Cessna Stadium

Cessna Stadium is a 24,000-seat stadium in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is located on the south side of 21st Street, east of Hillside, on the campus of Wichita State University in northeast Wichita. Cessna Stadium was the home of the Shocker track and field team until 2020. Before the WSU football program was discontinued, the Shocker football team played home games at this stadium. On April 15, 2020, the Kansas Board of Regents approved a demolition of the stadium.[1] No date is set for the demolition and the stadium will continue in use.

Cessna Stadium
Cessna Stadium in 2010
Former namesVeterans Field (1946–1968)
Location1845 E 21st Street N
Wichita, Kansas 67260
OwnerWichita State University
OperatorWichita State University
Capacity16,000 (1946–1968)
31,500 (1969–2002)
24,000 (2002–present)
Surfacegrass
Construction
Broke groundJanuary 6, 1941
OpenedSeptember 21, 1946
Renovated1969, 1996, 2002
DemolishedPlanned for 2020[1]
Construction cost$100,000
$1,500,000 (1969)
$1,800,000 (2002 renovation)
Tenants
Wichita State Shockers (NCAA)
Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School football

History

In the early days of Wichita State University, when it was known as Fairmount College, its first football field was located on the north side of 17th Street, immediately east of the current Henrion Hall, when it was the Henrion Gymnasium. In 1929, concrete bleachers were attached to the east side of the same building for football games.[2]

In 1940, the school decided to build a new football stadium on the north side of campus at the current site on the south side of 21st Street. On January 6, 1941, ground was broken for Veterans Field, and by September 1942 the bowl was excavated, foundations were poured for the west stands, and a quarter of the west bleachers were completed; however, construction was halted due to metal shortages during World War II. After the war ended, the bleachers were constructed in sections over time as funds were incrementally available. By mid-1946, stands were completed to a point where 6,000 seats were ready by the start of the 1946 football season. Veterans Field was finally completed before the start of the 1948 football season, with 15,000 seats and facilities for the press, concessions stands, and locker rooms. It was dedicated on November 25, 1948 during a football game with the University of Nevada. The stadium was dedicated to the members of the armed forces from Sedgwick County who served in World War II.[3][4]

In 1967, Wichita State started considering the expansion of Veterans Field. In 1968, faculty and students voted and approved the expansion by adding on top of the existing stands of Veterans Field. Cessna Aircraft Company pledged a donation of $300,000 for the proposed stadium, and it was renamed to Cessna Stadium. The cost of the expansion was $1.5 Million, and the school had a fund drive to raise the remaining money. Construction was started on February 7, 1969 and completed in September. It was one of the most modern and complete football facilities in the nation at the time of its completion.[3][5]

Wichita State University rededicated the facility on April 16, 2002 to mark the end of the seven-month, $1.3 million construction that included adding an eighth lane and resurfacing the track, reconfiguring the infield event layout, and building separate locker rooms for the Shocker men's and women's track and field teams, and a reduction of overall seating capacity. The first event in the renovated facility was WSU's annual K. T. Woodman Track and Field Classic, which is scheduled every April.

Football
See also: Wichita State Shockers football

The Wichita State Shockers football team was an NCAA Division I football program. The Shockers fielded a team from 1897 to 1986.[6][7] They played home games at Cessna Stadium and were members of the Missouri Valley Conference when the program was discontinued in 1986.

Cessna was the location of a Pittsburg State-Mesa State Division II college football game. The stadium has also played host to numerous Kansas State High School Football Championship games, including the Kansas Shrine Bowl, Kansas's high school all-star football game and high school football games from nearby Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School.[8]

Teams that use Cessna Stadium

Track and field

Wichita State Shockers track and field used the facility until 2020. It has hosted several Missouri Valley Conference Championships and hosted the 2019 American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Since 1970, it is home to the Kansas state high school track and field meet, an event that brings all Kansas high school qualifiers to one location.

In April of each year until the demolition was approved, Cessna Stadium is the venue for the K. T. Woodman Invitational, a track and field meet for high schools, junior colleges, and many top collegiate track programs of the Midwest.[9][10]

Football

Cessna was used by Kapaun Mount Carmel High School of the Greater Wichita Athletic League as its home field for varsity football games through 2018.[11] Other high school games were played at Cessna Stadium from time to time.

Public

Cessna Stadium is open to the public for recreational use Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It is closed on holidays and during WSU track & field practices and special events.[12][13] In April 2017, WSU decided to change their policy, a $100 deposit is now required to get a key to use their facilities.[14]

Possible Demolition of Cessna Stadium

On April 15, 2020, the Kansas Board of Regents approved a demolition of the stadium. The decision was made due to the high cost of repairs needed for the stadium. Following the approval, no immediate plan was made for a new football stadium, a track and field specific stadium (which is a typical for Division I track programs), or a new home for the school’s track program. The demolition is planned for 2020, but no exact date has been set.[1]

Wichita State will need to raise money and the KBOR vote is seen as a first step with no immediate plans for demolition. Tearing down the stadium was high on the priority list for former WSU president Jay Golden. His resignation in September 2020 may alter the future of the stadium.

See also

References
  1. "WSU gets the OK to tear down Cessna Stadium". KSN.com.
  2. Henrion Hall; Wichita State University.
  3. Notes from Wichita newspapers about Veterans Field and Cessna Stadium; Dr. Edward N. Tihen; Wichita State University.
  4. Wichita State to celebrate Veterans Field on Veterans Day; November 1, 2010; Wichita State University.
  5. Cessna Stadium; Wichita State University.
  6. "Wichita State drops football". Wichita, Kansas: The Rock Hill Herald. Associated Press. December 3, 1986. pp. Page 10A. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  7. "Wichita State suspends football program". The Evening News. December 3, 1986. pp. Page 2B. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-09-05. Retrieved 2006-07-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Cessna Stadium facts from W.S.U. Athletics Website
  9. K.T. Woodman Classic History.
  10. "K.T. Woodman Classic Meet History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-04-10. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  11. "Kapaun 2016 Varsity Football Schedule; Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School". Archived from the original on 2017-04-11. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  12. Cessna Stadium; WSU.
  13. New Open Track Schedule for Cessna Stadium; WSU; August 27, 2010.
  14. Deposit now required for public use of Cessna Stadium; KAKE TV; April 14, 2017/
Historical

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