Schoellkopf Field: New York
Schoellkopf Field
Location Campus Rd
Ithaca, NY 14850
Opened October 9, 1915
Owner Cornell University
Operator Cornell University
Surface Artificial Turf
Tenants
Cornell Big Red
(Football, lacrosse, field hockey & track and field)
Seats
25,597
Schoellkopf Field is a 25,597-capacity stadium at Cornell University that opened in 1915 and is used for the Big Red football, sprint football, lacrosse and field hockey teams. It is located just north of Cascadilla Creek on the southern end of the campus, next to Hoy Field and Lynah Rink; Schoellkopf Memorial Hall, adjacent to the stadium, contains the Robison Hall of Fame Room, the hall of fame for Cornell athletics. Construction of Schoellkopf Field was originally funded by a donation from Willard Straight, who made his contribution in memory of Henry Schoellkopf, a Cornell football player. Schoellkopf’s family made additional contributions toward construction of the stadium.
During May of every year, weather permitting, Schoellkopf is the site where the commencement ceremony for Cornell’s Ithaca campus is held.
It hosted the Division I NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship in 1980.
Modifications
The Crescent at sunset
Cornellians cheer on the Big Red in 1919
Schoellkopf’s original capacity when it was completed was about 9,000, but it has been expanded and changed many times over the years. In 1924, the newly-completed “Crescent” replaced the original stands on the east side of the field, increasing seating to about 21,500. In 1947, the stadium’s capacity was again increased, this time to its current capacity of 25,597, with permanent steel fixtures to the west of the field.
In 1971, the surface of the field was converted to artificial turf. The field has had its turf replaced by a newer type of turf in 1979, 1988 and, most recently, in 1999. During the summer of 2005, renovations on deteriorating concrete forced the university to close the Crescent, but it reopened in time for the fall football season.