Meade Stadium

Meade Stadium is a 6,555-seat multi-purpose stadium in Kingston, Rhode Island.[1] It is home to the University of Rhode Island's Rams football team. The facility opened in 1928 and was originally named Meade Field, in honor of John E. "Jack" Meade, an alumnus and local politician, said to have attended every home football and basketball game until his death in 1972.[2] The facility adopted its current name in 1978, when an aluminum and steel grandstand was added.[2]

John E. "Jack" Meade Stadium
Former namesMeade Field (1928–1978)
LocationKeaney Ave
Kingston, RI 02881
OwnerUniversity of Rhode Island
OperatorUniversity of Rhode Island
Capacity2,500 (1928–1932)
4,000 (1933–1948)
4,500 (1949–1951)
6,000 (1952–1960)
8,500 (1961–1964)
10,000 (1965–1993)
8,000 (1994–1999)
6,470 (2000–2002)
5,180 (2003–2008)
6,555 (2009–present)
SurfaceGrass (1928–2018)
FieldTurf (2019–present)
Construction
Broke ground1928
OpenedSeptember 22, 1928
Tenants
Rhode Island Rams football

The stadium has undergone many changes in its history. The old field house was built in 1933, and in 1934, the west stands and press box were opened, with a capacity of 1,500. In 1978, the 50-row steel grandstand was erected on the east side, bringing the total capacity up to 8,000. Various other projects, including a press box expansion and modernization of the turf and scoreboard, took place soon after. In 2000, the west stands and field house were razed to make way for the Ryan Center. During the 2006 football season, a new set of west stands opened abutting the Ryan Center, whose east luxury boxes also look down on Meade Stadium.[3] In the spring and summer of 2019, the university undertook a $4.1 million project that brought lights and field turf to Meade Stadium.[4]

Attendance
2008, Visitor Stands built into side of Ryan Center.
Highest attendance at Meade Stadium[5][6]
Rank Attendance Date Opponent Special note Result
1 13,052 October 20, 1984 #14 Boston University URI ranked #11, Homecoming W 22–7
2 12,933 October 26, 1985 Lafayette Homecoming W 41–19
3 12,211 October 8, 1983 Northeastern Homecoming W 30–10
4 12,092 November 17, 1973 Connecticut T 7–7
5 12,000 October 17, 1970 Massachusetts Homecoming W 14–7
6 11,700 October 8, 1966 Vermont Homecoming L 7–21
7 11,231 October 31, 1987 #6 New Hampshire Homecoming L 14–28
8 11,000 October 7, 1967 New Hampshire Homecoming W 13–6
9 11,000 October 4, 1969 Maine Homecoming L 7–35
10 10,446 December 1, 1984 #12 Richmond URI ranked #2, 1-AA Quarterfinal W 17–23
11 10,443 October 4, 1980 #8 Massachusetts Homecoming L 8–26
12 10,230 October 16, 1982 Boston University Homecoming L 16–26
13 10,228 October 20, 1990 Boston University Homecoming L 13–15
14 10,227 October 6, 1984 Massachusetts URI ranked #16 W 20–19
15 10,145 October 19, 1991 Maine Homecoming W 52–30
16 10,114 November 2, 1985 #14 New Hampshire URI ranked #17 W 30–20
17 10,000 October 10, 1964 Vermont Homecoming L 8–16
18 10,000 October 23, 1965 Maine Homecoming L 0–36
19 10,000 October 12, 1968 Vermont Homecoming W 52–10
20 10,000 October 2, 1971 Maine Homecoming L 7–21
21 9,882 October 18, 1986 Boston University Homecoming L 0–17
22 9,842 October 10, 1981 Northeastern Homecoming W 33–0
23 9,841 October 22, 1983 Southern Connecticut W 17–7
24 9,737 November 7, 1981 Brown URI ranked #10 L 8–10
25 9,624 October 31, 1981 #2 New Hampshire W 14–12

See also

References
  1. "Rhode Island Rams" (PDF). Colonial Athletic Association. 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  2. "Meade Stadium". gorhody.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  3. "Meade Stadium-Kingston, RI". stadiumjourney.com. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
  4. "View Content". www.urifoundation.org. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  5. "URI Football 2018 record book" (PDF).
  6. "2010 Rhode Island Football Preview". Issuu. Retrieved 2019-06-19.


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