McAndrew Stadium

McAndrew Stadium
Construction
"The Mac"
Location	Travel Service Dr Carbondale, Illinois
Owner	Southern Illinois University
Operator	Southern Illinois University
Capacity	17,000
Surface	AstroPlay turf
Opened	October 1, 1938
Renovated	1973
Expanded	1973
Closed	2009
Demolished	2011 (stadium), 2012 (track)
Construction cost	$150,000
Main contractors	Works Progress Administration
Tenants
SIU Salukis (NCAA)

McAndrew Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Carbondale, Illinois, USA. It opened in 1938 and was home to the Southern Illinois University Salukis football team, as well as the track team. It was replaced by Saluki Stadium in 2010.

Originally built by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression of the mid-1930s, it had a construction cost of $150,000, only seated 5,000 and was hailed as one of the most attractive stadiums in the Midwest.^[1]

The first game at the stadium took place on October 1, 1938, a 27-0 loss to Southeast Missouri State. Two weeks later, Southern Illinois University defeated Arkansas State, 6-0, for its first home win in its new stadium.

When William McAndrew, the school's first head coach, died in 1943, the University named the stadium McAndrew Stadium in his honor.

The most comprehensive renovation to the stadium took place after the 1973 season, when additional seating was erected on both sides.

Southern Illinois has played 328 games at the stadium since it first opened and has a record of 168-154-6.

Among the more memorable games include a 16-13 win over nationally ranked Tulsa on Oct. 28, 1967. In 1983, SIU beat Nevada, 23-7, to advance to the Division I-AA National Championship game.

After the 1996 Atlanta Olympics SIU competed to have the track surface and won, which meant that the Olympic track was dismantled and brought from Atlanta to McAndrew Stadium.

After a 29-year absence, night football returned to McAndrew Stadium in 2002. The Salukis opened the season with a 78-0 win over Kentucky Wesleyan on August 29, followed by a fireworks show.

Prior to 2002, the last night game at McAndrew was Oct. 20, 1973, when the Salukis hosted Tampa. The lighting system became inoperable the following year.

In 2001, a new AstroPlay turf was installed at a cost of $550,000. With its taller surface, the turf resembles natural grass. It also has a soft rubber base to provide added cushioning.

In 2003, the University's Board of Trustees approved a land use plan that will create a new "gateway" to SIU that includes a new football stadium.

The stadium closed at the end of the 2009 football season and on December 15, 2010 McAndrew began demolition and was completed in February 2011. The track, however, remained until a new one was constructed by Abe Martin Field. Demolition and removal of the remaining statium structures began in the spring of 2012. It is now home to a parking lot.

References

↑ "The Most Attractive Stadiums in the Midwest". Illinois University Facilities.

Southern Illinois Salukis football

Venues	McAndrew Stadium (1938–2009) Saluki Stadium (2010–present)

Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games

Culture & lore	"Go Southern Go!" Saluki Sports Network

People	Head coaches

Seasons	1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

National championship seasons in bold

Coordinates: 37°42′46″N 89°13′0″W / 37.71278°N 89.21667°W / 37.71278; -89.21667

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