Fouts Field

Fouts Field
Location Eagle Dr, Denton, TX 76203
Coordinates 33°12′30″N 97°9′28″W / 33.20833°N 97.15778°W / 33.20833; -97.15778Coordinates: 33°12′30″N 97°9′28″W / 33.20833°N 97.15778°W / 33.20833; -97.15778
Owner University of North Texas
Operator University of North Texas
Capacity 10,000 (2013-present)
Surface Sportex Omnigrass turf
Construction
Broke ground 1951
Opened 1952
Closed 2016
Tenants
North Texas Mean Green football (NCAA) (1952–2010)

Fouts Field is a stadium at the University of North Texas, located in Denton, Texas, United States. Its primary use from its opening until 2010 was for football, and was the home field of the University of North Texas Eagles, later renamed the Mean Green. Fouts Field was built to replace the small Eagle Field, which the team used from its inception in 1912 until 1951. Eagle Field was part of the larger Recreation Park on campus, located on the current site of Willis Library.

Apogee Stadium replaced Fouts Field for North Texas football in the 2011, while the stadium remained in use for track and field events.

The stadium opened in September 1952 and was originally named Eagle Stadium. In 1954 it was named in honor of Theron J. Fouts, former football coach, athletics director and founder of UNT's track and field program.[1] The stadium originally consisted of the two sideline grandstands on either side of the track, which runs towards the northwest, and sat 20,000. The endzone grandstands which stretch around the track were added in 1994 and seat another 10,500. The addition of those overflow seats brought the stadium's capacity up to 30,500, the largest the venue would hold during its existence.

The university began the process of demolishing Fouts Field in 2013, starting with the endzone seats that were added in 1994 as well as the north grandstand, part of the original structure. The track, football field, field goal posts, and south grandstand remained to house the university's track and field program.

On August 28, 2015, The school's Board of Regents unanimously approved the university's 2016 budget, which includes the funds to demolish the rest of Fouts Field and build a new track and field facility on its current site. A demolition date has not been set, but stadium is expected to be gone by the end of the year.

Replacement

Fouts Field in 2015, after the departure of the football team

In 2011, the team began playing in Apogee Stadium, the new home of North Texas Mean Green football. As a result, the use of Fouts Field by the university's athletics was reduced to the school's track and field teams. The stadium is also used as a practice field by the Green Brigade Marching Band, as well as the university's ROTC program.

References

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