Glass Bowl

Stadium in Toledo, Ohio

This article is about the stadium. For the 1940s postseason bowl game, see Glass Bowl (game).

Glass Bowl Stadium

Glass Bowl Stadium facing northwest, 2004

Glass Bowl Stadium

Location in Ohio

Show map of Ohio

Glass Bowl Stadium

Location in the United States

Show map of the United States

Former names| University Stadium (1937–1945)
Location| 3044 N. Glass Bowl Dr.
Toledo, Ohio 43606
Coordinates| 41°39′25″N 83°36′49″W﻿ / ﻿41.65694°N 83.61361°W﻿ / 41.65694; -83.61361
Owner| University of Toledo
Operator| University of Toledo
Capacity| 8,000 (1937–1939)
11,500 (1940–1948)
12,800 (1949–1965)
15,900 (1966–1970)
18,210 (1971–1989)
26,248 (1990–2000)
26,038 [1] (2001–present)
Record attendance| 36,852 (2001 vs Navy)[2]
Surface| Field Turf (2008–present, replaced in 2016)
AstroTurf (1975–2007)
Grass (1937–1974)
Construction
Broke ground| 1936
Opened| September 27, 1937
Renovated| 1990, 2016
Expanded| 1940, 1949, 1966, 1971, 1990
Construction cost| $313,558 USD
($6.86 million in 2024 dollars[3])
$18 million (renovation)
($43.3 million in 2024 dollars[3])
Architect| SSOE, Inc. (renovation)
Tenants
Toledo Rockets (NCAA) (1937–present)
Glass Bowl Game (NCAA) (1946–1949)
Ohio Cannon (RFL) (1999)

The Glass Bowl is a stadium in Toledo, Ohio. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the American football team of the University of Toledo Rockets. It is located on the school's Bancroft campus, just south of the banks of the Ottawa River. Known for its blend of old and new, it retains the traditional stonework around the field throughout all its expansions.

## History

[edit]

Originally known as University Stadium, it was completed in 1937 at a cost of $313,558 as a Works Progress Administration project. Originally the natural seating bowl held 8,000 in two sideline grandstands. There was a grass hill at the south end of the stadium, and at the open (north) end of the bowl were two stone towers (still standing), that served as makeshift housing for the football team in its early years. Following World War II, the stadium was renovated, with many glass elements. Because of this, and the city's concentration on the industry, the stadium was renamed the Glass Bowl in 1946. South end zone stands were added in 1966, and further expansion came following Toledo's 35-game win streak from 1969 to 1971, bringing capacity up to 18,500.

In 1999, the Toledo-based Ohio Cannon of the Regional Football League played at various stadiums, including the Glass Bowl, but did not finish the season.[4]

The stadium hosted the 2001 MAC Championship Game.[5]

The stadium hosted the Italian Bowl on July 1, 2023, it was the final game of the 2023 Italian Football League season.[6] It hosted the Italian Bowl again in the summer of 2025.[7]

### Renovations

[edit]

In 1990, the stadium had its largest expansion take place, adding a second level of seats to both sidelines. As part of the $18.5 million renovations, a three-story press box, 45 luxury suites, a 400-seat Stadium Club, sports information offices, and the Larimer Athletic Complex were built. The three-story press box, the second largest in the nation, was the greatest improvement in terms of upgrades, as the former press box was barely 30 feet (9.1 m) long and could only hold approximately 50 people.

Further improvements include a video scoreboard in the north end zone in 1999, and the upgrade to a Field Turf playing surface in 2008. A new video board was installed in 2010.

In 2016, a $3.5 million renovation took place, including replacement of the field turf, changes to the facade, updating concessions, restrooms, locker rooms, and ticket booths, as well as other minor cosmetic changes to the stadium.

## Attendance

[edit]

The largest crowd in Glass Bowl history for a University of Toledo football game was 36,852 for a game against the United States Naval Academy on October 27, 2001.

### Attendance records

[edit]

1. 36,852 vs. Navy (2001)
2. 36,502 vs. Northern Illinois (2001)
3. 34,950 vs. Minnesota (2001)
4. 34,900 vs. Marshall (2000)
5. 33,040 vs. Indiana State (1994)
6. 32,726 vs. Weber State (2000)
7. 31,981 vs. Bowling Green (2004)
8. 31,711 vs. Pittsburgh (2003)
9. 31,458 vs. Bowling Green (1994)
10. 31,369 vs. Bowling Green (1982)

## Features

[edit]

In 1961, the University of Toledo procured a genuine MIM-3 Nike Ajax rocket from the United States Army's missile program.[8][9] The Army Ordnance Corps presented the missile to the school at that year's season opener.[8] The one-ton rocket carries two sets of fins and a propellant booster capable of guiding it to supersonic velocity. It sits on a 14-foot pylon outside the Glass Bowl and is aimed to hit the 50-yard line of arch-rival Bowling Green's Doyt Perry Stadium.[9][8]

The Glass Bowl was often formerly used by the Glassmen as a rehearsal facility during weekends in the late spring and early summer. In addition, the Glass Bowl is used for monster truck rallies, commencements, and concerts, among other uses.

## See also

[edit]

* List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums

## References

[edit]

1. ^ https://utrockets.com/facilities/glass-bowl/1
2. ^ "Glass Bowl: One of America's Great Football Stadiums". September 2023.
3. ^ a b 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 February 29, 2024.
4. ^ "New league not coming to Toledo". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
5. ^ "MAC Championship Game Set for Friday Night" (Press release). Mid–American Conference. November 27, 2001. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
6. ^ "Glass Bowl host the 2023 Italian Bowl". www.wtol.com. Associated Press. June 12, 2023.
7. ^ "Italian Bowl returning to Toledo in 2025". The Blade.
8. ^ a b c "Toledo Planning 'Special Events'". The Lima Citizen. September 3, 1961. Retrieved February 16, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ a b "University of Toledo History and Traditions". University of Toledo. Retrieved February 16, 2025.

* [1] \- 2016 renovations
* [2] \- 2016 renovation costs

## External links

[edit]

* Glass Bowl - Toledo Rockets

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Toledo Rockets football

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Football stadiums of the Mid-American Conference

Current stadiums|

* InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field (Akron)
* Scheumann Stadium (Ball State)
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* Rynearson Stadium (Eastern Michigan)
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* Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium (Northern Illinois; leaving in 2026)
* Peden Stadium (Ohio)
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Championship|

* Ford Field

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MAC Football Championship Game

Years|

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Venues|

* Marshall University Stadium (1997–2000, 2002)
* Glass Bowl (2001)
* Doyt Perry Stadium (2003)
* Ford Field (2004–present)

* v
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College football venues in Ohio

Division I
FBS|

| Big 12|

* Nippert Stadium (Cincinnati)

|

Big Ten|

* Ohio Stadium (Ohio State)

MAC|

* Dix Stadium (Kent State)
* Doyt Perry Stadium (Bowling Green)
* Glass Bowl (Toledo)
* InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field (Akron)
* Peden Stadium (Ohio)
* Yager Stadium (Miami)

Division I
FCS|

| Missouri Valley|

* Stambaugh Stadium (Youngstown State)

|

Pioneer|

* Welcome Stadium (Dayton)

Division II|

| G-MAC|

* Community Stadium (Ashland)
* Donnell Stadium (Findlay)
* Frost Kalnow Stadium (Tiffin)
* Jack Britt Memorial Field (Lake Erie)
* Larry Staut Field (Walsh)
* Panther Field (Ohio Dominican)

|

SIAC|

* McPherson Stadium (Central State)

Division III|

| Heartland|

* Salzman Stadium (Bluffton)
* Schueler Field (Mount St. Joseph)

|

North Coast|

* Deeds Field–Piper Stadium (Denison)
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* John P. Papp Stadium (Wooster)
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* Bernlohr Stadium (Capital)
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* Don Drumm Stadium (Marietta)
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* Frost-Kalnow Stadium (Heidelberg)
* George Finnie Stadium (Baldwin–Wallace)
* Memorial Stadium (Otterbein)
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* Mount Union Stadium (Mount Union)
* Williams Stadium (Wilmington)

PAC|

* DiSanto Field (Case Western Reserve)

NAIA|

| Mid-States|

* Coressel Stadium (Defiance)

|

Former stadiums|

| MEC|

* Korb Field (Notre Dame)

|

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University of Toledo

Located in: Toledo, Ohio

Academics|

| Colleges|

* Law
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|

Athletics|

| Teams|

* Baseball
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|

Venues|

* Glass Bowl
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* Phi Kappa Phi
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* The Independent Collegian
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* Founded: 1872
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* Category

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Music venues of Ohio

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* Andrew J. Brady Music Center
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* Glass Bowl
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* Agora Theatre and Ballroom
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Arenas|

* Beeghly Center
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* James A. Rhodes Arena
* Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center
* Nationwide Arena
* Nutter Center
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* Rocket Arena
* Savage Arena
* SeaGate Convention Centre
* University of Dayton Arena
* Value City Arena
* Wolstein Center

Historic venues|

* Battelle Hall
* Cleveland Stadium
* Cincinnati Gardens
* Coliseum at Richfield
* Emery Theatre
* Franklin County Veterans Memorial Auditorium
* Germain Amphitheater
* Hara Arena
* Rubber Bowl
* Time Warner Cable Amphitheater
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