M.M. Roberts Stadium
| "The Rock" | |
 |
|
| Former names | Faulkner Field (1932–1975) |
|---|---|
| Location | 118 College Drive Hattiesburg, MS 39406 |
| Coordinates | 31°19′44″N 89°19′53″W / 31.32889°N 89.33139°WCoordinates: 31°19′44″N 89°19′53″W / 31.32889°N 89.33139°W |
| Owner | University of Southern Mississippi |
| Operator | University of Southern Mississippi |
| Capacity | 36,000 (2008-present) 33,000 (1976-2007) 15,000 (1950-1975) 10,000 (1939-1949) 4,000 (1932-1938) |
| Record attendance | 36,641 (September 5, 2015 vs Mississippi State) |
| Surface | Shaw Sports Momentum Turf |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1932 |
| Opened | October 29, 1932 |
| Renovated | 1976, 2008 |
| Expanded | 1939, 1950, 1976, 2008 |
| Construction cost | $0 (original) $6.3 million (1976 renovation) $31.9 million (2008 renovation) |
| Architect |
Heery and Heery JH&H Architects (renovation) |
| Tenants | |
| Southern Miss Golden Eagles (NCAA) (1932–present) | |
MM Roberts Stadium, better known as "The Rock", is an American football stadium located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It is the home of The University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles football team.
The stadium was originally opened on October 29, 1932 as "Faulkner Field", with a wooden grandstand which held 4,000 spectators at the time. It was named for local businessman L.E. Faulkner, who financed the materials and equipment for the stadium, which was built for free by local unemployed workers during the Great Depression. In 1938, permanent concrete stands which also housed dormitory space for student-athletes were built on the east side of the field, with the help of Southern Miss football players hauling the concrete. It was from this (hauling concrete blocks) that the stadium received the nickname "The Rock" (in reference to prison work crews—none of which were used to build the stadium).
The stadium was expanded again in 1950, when the 7,500-seat West Stadium Dormitory stands were built for $350,000. Later, 2,000 bleacher seats were added, as well as new lights (the stadium had lights as early as 1934) and a new scoreboard. By the end of this expansion, the stadium seated 15,000.
In 1974-76, the stadium was rebuilt at a total cost of $6.3 million, with two sets of double-decked grandstands constructed on either side (east and west stands), bringing seating capacity to 33,000. The stadium was renamed for M. M. Roberts, an alumnus of then-Mississippi College and member of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (popularly called "The College Board"). He is credited for helping to build the school up to its current university status, the largest such school in Mississippi south of Jackson. (However, the playing surface is still known as Faulkner Field.) It was opened on September 25, 1976 with a loss at the hands of in-State rival Ole Miss.
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