Byrd Stadium has been home to national championship football and men's and women's lacrosse teams, and to more than 50 ACC track and field champions. It hosted the Queen of England at a football game, and was the stage where the greatest high hurdler in history, Renaldo Nehemiah, performed his amazing feats. It also has been a regular site for the NCAA men's lacrosse Final Four, where several attendance records have been shattered.
Byrd Stadium - it's the first-class home of the Maryland Terrapins.
Situated at the foot of the campus' North Hill, the stadium is named for Dr. H.C. Byrd, a multi-sport athlete as an undergraduate who later became head football coach and eventually served as university president. His vision gave University of Maryland preeminence among Eastern campus sports facilities for decades and the impetus for the Terrapins to win more ACC championships than any league school.
Since opening on Sept. 30, 1950, when Maryland defeated Navy 35-21 in the dedication game before a school-record crowd of 43,386 fans, Byrd has undergone a number of major facelifts, three of which occurred in the 1990s and have resulted in its present form. The first came shortly after the 1990 home season, when the Tyser Tower press box - a fantastic five-tier, 90-foot high, 160-foot long structure - was built on the stadium's south rim. Tyser Tower accommodates 300 exterior luxury seats, a hospitality suite with theater-style seating, a spacious working press area, television and radio booths, and a photo deck.
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Construction has been completed on a beautiful new football complex - since named the Gossett Football Team House - just beyond the east end zone. This $7 million building houses football coaching offices and meeting areas, academic computer lab, locker rooms, weight facility, and a medical support area. A bronze Terrapin sits in front of the team house, its installation coming in 1992 as part of the celebration of the 100th year of football at the university. Following the 1994 campaign, Byrd's seating capacity increased by more than 12,000 to its current level of 48,055 when a massive upper deck was added on the stadium's north side. The cost for the latest renovation exceeded $45 million.
The refurbishing of Byrd included new restrooms, bleachers and the stadium's first formal entranceway off of Field House Drive. The Gossett Football Team House, Tyser Tower, concession stands, rest rooms and stadium portals, designed by H.O.K. Architects of Kansas City, are enclosed in sand-molded brick that matches the Williamsburg-style brick used on most of Maryland's 335 buildings. The brick gives the contemporary architecture a timeless veneer and unity with the university's traditional Georgian look.
Byrd Highlights
1950
Byrd Stadium is constructed at a cost of $1 million. The original capacity was 34,680, but could be boosted to more than 50,000 with temporary bleachers around the rim of the stadium.
1953
Byrd is home to the national champion Terrapin football team.
1955
In a game billed as the "Best of the East" vs. the "Best of the West," Maryland defeated No. 1-ranked UCLA 7-0. Historians called that game one of the greatest of the decade.
1957
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip visited while former Terp head coach Jim Tatum returned to the scene of his greatest coaching triumphs. The Terps went on to upset North Carolina in what then head coach Tommy Mont later called his finest moment as coach.
1974
The legendary Bear Bryant returned to College Park with his third-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on Sept. 14. Temporary bleachers were installed for only the second time in stadium history to accommodate 54,412 fans, then the largest crowd ever at Byrd. Later in the season, on Oct. 11, the second-largest crowd (49,647) in Byrd history watched the 15th-ranked Terps defeat 17th-ranked NC State 20-10.
1975
The Byrd Stadium attendance record of 58,973 was set when 14th-ranked Maryland hosted ninth-ranked Penn State.
1983
Byrd Stadium played host to its second-largest crowd, 54,715, as the 17th-ranked Terps met No. 20 West Virginia.
1985 The Terps, ranked No. 1 in the preseason by Sport magazine, set the all-time school home attendance record, averaging 49,385 for five home games.
1990
Construction began following the last home football game of the season on what was the first major athletic construction on campus in 35 years. The Byrd Stadium refurbishment was the first of its kind to be done without the supervision of Curley Byrd.
1994
Following the end of the football season, renovations continued with the addition of an upper deck.
1995
Seating capacity is 48,055 - an increase of 12,000 - following the completion of the upper deck on the stadium's north side. As needed, bleachers can increase the seating capacity to 62,000.
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Byrd Stadium was renovated between the 1990 and 1991 seasons with a $3.5 million press box, reconstruction of the Stadium bowl and new seating, and new rest rooms and concession stands on the south side. Between 1991 and 1992, a $7 million Football Team Complex was completed by the east end zone. After the final home game of 1994, construction began on a $20 million renovation that includes adding an upper deck to the north side, and rest rooms and concession stands to the west and north sides.
The capacity of Byrd for the first game of 1995 will be over 48,000. The upper deck addition adds approximately 14,000 seats, but because seats were eliminated during the renovation, the net increase in seating is 6,000 over 1994's capacity of 42,000.
Source: University of Maryland Sports Information Office
MARYLAND TO ALLOW LIQUOR IN SUITES
November 6, 2008
Copyright 2008 MediaVentures
College Park, Md. - After much deliberation, the University of Maryland has decided to allow
beer and wine sales next season in Byrd Stadium's 64 new luxury suites, but it still won't permit
alcohol anywhere else in the stadium.
Literature being prepared for potential suite buyers promotes "in-suite beer and wine service"
as well as indoor and outdoor seating and other amenities.
The 64 suites are part of a $50.8 million expansion of the stadium's Tyser Tower that will also
add 440 mezzanine seats. So far, 28 of the 64 suites - each at a price of $40,000 to $85,000 a year - have been leased.
"We are pleased that beer and wine will be served in the suites at Tyser Tower in a safe manner
consistent with university policy," senior associate athletic director Brian Ullmann said in a
statement.
Alcohol is a sensitive issue in college stadiums. The student section consists of 10,000 seats at
Byrd, or about one-fifth of the stadium. Many students are under the drinking age of 21.
But Maryland said the suite sales will be carefully monitored. It said only beer and wine will be
sold and that sales personnel will be trained and certified. Drink maximums will be enforced.
Most colleges, including Maryland, don't permit alcohol advertisements inside their stadiums.
Maryland's policy says that "alcoholic beverages are prohibited at Chevy Chase Bank Field at
Byrd Stadium" and that the "No Alcohol Perimeter" extends to the lines entering the facility.
(Baltimore Sun)
MARYLAND WORKING TO SELL LUXURY SUITES
July 16, 2009
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
College Park, Md. - The University of Maryland is working to sell its remaining inventory of
luxury suites and club seats.
The Terrapins sold 36 of 64 suites through July 1, officials said. Those suites range from
$40,000 to $85,000 apiece and are available on a long-term or annual basis. To date, all suites sold have been on either three-, five-, or seven-year leases.
The Terps and Duke University were the only Atlantic Coast Conference football programs
without suites inside their football stadium.
Meanwhile, more than half of the 440 new mezzanine-level seats at Bryd Stadium have been
sold. Those seats sell for $800 to $2,000 a ticket annually. Terps fans can secure their ticket for a lifetime for $10,000 to $25,000 apiece. The luxury seats include wait service, food and
non-alcoholic beverages at each game.
Both additions are part of a $51 million upgrade to Byrd Stadium's Tyser Tower complex that
includes a larger press box and new team store. The upgrades, on schedule to be complete by the
team's Sept. 12 home opener against James Madison University, will bring Byrd Stadium's capacity
to nearly 60,000.
The economy has not affect the school's sale of season tickets, which are running at 89 percent,
officials said. The football program has around 30,000 season ticket holders.
MARYLAND GETS CREATIVE TO FILL STADIUM SEATS
August 20, 2009
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
College Park, Mary. - The University of Maryland Athletic Department is courting groups and
using other marketing strategies to fill seats at Byrd Stadium. The school has seats available after an 8.1 percent decrease in season ticket sales for this season.
New this year is all-inclusive birthday packages. While the school has offered similar
packaging in the past for other sports, including women's basketball, this is the first time it's come to football.
Fans can celebrate for $675 in lower-level seating and $525 in upper-level seats. The package
is for 15 people, with each additional guest costing $45 or $35, and includes a $10 meal voucher
per guest and an on-field photo before the game for the honoree.
The school will not offer any type of group ticketing for the Virginia Tech game on Nov. 14
because of anticipated demand for the event.
Overall, sales at Maryland are under increased pressure after the renovation of Byrd Stadium's
Tyser Tower to include 64 suites and 440 new mezzanine seats, said Brian Ullman, senior associate
athletics director for external operations.
Most recent reports showed that the university has filled 40 suites and 345 mezzanine seats.
Nearby, the Naval Academy's season football ticket sales decreased by about 5 percent from
this time last year, with the loss of a high-profile game in Baltimore adding to the recession's effect, said Eric Ruden, deputy athletic director.
In previous years, Navy season tickets included seats to a game against Notre Dame or Army at
Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium. This year, the team does not have a Baltimore game, playing
Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., and Army in Philadelphia.
While the school is not offering new ticket promotions, Ruden said he hopes the season - the
team's 50th in the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium - will be an attraction in itself.
THE ULTIMATE SPORTS ROAD TRIP
By: Andrew Kulyk & Peter Farrell
November 20, 2010 - Byrd Stadium, or its official name, Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium, is one of those stadiums that has been built, improved, expanded, added on to and modernized a number of times in its history. What you’ve got today is an odd horseshoe configuration, a massive and steep upper deck on one side, a snazzy and modern façade on one exterior face, and a mish mosh of mezzanine club seats, suites, a press tower and two video boards, one old and one new. Somehow it all comes together and works.
The stadium opened in 1950, and is nestled amidst parking ramps and companion sports venues on the beautiful grounds of the University of Maryland campus, and directly across from the historic Cole Fieldhouse, their basketball venue which was replaced by the more modern and more generic Comcast Center a few years back. With all the renovations, the stadium seats a little under 60,000 for football.
With parking scarce and scattered all across campus, and multi story ramps dotting the area as well, mass tailgating is not the norm here, and is more sporadic than in similar venues with more surface parking nearby.
This venue does claim a couple of bragging rights however. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip saw their first ever American football game in this stadium back in the 50s. Additionally, it was the home to the USFL Baltimore Stars for one season, back in 1985.
We witnessed a great game which was nationally televised on ABC. Maryland was down 23-16 late, driving for the game tying touchdown when Florida State intercepted the ball on a 4th down pass, then ran it back 90 yards for the game clinching score with just 36 seconds left in the game. The Seminoles take this one by a 30-16 score.
