Plaster Sports Complex
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The Plaster Sports Complex is an 19,300-seat multipurpose stadium located in Springfield, Missouri. It is home to the Missouri State University Bears football, womans field hockey, mens and womens soccer, and track and field teams.
[edit] History
The stadium was built in 1941 as SMS Stadium, a Works Progress Administration project at a cost of only $60,000, before World War II broke out. Its original seating capacity was 8,500. In 1970 it was renamed Briggs Stadium, and in 1991 it was renamed the Plaster Sports Complex in honor of Robert W. Plaster, chairman of Evergreen Investments of Lebanon, Missouri. Mr. Plaster donated funds for major renovations of the stadium, including expansion of the stadium to its current capacity, including the addition of an upper deck which seats 8,500, 24 luxury suites holding 10 each, a 40-seat luxury box and a new press box. In addition, a new running track and new artificial turf were installed. The artificial turf was replaced in 2001 with a FieldTurf surface.
In addition to football and track and field, Plaster Stadium is also used for other events, including concerts, graduations and monster truck rallies.
In addition to the main stadium, the Plaster Sports Complex also includes 12 handball/racquetball courts, including two courts with spectator seating. In addition, the complex features Health and Fitness and Athletics Strength and Conditioning centers on the second level of the stadium.
Completed in April of 2006, Plaster Stadium received brand new field turf (pictured).
For the 2007 season, Plaster Sports Complex will be adding a new 2 million dollar scoreboard.
