Stambaugh Stadium

by YSU Sports Informatation

Monday, Aug 20, 2018 4:00 am

The home of the Youngstown State football team has seen plenty of changes as it enters its 36th season in 2017. While the Penguins continue their winning tradition, Stambaugh Stadium continues to be one of the top facilities in all the FCS.

Now in its 36th official season of sitting high above the Youngstown State campus, the complex features an HD videoboard, new Musco Lighting and an upgraded seating area. More changes are on the way with the addition of the Don Constantini Multimedia Center which is slated to open before the 2018 season on the east side of the facility.

Affectionately referred to as the “Ice Castle”, Arnold D. Stambaugh Stadium is the tallest building in the city and offers tremendous views in all directions. YSU’s first game at the stadium was on Sept. 4, 1982, against nearby rival Akron, and the Penguins have enjoyed quite the home-field advantage. They have won over 75 percent of their games at Stambaugh, and they enter the 2017 campaign with an impressive 164-54-1 record in 35 campaigns, including a perfect 8-0 record in 2016.

Only four times in 33 seasons have the Penguins failed to finish above .500 at Stambaugh Stadium. In the playoffs, YSU is 16-1 having won 16 straight since losing their first-ever home playoff tilt in November 1990. Since 1996, the Guins have posted a stellar mark of 98-34. Since 1989, YSU is an impressive 144-37-1, including undefeated seasons in 1993, 1994, 2005 and 2016.

One of the finest FCS facilities in the country with the largest seating capacity in the MVFC at 20,630, many tweaks and upgrades through the years have ensured a fi eld-fi eld advantage and kept the complex a cutting-edge facility.

In 2015, a new state-of-the-art videoboard enhanced the North end zone. Installed by LED3 of Canfield, the new Absen LED board is triple the size of the previous video screen. The scoreboard at the south end features an OES scoring system that will be huge improvement in visibility.

A major lighting project has enhanced Stambaugh Stadium’s television appeal while improving the overall appearance of the facility. In the general seating areas, water-proofing maintenance will increase the longevity of the complex.

Built with seating for 17,000 fans only on the west side, Stambaugh entered a new era in 1997 when it underwent a $5.5 million addition.

Prior to the 1997 campaign, the number of loges (luxury suites) was expanded from 12 to 26. The Watson Media Center, one of the best press facilities in the FCS, was added onto the second level of the complex. The DeBartolo Stadium Club, which overlooks the Mahoning Valley, is located on the main loge area. Seating for more than 3,000 was added on the east side to bring the capacity to 20,630.

Three times the playing surface has been replaced, most recently in the summer of 2011. SCG installed a Shaw Sportexe PowerBlade HP+ synthetic turf system, which combines the appearance of natural grass with the engineered performance of modern synthetic turf, in 2011. It is specially designed to enhance speed and performance while providing for maximum player safety.

Previous turf replacements occurred in 2002 when SprinTurf was installed and in 1991 when AstroTurf replaced the original playing surface.

In 2006, a new concourse elevator became the latest enhancement.

From the summer of 2008 through February 2009, the football office suites were renovated, the loge complex was repainted and all hallways were tiled. Updated carpet was installed in the DeBartolo Stadium Club. Tile was also installed in the classrooms, and numerous painting makeovers occurred.

In 2009, the chairback seats were replaced while the baseball locker room was moved to its own area out of the football locker area. After the season, a new football lounge was created. It features eight couches, three reclining chairs, numerous flat-screen TVs, video-game players and plenty of space for the team to relax.

Following the 2010 campaign, the locker room underwent further updates. A new entrance hallway was created while a ceiling was added to the main locker room area. Highlighting the ceiling is a hanging “Y” as well as a “Protect this House” - a slogan of Under Armour.

A conference room was built in 2012 for use by all sports, YSU athletics staff and press conferences.

Prior to 2014, the weight room was enhanced and nearly doubled in size, all exterior doors were replaced, a state-of-the art cooling tub was installed for use by all student-athletes in the Athletic Training area and numerous painting projects were completed. A dining hall was also created and is open throughout the week for use by all YSU staff and students.