Houchens Industries - L. T. Smith Stadium
| "The Houch" | |
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| Location | Bowling Green, KY |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 36°59′5″N 86°27′34″W / 36.98472°N 86.45944°WCoordinates: 36°59′5″N 86°27′34″W / 36.98472°N 86.45944°W |
| Owner | Western Kentucky University |
| Operator | Western Kentucky University |
| Capacity | 22,113 |
| Surface |
FieldTurf (2009-present) Astroplay (2002–2008) Grass (1968–2001) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1968 |
| Renovated | 2008 |
| Construction cost |
USD $2.7 million USD $50 million (renovation) |
| Architect | Ryan Associated Architects Heery International & Taylor-Whitney Architects (renovation) |
| Tenants | |
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Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (NCAA) (1968–present) KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl (2009–present) |
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Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium at Jimmy Feix Field is a 22,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Bowling Green, in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is home to the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers football team. The facility was expanded to a seating capacity of 22,000 in a project that was completed in 2008. This was planned to prepare for the Hilltoppers' move to the highest level of NCAA football competition, Division I FBS (formerly known as Division I-A), completed in 2009. However, the facility remains one of the smallest stadiums in the FBS.
When the stadium was built in 1968 it seated 19,250 fans. A 1989 renovation reduced the seating capacity to 17,500 seats. Lights were installed in 1987 and an Astroplay playing surface was installed in 2002.
Smith Stadium has been the site of marching band competitions, high school football games, the university's graduation ceremonies and the Special Olympics. Starting in 2009, it became the site of Kentucky's high school football championship games. Following the most recent extension of the contract with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, the stadium will continue to host this event through 2018.
On July 19, 2007, WKU reported that Houchens Industries, a long-time corporate supporter of WKU, made a $5 million commitment to an expansion and renovation project for the school's football stadium. In honor of the gift, WKU added Houchens Industries to the name of L. T. Smith Stadium. Today, the stadium is now titled as Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium.
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