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Old meets new here at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, the long time home of the Arizona
Wildcats. For a stadium built way back in 1928 with 7000 seats of bleachers on one
side, the building has grown into a 56,000 seat stadium with modern amenities and
enough nooks, crannies, and architectural elements to give the venue an old style
charm.
One look at the stadium and you can tell it is one of the oldest buildings on campus.
The University of Arizona consists of sleek and modern buildings, many abutting
Speedway Boulevard which bisects the north side of the campus. Not much of an old
style charm, more like the feel of a suburban office park. Immediately next door to the
stadium is the McKale Center, the Wildcats’ storied basketball venue.
The façade along the south side horseshoe is indicative of the old style architecture of
the building. And as fans walk up the ramps to their level, one can see the ornate
arched cornices of the stadium’s original exterior wall, a complete throwback to the
past.
The stadium is single deck seating on all sides except for the east side, where a club
deck and upper deck seating was added. The breathtaking views of the Santa Catalina
mountains beyond the north end zone scoreboard is something to behold.
In an interesting twist, the student section here straddles the sideline on the home
side of the field. The presence of the students in this area, and in close proximity to the
playing surface, provides a distinct home field advantage.
And check out a cool tradition which happens after each PAT or field goal in the south
end zone. The balls invariably end up in the stands, and the fans toss the bull upward
and upward, until it is pitched over the wall and outside onto the street.
Much of the pregame activity is centered around East University Boulevard in the center
of campus, where blocks and blocks on tailgate canopies, refreshment stands and
booths sponsored by various campus clubs can be found.
The Wildcats have not had the same type of success on the field as their arch rivals,
the Arizona State Sun Devils. Their bowl appearances, many in second tier bowls, are
listed along the east balcony, starting with 1949’s “Salad Bowl”. Yep, you read that
right!
Our game day experience here was a memorable one – the #8 ranked California
Bears came to town, and things looked bleak for the home town team, having lost to
the Bears in the previous two games by a combined 66-0 score. But the Wildcats hung
in, and got a timely 4th quarter interception for a touchdown to give them a 24-20 lead
and the eventual win. The students stormed the field – it was an electrifying moment!
Wildcats. For a stadium built way back in 1928 with 7000 seats of bleachers on one
side, the building has grown into a 56,000 seat stadium with modern amenities and
enough nooks, crannies, and architectural elements to give the venue an old style
charm.
One look at the stadium and you can tell it is one of the oldest buildings on campus.
The University of Arizona consists of sleek and modern buildings, many abutting
Speedway Boulevard which bisects the north side of the campus. Not much of an old
style charm, more like the feel of a suburban office park. Immediately next door to the
stadium is the McKale Center, the Wildcats’ storied basketball venue.
The façade along the south side horseshoe is indicative of the old style architecture of
the building. And as fans walk up the ramps to their level, one can see the ornate
arched cornices of the stadium’s original exterior wall, a complete throwback to the
past.
The stadium is single deck seating on all sides except for the east side, where a club
deck and upper deck seating was added. The breathtaking views of the Santa Catalina
mountains beyond the north end zone scoreboard is something to behold.
In an interesting twist, the student section here straddles the sideline on the home
side of the field. The presence of the students in this area, and in close proximity to the
playing surface, provides a distinct home field advantage.
And check out a cool tradition which happens after each PAT or field goal in the south
end zone. The balls invariably end up in the stands, and the fans toss the bull upward
and upward, until it is pitched over the wall and outside onto the street.
Much of the pregame activity is centered around East University Boulevard in the center
of campus, where blocks and blocks on tailgate canopies, refreshment stands and
booths sponsored by various campus clubs can be found.
The Wildcats have not had the same type of success on the field as their arch rivals,
the Arizona State Sun Devils. Their bowl appearances, many in second tier bowls, are
listed along the east balcony, starting with 1949’s “Salad Bowl”. Yep, you read that
right!
Our game day experience here was a memorable one – the #8 ranked California
Bears came to town, and things looked bleak for the home town team, having lost to
the Bears in the previous two games by a combined 66-0 score. But the Wildcats hung
in, and got a timely 4th quarter interception for a touchdown to give them a 24-20 lead
and the eventual win. The students stormed the field – it was an electrifying moment!
ARIZONA
STADIUM
Tucson,
Arizona
November
11, 2006
California
Bears
at
Arizona
Wildcats
STADIUM
Tucson,
Arizona
November
11, 2006
California
Bears
at
Arizona
Wildcats
| Tucson, Arizona |
Arizona Stadium