Houchens Industries - L. T. Smith Stadium
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Houchens Industries - L.T. Smith Stadium is a 17,500-seat multi-purpose stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is home to the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers football team. The facility is currently being expanded to at least 22,000 seats in preparation for the Hilltoppers' impending move to the highest level of NCAA football competition, Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A. This move will be complete in 2009.
When the stadium was originally built in 1968 it originally seated 19,250 fans. A 1989 renovation reduced the seating capacity to its current capacity. Lights were installed in 1987 and the current Astroplay playing surface was installed in 2002.
Smith Stadium has been the site of marching band competitions, high school football games, monster truck rallies, the university's graduation ceremonies and, since 1988, concerts. The stadium could seat up to 25,000 for a typical concert, and the stadium's expansion is expected to increase the stadium's concert capacity to 30,000.
On July 19, 2007, WKU reported that Houchens Industries, a long-time corporate supporter of WKU, made a $5 million commitment to enhance an expansion and renovation project for the school’s football stadium. In honor of the gift, WKU will add Houchens Industries to the name of L. T. Smith Stadium. Today, the stadium is now titled as Houchens Industries-L. T. Smith Stadium.
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