McCulloch Stadium

Charles McCulloch Stadium
Location 890 Mission Street SE
Salem, Oregon 97301
Opened 1950
Renovated 1993
Owner Willamette University
Operator Willamette University
Surface FieldTurf
Capacity 2,500
Tenants
Willamette University (NCAA)
Cascade Surge (PDL)

McCulloch Stadium is a 2,500-seat outdoor stadium in Salem, Oregon, United States. Built in 1950, the multi-use facility serves as home to Willamette University's football and track & field teams, high school football games, and the Cascade Surge soccer club. Located in Bush's Pasture Park south of Willamette's campus, the stadium includes a grandstand, football field, and track.

Contents

History

The stadium was constructed in 1950 and went through a major renovation in 1993.[1] After renovations, the field was named Ted Ogdahl Field in honor of the former coach while the locker rooms were dedicated in the honor of Jeff Knox.[1] Around 1970 the track surface was converted to an asphalt and rubber surface, which was resurfaced in the 1980s.[2] In October 1997, Liz Heaston became the first female play in a college football game, kicking two extra points in the game at McCulloch against Linfield College.[3]

A new $300,000 rekotan track surface was installed at the stadium in 2000.[4] At that time university officials discovered the previous track was 6 metres (20 ft) too long.[2] In 2003 the grass field was removed and a new FieldTurf surface was installed at a cost of $500,000.[5] Later that year lights were re-installed at McCulloch at a cost of $110,000.[6] A new video scoreboard was added at the facility in 2007.[7]

Sports

The stadium hosts a variety of sports. These include lacrosse,[8] football, soccer, and track meets.[9] McCulloch can seat 2,500 spectators.[10] All seats at the stadium are in the covered grandstand on the west side of the playing surface. The grandstands include a press box, offices for the coaches, player locker rooms, and athletic training facilities.[11]

McCulloch includes the eight lane Charles Bowles Track for the school's track teams.[11] The stadium also host high school football games, including OSAA playoff games.[12] The Cascade Surge of the USL Premier Development League, an under 23 league, play their home games at McCulloch.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b Salem Online History: Willamette University
  2. ^ a b Gault, Roy (March 28, 2001). "Track back to proper length". Statesman Journal: pp. p. 1B. 
  3. ^ Bachman, Rachel (October 14, 2007). "Called into history". The Oregonian: pp. p. C1. 
  4. ^ English, Reid (September 22, 2000). "Willamette gets improvement to athletic facilities". Statesman Journal. 
  5. ^ "Willamette University 2003-04 highlights". Statesman Journal: pp. p. 2J. May 16, 2004. 
  6. ^ English, Reid (October 1, 2003). "McCulloch Stadium". Statesman Journal: pp. p. 4B. 
  7. ^ Hagan, Chris (September 26, 2007). "Permit issue slows WU scoreboard plans". Statesman Journal. 
  8. ^ Willamette University Men's Lacrosse
  9. ^ Track City Track Club - USATF Youth Track & Field Club
  10. ^ McCulloch Stadium and Field. Willamette University. Retrieved on November 14, 2008.
  11. ^ a b Bearcat Football 2007 Media Guide. Willamette University. 2007. pp. p. 5. http://www.willamette.edu/athletics/teams/football/media_guide/2007-08/2007%20fb%20media%20guide.pdf. 
  12. ^ "Class 5A matchups". Statesman Journal: pp. Sports p. 4. December 2, 2006. 
  13. ^ "Volcanoes are back for more, but Stampede is on hold". Statesman Journal: pp. Your Town p. 39. April 22, 2008. 

External links