Commonwealth Stadium (Kentucky)
| C. M. Newton Field | |
 |
|
| Location | 1540 University Drive, Lexington, Kentucky 40506 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°1′22″N 84°30′19″W / 38.02278°N 84.50528°WCoordinates: 38°1′22″N 84°30′19″W / 38.02278°N 84.50528°W |
| Owner | University of Kentucky |
| Operator | University of Kentucky |
| Capacity | 61,000 (2015–present) 62,093 (2014) 67,942 (2009–2013) 67,606 (2003–2008) 67,530 (1999–2002) 55,453 (1998) 57,800 (1991–1997) 56,696 (1979–1990) 58,000 (1973–1978) |
| Surface | UBU-Intensity Series-S5-M Synthetic Turf (2015–present) Kentucky bluegrass (1973–2014) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 23, 1972 |
| Opened | September 15, 1973 |
| Renovated | 2015 |
| Expanded | 1999 |
| Construction cost |
$12 million ($64.7 million in 2017 dollars) |
| Architect | HNTB |
| General contractor | Huber, Hunt & Nichols |
| Tenants | |
| Kentucky Wildcats football (NCAA) (1973–present) | |
Commonwealth Stadium is a stadium in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, located on the campus of the University of Kentucky that primarily serves as the home field for the Kentucky Wildcats football team. The stadium, named for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, opened in 1973 to replace the smaller Stoll Field/McLean Stadium. The field is named C. M. Newton Field in honor of retired UK athletic director and former baseball and basketball player C. M. Newton.
Built in 1973, it is the newest football stadium in the Southeastern Conference, as measured by date of original construction. The original capacity for the stadium was 57,800. In Commonwealth's first game, played on September 15, 1973, the Wildcats defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 31–26, as quarterback Ernie Lewis ran for two touchdowns and threw for another touchdown to lead the Wildcats.
In 1999 both ends of the stadium were enclosed and 40 suites were added, 10 in each corner of the stadium, resulting in a symmetrical oval bowl seating 67,530. The total cost of the expansion was $27.6 million. Seating adjustments over the next decade brought capacity to 67,942. During the 1999 season, Kentucky's average home attendance for football games was 67,756. Attendance for the game against Tennessee that year was 71,022, which remained the record attendance until the Wildcats' 2007 game against Florida drew 71,024.
Since 1999, fireworks have been shot from atop the suites when the Wildcats take the field, as well as after every Wildcat score and win.
In July 2011, the University of Kentucky announced a massive audio and video upgrade to Commonwealth Stadium. These upgrades include two LED video boards each measuring approximately 37 feet (11 m) high by 80 feet (24 m) wide (2,960 square feet), making each display the 20th-largest scoreboard in the country. Combined, the 5,920 square feet (550 m2) will make the new video boards one of the largest scoreboard systems in the country. Additionally, a new custom audio system and over 1,800 linear sq/ft of video ribbon board will be implemented by September 10, 2011.
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