American Football Wiki
Register
Advertisement
SHI Stadium
The Birthplace of College Football
RUFootballStadium
Location Piscataway, New Jersey
Broke ground March 9, 1993
Opened September 3, 1994
Owner
Operator Rutgers University
Surface FieldTurf (2004–present)
Natural grass (1994–2003)
Construction cost $28 million
($NaN in Template:Inflation-year dollars[1])
$102 million expansion
Architect GSGSBH[2]
General Contractor Terminal Construction Company[2]
Tenants Rutgers Scarlet Knights (NCAA)
Football (1994–present)
Men's lacrosse (2014–present)
Women's lacrosse (2014–present)
Capacity 41,500 (1994–2009)
52,454 (2009–present)

SHI Stadium is the football stadium at Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey. It is located on the Busch Campus at Rutgers, and overlooks the Raritan River to the South. The stadium was opened as Rutgers Stadium on September 3, 1994,[3] when the Rutgers Scarlet Knights hosted the Kent State University Kent State Golden Flashes. It currently seats 52,454 spectators after a 2009 expansion.

Current facilities[]

SHI underwent significant reconstruction from 2008 to 2009 to increase its capacity to 52,454. The stadium features two 5,000-seat upper decks on each side of the playing field, as well as 968 loge and club seats on the mezzanine level of the East side of the stadium. A two-story press box sits on the mezzanine level of the West side of the stadium.[4] Electronic ribbon scoreboards spanning the length of the field along the bottom of both upper decks were installed prior to the 2008 season, which complement the video scoreboard in the South end zone. Also located in the South end zone is the Brown Football Recruiting Pavilion and Welcome Center, part of the 2008–2009 expansion project.

The stadium also features light stanchions that allow for night games, a cannon for firing when Rutgers scores, concessions, and restrooms. Until 2004, the field maintained a grass surface, but has since been replaced with Field Turf.

History[]

The first intercollegiate football game, in which Rutgers beat Princeton 6–4 on November 6, 1869, was played at College Field, which is now the location of the College Avenue Gymnasium and its parking lot.[5] From 1891 to 1938, the Rutgers football team played at Neilson Field on the College Avenue Campus in New Brunswick, New Jersey.[5]

With the aid of grants from the Works Progress Administration, and after three years of construction, the original Rutgers Stadium was completed in 1938. The first game in the new stadium was against Hampden-Sydney in front of an estimated crowd of about 10,000 persons. Rutgers was victorious in the contest, defeating Hampden-Sydney 32–0.[6] The stadium was dedicated on November 5, 1938 in a game against Princeton. Rutgers would go on to win the game 20-18. It was the first time Rutgers had defeated Princeton since the first ever intercollegiate football game in 1869.[7]

On September 27, 1969, Rutgers and Princeton met for The Centennial Game at old Rutgers Stadium, which was played in front of 31,000 fans. Rutgers would win 29-0, their 10th win in 60 tries against the Tigers.[7]

The current stadium was built on the site of the original old Rutgers Stadium. During the construction of the current stadium, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team played the 1993 season at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a facility operated by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA). The NJSEA financed the construction of the stadium via the issuance of bonds.[3] The Scarlet Knights had previously played several games at Giants Stadium, including the first college football game hosted at that venue: a 47-0 victory over Columbia University on October 23, 1976.[8]

The new Rutgers Stadium was originally constructed to accommodate 41,500 fans at its maximum capacity and was officially opened on September 3, 1994, in a game against Kent State University. Light stanchions were integrated into the design so night games could be played. A two-story press box that fits 200 reporters was also constructed and is still in use today. A free-standing scoreboard was built near the south end zone, which did not originally contain any seating areas. The original design of the stadium replicated the shape of a horseshoe, with the "open" end located near the south end zone.[3]

Heralded by many newspapers, sports writers, and Rutgers fans as the "most important game in Rutgers history", on November 9, 2006, a then record crowd of 44,111[9] attended a football game between the Scarlet Knights and the Louisville Cardinals at Rutgers Stadium. The Scarlet Knights were ranked #15 and the Louisville Cardinals #3 in the nation in the Associated Press poll at the time. The game drew the ESPN's third-largest TV audience for a college football game up to that point in time.[10] The official attendance exceeded the normal maximum capacity of the stadium due to the temporary addition of bleachers in the South end zone of the stadium. The bleachers were used to seat additional students.

Stadium expansion (2008–2009)[]

Rutgers Stadium expansion

The exterior of the stadium's expansion seen from River Road, under construction on September 26, 2009.

RutgersScoreboard

The newly expanded South End zone at Rutgers Stadium, pictured after the 2010 spring game. Note the Brown Football Recruiting Pavilion and Welcome Center located in the center of the seating area, as well as the brand new scoreboard.

In January 2008, the Board of Governors of Rutgers University announced a $102 million stadium expansion project in order to increase the stadium's seating capacity to nearly 56,000.[11] However, the scale of the project was slightly reduced due to a poor economy and financial difficulties, resulting in a new maximum capacity of precisely 52,454.[4]

The first phase of the project, which included the addition 968 club seats and related infrastructure to the East mezzanine level of the stadium, was completed on time and within budget for the 2008 football season.[12] The second phase included the addition of approximately 11,500 seats to the previously "open" South end zone, as well as supplementary restrooms and concession stands to the southern end of the stadium.[12] The second phase of the project also involved the addition of a large scoreboard in the South end zone, which is 38' tall by 112' wide, for a total surface area of 4,256 sq ft.[13] The old scoreboard (since demolished) was 22' tall by 30' wide, for a total surface area of 660 square feet (61 m2). The sound system was also enhanced as a part of the second phase of the expansion.[4]

In addition to adding seats, concession stands, and bathrooms to the south end zone, the stadium expansion project called for a new entrance off River Road.[4] The facade of the entrance is adorned with brownstone, and as of May 2, 2010, was not fully completed.

Brown Football Recruiting Pavilion and Welcome Center[]

On July 14, 2009, the Rutgers Board of Governors unanimously approved a $5 million donation specifically appropriated for a recruiting lounge in the newly expanded end zone. The lounge had been included in the original expansion design, but was later deferred after the Board of Governors revised the expansion financing plan. The donation was provided by two Rutgers alumni. The lounge was named after one of the donors, Greg Brown, who is the President and Co-CEO of Motorola. The second donor requested anonymity. Construction on the lounge commenced in August 2009, and was completed in December of that same year.[4][14]

The facility seats approximately 300 people and serves as a multi-purpose center for the university. The pavilion hosts and accommodates recruits around the year and also holds fundraising events for potential donors. The center is also used during tours for prospective students.[4]

Expansion financing plan[]

The $102 million price tag of the expansion project was to originally be financed via private fundraising ($30 million) and the issuance of bonds ($72 million).[15] The private fundraising effort, however, fell significantly short of the original goal.[16]

This situation prompted the Board of Governors of Rutgers University to approve a new financing plan for the stadium expansion in which the entire amount of $102 million was to be borrowed. Specifically, the university issued $85 million in bonds, and borrowed the remaining $17 million by way of low-interest commercial paper.[12] In addition, a few aspects of the stadium expansion project were scaled back, including a reduction in the number of new seats (the original plan called for 14,000 seats, but only 11,500 were actually added). Also included in the original expansion plan was the construction of new locker rooms in the South end zone. The construction of these locker rooms was deferred to a later date.[12]

Naming rights[]

For decades, Rutgers Stadium had been the name of the school's football facility. However, in June 2010, Rutgers University put up for sale the naming rights to the stadium in order to bring in much needed revenue. Rutgers hired Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment and IMG College to act as agents in making a deal, who had previously negotiated deals on the now-Brooklyn Nets' home arenas in New Jersey and New York.[17] On June 22, 2011, it was announced that High Point Solutions, based in Sparta, New Jersey, had purchased the rights, and that the stadium would be known as High Point Solutions Stadium. In May 2018, High Point Solutions announced they were rebranding the company to just be HighPoint.com. As a result, the name of the stadium was changed to HighPoint.com Stadium.

On July 19, 2019, Rutgers signed a new naming rights agreement with Somerset-based IT firm SHI International Corp. The stadium was then renamed SHI Stadium.[18]

Attendance records[]

Rutgers Stadium

Scarlet Knights vs. Cincinnati Bearcats with 43,768 spectators.

The stadium attendance records were repeatedly broken throughout the 2006 and 2007 football seasons as the football program experienced a drastic resurgence. On October 18, 2007, a record 44,267 spectators attended a game in which the Scarlet Knights played against the then #2 ranked South Florida Bulls.[9][19] The Scarlet Knights would go on to win that game, and the attendance on that night would be the highest ever prior to the 2008–2009 stadium expansion.

The new record was set in the 2014 Big 10 Conference opener against Penn State, when 53,774 people packed the venue to witness the first game in Big 10 Conference play after transferring from the American Athletic Conference before the 2014 season.[20] This record still stands today. The top 5 games in terms of attendance at Rutgers Stadium are listed below:

Rank Attendance Date Game result
1 53,774 (sell-out)[20] Sept. 13, 2014 Penn State 13, Rutgers 10
2 53,737 (sell-out)[21] Sept. 7, 2009 Cincinnati 47, Rutgers 15
3 53,327 (sell-out)[22] Oct. 5, 2014 Rutgers 26, Michigan 24
4 53,111 (sell-out)[23] Oct. 25, 2015 Ohio State 49, Rutgers 7
5 52,798 (sell-out)[24] Nov. 29, 2012 Louisville 20, Rutgers 17

Other events[]

In addition to football, SHI Stadium has been the home of Rutgers' men's and women's lacrosse teams since 2014.

The stadium has also hosted NCAA tournament soccer and lacrosse games, including the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship games in 1998, 2001, and 2002. It is also worth noting that, prior to 1994, the original Rutgers Stadium hosted the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship games in 1974, 1978, 1983, 1987, and 1990.

On September 25, 2005, Rutgers Stadium was the site of a lecture delivered by the Dalai Lama.[25]

The stadium was a host venue for the 1995 U.S. Cup soccer tournament and hosted Colombia vs. Nigeria on June 17, 1995 and the United States vs. Colombia on June 25, 1995.

Every first weekend in December, Rutgers Stadium plays hosts to several championship games in the NJSIAA state football playoffs. The stadium is one of two venues that hosts multiple championship games in one weekend (MetLife Stadium is the other). However, unlike MetLife Stadium that hosts games on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons, Rutgers hosts games on Sundays in addition to its Friday and Saturday games (MetLife Stadium is unavailable for Sunday games due to its NFL commitments).

Every year in October, Rutgers Stadium hosts USBands Marching Band New Jersey State Championships.

Since 2011, University Commencement has been held in SHI Stadium each May. On May 15, 2016, President Obama addressed the class of 2016 and received an honorary degree of laws. Over 50,000 guests and graduates attended this historic day to celebrate the 250th Anniversary Commencement.

See also[]

  • List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums

References[]

  1. Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2008. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Piscataway Township,Gabrielan, Randall (2001). Piscataway Township. Arcadia Publishing. Retrieved on February 11, 2012. ISBN 0-7385-0439-4.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Rutgers Stadium History : The New Stadium. The Official Site of Rutgers Athletics. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Retrieved on January 12, 2009.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Rutgers Stadium – Home of the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Retrieved on May 2, 2010.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Rutgers Stadium History : The Early Years. The Official Site of Rutgers Athletics. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Retrieved on January 12, 2009.
  6. Rutgers Stadium History : The Depression Years. The Official Site of Rutgers Athletics. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Retrieved on January 12, 2009.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Rutgers Stadium History : The Dedication Game Through the Centennial Game. The Official Site of Rutgers Athletics. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Retrieved on May 4, 2010.
  8. White, Gordon S., Jr.. "Passes Griffin as Pitt Rolls by 45-0; Rutgers Routs Columbia, 47-0, For 14 in Row", The New York Times, October 24, 1976. Retrieved on January 12, 2009. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 Rutgers Stadium Records. The Official Site of Rutgers Athletics. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Retrieved on January 12, 2009.
  10. Hiestrand, Michael. "NBC benefits from flexible Sunday night football scheduling", USA Today, November 13, 2006. Retrieved on January 12, 2009. 
  11. "Rutgers Board of Governors Approves Stadium Expansion", Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, January 29, 2008. Retrieved on January 12, 2009. 
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 "Statements from the Administration", Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, December 12, 2008. Retrieved on January 12, 2009. 
  13. "Rutgers Scoreboard Among Biggest in Country", MyCentralJersey, August 17, 2009. Retrieved on May 4, 2010. 
  14. Rutgers approves privately funded recruiting lounge as part of football stadium expansion. The Star Ledger. Retrieved on July 14, 2009.
  15. "Statements from the Administration", Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, January 29, 2008. Retrieved on January 12, 2009. 
  16. Sherman, Ted. "Fundraising for Rutgers Stadium falls far short", The Star-Ledger, September 10, 2008. Retrieved on January 12, 2009. 
  17. Rutgers to sell naming rights to stadium, arena. NorthJersey.com. North Jersey Media Group Inc. (June 30, 2010). Retrieved on September 9, 2012.
  18. Rutgers signs massive naming-rights deal for football stadium. NJ.com. New jersey Advanced Media (July 19, 2019).
  19. Rutgers Upends No. 2/3 South Florida 30-27. Official Website of Rutgers Athletics. Rutgers. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (October 19, 2007). Retrieved on January 12, 2009.
  20. 20.0 20.1 PENN STATE vs RUTGERS (Sep 13, 2014). Official Website of Rutgers Athletics.. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (September 13, 2004). Retrieved on September 13, 2014.
  21. CINCINNATI vs RUTGERS (Sep 07, 2009). Official Website of Rutgers Athletics.. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (September 7, 2009). Retrieved on May 4, 2010.
  22. MICHIGAN vs RUTGERS (Oct 04, 2014). Official Website of Rutgers Athletics.. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (October 4, 2014). Retrieved on October 5, 2014.
  23. Barrett has 5 TDs in 1st start, OSU routs Rutgers - Summary (Oct 25, 2015). espn.go.com.. ESPN (October 25, 2015). Retrieved on Nov 5, 2015.
  24. UL vs RUTGERS (Nov 28, 2012). NJ.com.. The Newark Star Ledger (November 28, 2012). Retrieved on Nov 30, 2012.
  25. Alvarez, Ashanti (October 10, 2005). Dalai Lama charms, uplifts New Jersey. Rutgers Focus. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Retrieved on January 12, 2009.

External links[]

Advertisement