the east side of the stadium was rebuilt with reserved seating, and there was also a renovation of the home side's concession stands and restrooms, and the stadium's capacity was upgraded to 11,582. The outside facade was renovated, new uprights were brought in, along with new lighting that was built in a four corner style. The biggest and most impressive part of the renovation was a Daktronics video scoreboard that was built. The video board captured replays and live in-game action

In the summer of 2013, new turf was laid in that features the Lion logo that stretches from 50 yards long and 50 yards wide. That installation, which ran through the 2018 season, was the largest on field logo in the nation, and possibly in the world.

The We Are Lions Lounge was built in the concourse level in 2017 to host former letterwinners and Lion Champions Fund donors during games.

The new locker room building was enhanced and expanded to the "Champions Center" in the spring of 2020, featuring new locker room areas, athletic training facilities, and equipment and laundry upgrades.

A new Daktronics full videoboard and sound system was expanded and enhanced in the spring of 2020.

Directions to Memorial Stadium