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 Interactive map of Robertson Stadium | |
| Former names | Public School Stadium (1942–1958) Jeppesen Stadium (1958–1980) Robertson Stadium (1980–2012) |
|---|---|
| Address | 3874 Holman Street |
| Location | Houston, Texas |
| Coordinates | 29°43′19″N95°20′57″W / 29.72194°N 95.34917°W /29.72194; -95.34917 |
| Owner | University of Houston System |
| Operator | University of Houston |
| Capacity | 32,000 (1998–2012) 22,500 (1970–1997) 36,000 (1960–1969) 14,500 (1942–1959) |
| Record attendance | 37,981 32,413 (with final capacity) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | Philips Vidiwall |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1941 |
| Opened | September 18, 1942 |
| Renovated | 1960, 1970, 1999, 2006 |
| Closed | November 24, 2012 |
| Demolished | December 2012 |
| Construction cost | US$650,000 ($12.5 million in 2024 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | Harry D. Payne |
| General contractor | Fretz Construction Company |
| Tenants | |
| Houston Cougars (NCAA) (1946–1950; 1994–2012) Texas Southern Tigers (NCAA) (1952–2005) Houston Oilers (AFL) (1960–1964) Houston Marshals (SFL) (2000) Houston Dynamo (MLS) (2006–2011) | |
John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium (often referred to as simplyRobertson Stadium) was amulti-purpose stadium inHouston, located on the campus of theUniversity of Houston. It was the home of theHouston Cougars football and women'ssoccer teams. The stadium was the first home for theHouston Dynamo ofMajor League Soccer from 2006 to 2011, as well as the first home of theAmerican Football League'sHouston Oilers from 1960 to 1964.
On January 1, 1961, it hosted theAmerican Football League Championship Game (for the1960 title). The Oilers defeated theLos Angeles Chargers (24–16) to become the league's first champions. It was also the site for pro football's first ever double-overtime game on December 23, 1962. The Oilers lost to theDallas Texans (20–17) in that year'sAFL title game. This was the only overtime game in the 10-year history of the AFL.
The stadium's capacity was 32,000. The stadium's record attendance in its final configuration was set at 32,413, when Houston hosted the 2011 Conference USA Championship Game on December 3.
In June 2010, the University of Houston announced its intention to raze Robertson Stadium, and build a new stadium at the same site. The stadium was closed and demolished upon the conclusion of the Houston Cougars' 2012 football season. The replacement venue isTDECU Stadium.
Houston Independent School District (HISD) had purchasedWest End Park from theHouston Buffaloes when they moved intoBuffalo Stadium in 1928. The ballpark, which was also used for football and other athletic events, had originally been constructed in 1904, and was in need of replacement. It was because of this that a larger, modern venue began being planned by school board officials.
Prior to the construction of Robertson Stadium, the University of Houston campus had been built nearby in 1939. In March 1940 the HISD, who were in control of the university at the time, purchased the undeveloped site for a stadium from the Settegast Estate for $75,550.16.[2] Another 7 acres (28,000 m2) was acquired soon thereafter to bring the original site total to 59.7939 acres (241,977 m2). The area of land is now bound by Holman Street, Wheeler Street, Scott Street, andCullen Boulevard.
The stadium was then constructed as a joint project between HISD and theWorks Progress Administration by the Fretz Construction Company.[3] Named the "Public School Stadium", it was completed in 1942, and had aseating capacity of 14,500.Public School Fieldhouse (later known as Jeppesen Gymnasium), a multi-purpose indoor arena which was constructed simultaneously, stood alongside. The stadium's first game was held before a crowd of 14,500 on September 18, 1942, when Houston'sLamar High School defeated Dallas'W. H. Adamson High School 26–7.[4][5]
HISD football games continued to be played at the stadium when theHouston Cougars football team played their inaugural game in front of a crowd of 11,000 with Southwestern Louisiana (now known asLouisiana).[6] The University of Houston continued to host home football games there from 1946 to 1950 before moving toRice Stadium in 1951 and then to theAstrodome in 1965. Prior to the 1957 football season, HISD changed policy at the stadium to disallow any teams with black students to play there despite this being previously allowed without issue.[7] In 1958, the school district renamed the stadium "Jeppesen Stadium" for school board member Holger Jeppesen, who had vigorously lobbied for its construction.
In 1960, theHouston Oilers began play as a charter member of theAmerican Football League, and arranged to lease the stadium from HISD as their home stadium. The team was owned byBud Adams, a wealthy Houston oilman who upgraded Jeppesen Stadium for professional football use. Part of Adams' upgrades were expanding theseating capacity to 36,000. This allowed for the largest attendance for the stadium ever of 37,981 when theDallas Texans competed against the Oilers on December 23, 1962 forthat year's AFL title game.[8] At this time HISD continued its use of the stadium with an average of ten games per week.[9] Making national headlines, theNAACP protested HISD's segregation policy in 1961, and formally asked players from theOakland Raiders to refuse to play the Houston Oilers at Jeppesen Stadium in a regular-season game.[10] The Oilers remained at Jeppesen until 1964, when they moved intoRice Stadium.
In 1966, the University of Houston developed a master plan that emphasized the acquisition of the stadium.[2]
Corbin J. Robertson, former UH Board of Regents member and Athletics Committee Chairman, funded its renovation in 1970, and the stadium was bought for US$6.8 million by the University of Houston.[11] In 1980, it was renamed "Robertson Stadium" in his honor.
Beginning with the 1994 season, the Houston Cougars football team began splitting their home schedule with the Astrodome and Robertson Stadium. The University of Houston ended its lease agreement to hold home football games at the Astrodome before the 1998 season, moving the entire home slate of games back to Robertson Stadium on campus for the first time since 1949. In 1996, adjacentJeppesen Gymnasium, in need of heavy renovations, was demolished to make way for a new scoreboard. The stadium was heavily renovated in 1999 to bring it up toNCAA Division I-A (now Division I FBS) standards for football venues. The playing surface was lowered nine feet and the running track eliminated to facilitate the addition of new seating on the sidelines and end zones. A total of twenty luxury suites were also constructed above both sides of the stadium. The playing field itself was named in honor of Houston attorneyJohn O'Quinn, a donor to the project, thus modifying its official name to "John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium". Rodney Griffin was the first official groundskeeper of the facility.[12]
On August 2, 2002, theNFL'sHouston Texans andDallas Cowboys competed against each other in ascrimmage at Robertson Stadium.[13] It was the first public game for the Texans, which were an expansion team to the league.
Several improvements were made in 2006 thanks in part to a $1.7 million donation from theHouston Dynamo. The lighting system was upgraded and a new scoreboard and aPhilips Vidiwall video screen was added. This was completed in August 2006. The Dynamo used the stadium for its first six seasons, leaving after 2011 for a newsoccer-specific stadium in downtown Houston,BBVA Compass Stadium.
With its final seating, the largest attendance for a single game at Robertson Stadium was set at 32,413, when Houston was defeated bySouthern Miss on December 3, 2011 in the2011 C-USA Championship Game in Houston. Prior to this, it was 32,207 when Houston defeatedSMU on November 19, 2011. It was also the first timeESPN came to Houston to hostCollege GameDay.
The university hired the architecture firm of Leo A. Daly to assess the stadium and develop a plan for the long-term improvement of the facility. Plans were proposed to replace the end zone sections with an integrated bowl and add an upper deck that would increase capacity to 50,000, but with the athletic department changing leadership fromDave Maggard to Mack Rhoades, a new feasibility study was conducted instead. This study, conducted byAECOM for four months, was concluded in June 2010 with an announcement by the university to raze Robertson Stadium, and rebuild anew stadium at the location.[14] On February 1, 2012, Athletic Director Mack Rhoades announced that demolition work would begin at the conclusion of the 2012 season. Robertson Stadium hosted its final event, the Cougars' season finale againstTulane, on November 24. The Cougars defeated the Green Wave 40-17 to finish their run at Robertson with a final record of 72-44-1. Official demolition of the stadium began on December 2, 2012, and major demolition began on December 10, 2012. Demolition continued through the end of 2012 when the last remaining structures were taken down and all major demolition/cleanup activities were completed by the end of January 2013. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new stadium took place in early February, 2013.
Prior to its demolition, Robertson Stadium had hosted many football games. The1960 AFL Championship game and1962 AFL Championship game were played at Robertson Stadium by the Oilers against theLos Angeles Chargers andDallas Texans respectively.[15] On January 16, 1965, the 1964AFL All-Star game was also held there. On December 1, 2006, the stadium was host to theConference USA Football Championship. On March 8, 2008, the stadium hosted the inaugural Space City Classic, a Houston-area high school all-star game. In January 2008 and 2009, the 83rd and 84th annualEast–West Shrine Games were played at Robertson Stadium.[16][17][18]
The stadium hosted a variety of other sports events. The 1983NCAA Track & Field Championship was held at Robertson Stadium prior to the removal of the track.[19] On November 10, 2007, the Dynamo defeated theKansas City Wizards in the2007 MLS Western Conference final. The stadium also hosted international rugby games, with 13,000 fans turning out in December 2001 to watch theUSA playSouth Africa.[20]
Robertson Stadium was the venue for several concerts. In 1972,ZZ Top,The Doobie Brothers,Wishbone Ash, &Willie Nelson performed at Robertson Stadium. In June 1974Jesse Colin Young andThe Beach Boys opened forCrosby, Stills, Nash, & Young and in July of the same year,Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen andThe Eagles opened forThe Allman Brothers. Other concerts held at the stadium includeThe Eagles withJimmy Buffett as warm up in 1977,Pink Floyd during theirIn The Flesh Tour, andAlice Cooper in 1980.[21]
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) operates theMETRORail Purple LineRobertson Stadium/UH/TSU station, which served Robertson Stadium and now serves TDECU Stadium.
Media related toRobertson Stadium at Wikimedia Commons
| Events and tenants | ||
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| Preceded by first stadium | Home of theHouston Dynamo 2006–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by first stadium | Home of theHouston Oilers 1960–1964 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Site of theEast–West Shrine Game 2008–2009 | Succeeded by |
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Former stadiums of the National Football League | |
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| Early era: 1920–1940 |
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| Post-war and pre-merger era: 1941–1969 |
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| Current era: 1970–present |
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| Stadiums used by NFL teams temporarily |
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†= Team's stadium under construction or refurbishment at time | |
