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Allen E. Paulson Stadium

Allen E. Paulson Stadium
The Prettiest Little Stadium in America
Our House
The House that Erk Built
Expanded Paulson Stadium.jpg
Location 207 Lanier Dr.
Statesboro, GA 30458
Owner Georgia Southern University
Operator Georgia Southern University
Capacity 25,000
Record attendance 25,735
Surface Shaw Legion 41 synthetic turf
Construction
Broke ground 1983
Opened September 29, 1984
Renovated 2005, 2007-08, 2014
Expanded 2014
Construction cost $4.7 million
($10.8 million in 2016 dollars)
$10 million (2014 expansion)
Architect Heery-Fabrap, Inc.
Tenants
Georgia Southern Eagles (NCAA) (1984-present)

Allen E. Paulson Stadium is a 25,000 seat on campus football stadium in Statesboro, Georgia. It is home to the Georgia Southern Eagles football team and the focal point of Erk Russell Athletic Park.

Paulson Stadium was dedicated on Sept. 29, 1984 with a 48-11 win over Liberty University. The game was a fitting end to four years of planning one of the finest I-AA facilities in America. The phrase "Prettiest Little Stadium in America" was coined by former Coach Erk Russell. The stadium has also come to be known as "Our House" to reflect the extreme home field advantage (Overall record of 177-33 and home playoff record of 33-3).

The stadium is named for the late Allen E. Paulson, founder and owner of Gulfstream Aerospace, who donated more than $1 million toward construction of the facility. The late State Senator Glenn Bryant of Hinesville donated over $250,000 for the property. To recognize his gift, the playing surface of the stadium is named "Glenn Bryant Field".

The first game in Paulson was originally scheduled for September 1, 1984, against the Florida A&M Rattlers, but construction delayed by wet weather forced this game to be played in Savannah. The first touchdown scored was a 36-yard run around the right side by quarterback Tracy Ham against Liberty Baptist on September 29, 1984.

26 climate-controlled luxury V.I.P. Skyboxes with lavish interiors, private restrooms and food service areas, along with separate Eagle Club and President's Luxury Sky Suites, plus a 50-seat pressbox and film deck overlook the playing surface on the south side of the stadium. Prior to the start of the 2005 season, a brick façade was built along the walls of Paulson Stadium while the video scoreboard was also surrounded with a brick garden/façade. Built in 2006, the Gene Bishop Fieldhouse sits in the western open end of the natural bowl, replacing the Lupton Building, the stadium's original fieldhouse. The field level of the Bishop Fieldhouse includes team and officials dressing rooms, while the second level houses a hospitality room and club-level seating. In the summer of 2007, the south concourse was improved with red brick walls on the concession stands and a paver sidewalk, and the stadium's parking area was also updated. The north concourse received similar renovations during the spring semester of 2008. Also after the passing of legendary coach Erk Russell a bust was added along the fence near the Gene Bishop Fieldhouse.


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