Gerald J. Ford Stadium

American football stadium on the Southern Methodist University campus near Dallas, TX, US

"Ford Stadium" redirects here. For the NFL stadium in Detroit, see Ford Field.

Gerald J. Ford Stadium

Gerald J. Ford Stadium

Location in Texas

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Gerald J. Ford Stadium

Location in the United States

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Location| 5801 Bush Avenue
Dallas (Dallas), TX 75205
Coordinates| 32°50′11.92″N 96°47′2.38″W﻿ / ﻿32.8366444°N 96.7839944°W﻿ / 32.8366444; -96.7839944
Owner| Southern Methodist University
Operator| Southern Methodist University
Capacity| 32,000[1]
Surface| FieldTurf
Construction
Broke ground| September 10, 1999[2]
Opened| September 2, 2000
Construction cost| $42 million[2]
($71.4 million in 2022 dollars[3])
Architect| Ellerbe Becket
General contractor| Huber, Hunt & Nichols
Tenants
SMU Mustangs (NCAA) (2000–present)
Armed Forces Bowl (NCAA) (2010–2011)
First Responder Bowl (NCAA) (2019–present)

Gerald J. Ford Stadium is a stadium in Dallas, Texas.[1] The stadium is owned by Southern Methodist University (SMU) and is used primarily for games played by the SMU Mustangs football team.

## About Gerald J. Ford Stadium[edit]

The stadium is named after Gerald J. Ford, a billionaire banker who provided most of the funding for its construction.[4]

Outside the northeast corner of the stadium is Doak Walker Plaza, honoring the former Heisman Trophy winner and SMU's greatest football star. The plaza includes a life-sized replica of the Doak Walker Award trophy, awarded annually to the nation's top college football running back. The northwest corner is connected to the Loyd All-Sports Center, which contains locker, training, and office space for SMU Athletics.[5]

## History[edit]

The building stands on the site of the former Ownby Stadium, the school's previous on-campus football stadium. Ownby was demolished starting in late October 1998 in order to clear the land designated for the new stadium. Ford Stadium opened on September 2, 2000, with a football game against the University of Kansas.[6]

On September 24, 2022, the regular season attendance record was set at Gerald J. Ford Stadium when 35,481 people watched the TCU Horned Frogs face off against the SMU Mustangs in the Battle for the Iron Skillet. The overall attendance record is set at 36,742 for the 2010 Armed Forces Bowl between SMU and the Army Black Knights.[7]

## Future expansion[edit]

The north-south oriented stadium is bowl-shaped, with stands on three sides (west, east, and north). The stadium is expandable to 45,000 seats by enclosing the horseshoe on the south end.[6]

### Renovations[edit]

In 2012, SMU Mustang Athletics announced the construction of additional luxury suites, as well as the upgrading of infrastructure to the Paul B. Loyd, Jr. All-Sports Center to allow access to designated outdoor seating areas in the stadium. Construction was completed prior to the start of the 2013 season.[8]

On July 26, 2016, SMU officials announced plans for an upcoming facilities project that will include a new indoor performance center for the Mustangs football team, as well as an outdoor natural grass football practice field. The additions are part of the initial phase of SMU's $150 million comprehensive facilities upgrade. [9]

On December 2, 2022, SMU broke ground on the Garry Weber Endzone Complex, a new, $100 million dollar state-of-the-art facility for the school's football team. The complex, named after Garry Weber, an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist and former SMU football player, will include a new weight room, training facilities, meeting rooms, and offices for the football program. The complex is expected to be completed in time for the start of 2024 football season. [10]

## Attendance records[edit]

Rank  | Attendance  | Date  | Game Result

|
|
|

1 | 36,742 | December 30, 2010 | SMU 14, Army 16
2 | 35,569 | September 24, 2022 | SMU 34, TCU 42
3 | 35,481 | September 24, 2010 | SMU 24, 4 TCU 41
4 | 34,820 | September 20, 2014 | SMU 6, 6 Texas A&M 58
5 | 34,790 | August 30, 2013 | SMU 23, Texas Tech 41
6 | 34,749 | September 5, 2009 | SMU 31, Stephen F. Austin 23
7 | 33,458 | September 11, 2004 | SMU 13, Texas Tech 27
8 | 32,267 | September 2, 2000 | SMU 31, Kansas 17
9 | 32,074 | September 4, 2015 | SMU 21, 4 Baylor 56
10 | 32,016 | September 15, 2012 | SMU 3, Texas A&M 48
11 | 32,000 | October 22, 2016 | SMU 38, 11 Houston 16
12 | 32,000 | September 7, 2002 | SMU 14, Texas Tech 24
13 | 30,987 | September 23, 2016 | SMU 3, TCU 33
14 | 30,923 | September 20, 2008 | SMU 7, TCU 48
15 | 29,538 | September 3, 2005 | SMU 23, Baylor 28
16 | 29,528 | November 9, 2019 | 23 SMU 59, East Carolina 51
17 | 29,121 | September 11, 2021 | SMU 35, North Texas 12
18 | 28,436 | September 29, 2012 | SMU 16, 15 TCU 24
19 | 28,142 | October 5, 2019 | 24 SMU 43, Tulsa 373OT
20 | 27,106 | September 20, 2003 | SMU 6, Oklahoma State 56

## Gallery[edit]

* Home Side, 2016

* Wide Shot, 2016

## See also[edit]

* List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Facilities". SMU Athletics.
2. ^ a b "Gerald J. Ford Stadium". football.ballparks.com.
3. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
4. ^ "Gerald J. Ford - Profile". Forbes.com. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
5. ^ "Loyd All-Sports Center". SMUMustangs.com. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
6. ^ a b "Gerald J. Ford Stadium". SMUMustangs.com. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
7. ^ "College football establishes new attendance records for the bowl and regular seasons". MilitaryBowl.org. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
8. ^ "Gerald J. Ford Stadium Premium Seating and Mini-Suites". SMU.edu. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
9. ^ "SMU Athletics reveals future facilities projects". SMU.edu. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
10. ^ "Expanding SMU's Gerald J. Ford Stadium". SMU.edu. Retrieved January 5, 2023.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

* Official website

Preceded by

Columbus Crew Stadium
Columbus, OH

|  Host of the College Cup
2002  | Succeeded by

Columbus Crew Stadium
Columbus, OH

|
|

Preceded by

Spartan Stadium

|  Host of the Women's College Cup
2001  | Succeeded by

Mike A. Myers Stadium

* v
* t
* e

SMU Mustangs football

Venues|

* Armstrong Field (1915–1922)
* Ownby Stadium (1926–1948, 1989–1994)
* Cotton Bowl (1932–1978, 1995–1999)
* Texas Stadium (1972–1973, 1979–1986)
* Gerald J. Ford Stadium (2000–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Navy: Gansz Trophy
* North Texas: Safeway Bowl
* Rice
* TCU

Culture & lore|

* Peruna
* Best Dressed Band in the Land
* 1935 "Game of the Century"
* Death penalty
* 2022 Houston game

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
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* 1987–1988
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National championship seasons in bold

* v
* t
* e

Football stadiums of the American Athletic Conference

Current stadiums|

* Jerry Richardson Stadium (Charlotte)
* Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium (East Carolina)
* FAU Stadium (Florida Atlantic)
* Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis)
* Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Navy)
* DATCU Stadium (North Texas)
* Rice University Stadium (Rice)
* Gerald J. Ford Stadium (SMU; leaving in 2024)
* Raymond James Stadium (South Florida)
* Lincoln Financial Field (Temple)
* Yulman Stadium (Tulane)
* Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium (Tulsa)
* Protective Stadium (UAB)
* Alamodome (UTSA)

Future stadiums|

* Michie Stadium (Army; joining in 2024)

* v
* t
* e

Fort Worth / Armed Forces Bowl

* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2015 (Jan.)
* 2015 (Dec.)
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2020 (Jan.)
* 2020 (Dec.)
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

* Amon G. Carter Stadium (2003–2009, 2012–present)
* Gerald J. Ford Stadium (2010–2011)

* Broadcasters

* v
* t
* e

TicketCity / Heart of Dallas / First Responder Bowl

* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014 (Jan)
* 2014 (Dec)
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

* Cotton Bowl (2011–2018)
* Gerald J. Ford Stadium (2019–present)

* Broadcasters

* v
* t
* e

College football venues in Texas

Division I
FBS|

| The American|

* Alamodome (UTSA)
* DATCU Stadium (North Texas)
* Gerald J. Ford Stadium (SMU)
* Rice Stadium (Rice)

|

Big 12|

* Amon G. Carter Stadium (TCU)
* Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium (Texas)
* Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field (Texas Tech)
* McLane Stadium (Baylor)
* TDECU Stadium (Houston)

C-USA|

* Bowers Stadium (Sam Houston)
* Sun Bowl (UTEP)

SEC|

* Kyle Field (Texas A&M)

Sun Belt|

* Bobcat Stadium (Texas State)

Division I
FCS|

| Southland|

* Husky Stadium (Houston Christian)
* Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium (Incarnate Word)
* Provost Umphrey Stadium (Lamar)
* Memorial Stadium (Commerce) (Texas A&M–Commerce)

|

SWAC|

* Panther Stadium at Blackshear Field (Prairie View A&M)
* Shell Energy Stadium (Texas Southern)

UAC|

* Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium (Abilene Christian)
* Homer Bryce Stadium (Stephen F. Austin)
* Memorial Stadium (Stephenville) (Tarleton)

Division II|

| Lone Star|

* Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium (West Texas A&M)
* Javelina Stadium (Texas A&M–Kingsville)
* LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field (Angelo State)
* Memorial Stadium (Wichita Falls) (Midwestern State)
* Ratliff Stadium (Texas–Permian Basin)

|

Division III|

| American
Southwest|

* Gordon Wood Stadium (Howard Payne)
* Jackson Field (Sul Ross State)
* Matador Stadium (Texas Lutheran)
* Ornelas Stadium  (East Texas Baptist)
* Shelton Stadium (Hardin–Simmons)
* Tiger Field (Mary Hardin–Baylor)
* Wilford Moore Stadium (McMurry)

|

SAA|

* E. M. Stevens Football Stadium (Trinity)
* Jerry Apple Stadium  (Austin)

NAIA|

| Sooner|

* Lumpkins Stadium (Southwestern Assemblies)
* Rose Stadium (Texas College)

|

* AT&T Stadium
* Cotton Bowl
* Galena Park ISD Stadium
* Delmar Stadium
* NRG Stadium

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