Wantland Stadium

Wantland Stadium is the on-campus football facility for the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos in Edmond, Oklahoma. The official seating capacity of the stadium, following recent renovations, is 10,000, making it one of tied for the 16th largest Division II stadium, and tied for the largest in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (with Walton Stadium and Francis G. Welch Stadium of the University of Central Missouri and Emporia State University respectively.^[1]

History

The stadium named for former Broncho coach Charles W. Wantland is a dual sided with a grass bowl that imitates a horseshoe-shaped facility with its long axis oriented north/south, with the south end enclosed by grass and the north end open enclosed. Visitor seating on the east end zone. The student seating sections are in Section 102 located in the west stands on the south side, next to the UCO Stampede of Sound which is near the south goalline.^[2] The Bronchos' bench is also located along the west side.^[3]

Wantland Stadium underwent a dramatic facelift in the summer of 2005 with the addition of a three-level press box that includes club seating and new stands on both sides of the field. Artificial turf, new lighting and a state-of-the-art scoreboard were added to the facility in 2003. In 2014 a new videoboard was installed.^[4]

Events

The Stadium also hosted the 1982 NAIA Championship Game. The Bronchos played against Mesa State. The Bronchos clinched their 2nd crown winning 14-11, in front of a national audience on the USA Network.^[5]

Wantland Stadium is the home field for all three Edmond high school teams, Memorial, North, and Santa Fe. Currently Edmond Public Schools leases the facility from UCO for $7,252 per game. As part of the lease EPS collects all revenue from ticket sales, and concessions.^[6] UCO has hosted the Oklahoma All-State Football Game in the facility six times since 1994. The stadium also hosts the annual UCO Stampede of Sound's Invitational Marching Band Contest. It also has hosted the class 6A Oklahoma Bandmaster's Association (OBA) Marching Contest several times. In February 2015, voters passed a $91 million bond issue which included expansion of a football field near Santa Fe High School.^[7]

References

University of Central Oklahoma Academics Colleges College of Business College of Education & Professional Studies College of Fine Arts & Design College of Liberal Arts College of Jackson College of Graduate Studies College of Mathematics & Sciences School of Criminal Justice Location Edmond, OK People Notable alumni Athletics Teams Football Wrestling Softball Rowing Mascot Buddy Broncho Facilities Wantland Stadium Hamilton Field House Major Rival Northeastern State RiverHawks Student Life UCentral KUCO KZUC-LP Established: 1890 – Endowment: $27.003 million – Students: 16,840 (Fall 2014)

Coordinates: 35°39′42″N 97°28′15″W / 35.661576°N 97.4708°W / 35.661576; -97.4708