The only Division I football stadium named after an African American athlete
In short: Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa, stands as a unique monument in American college sports. While most stadiums bear the names of donors or institutions, this facility honors Jack Trice, a pioneering athlete whose life was cut short by injuries sustained during a brutal 1923 game against the University of Minnesota.
Jack Trice was Iowa State's first African American athlete. On October 6, 1923, he traveled to Minneapolis for a game against the University of Minnesota. Due to his race, he was forced to stay at a different hotel than his teammates. During the match, Trice suffered a broken collarbone in the second play but insisted on continuing. In the third quarter, while attempting a roll block, he was trampled by three Minnesota players. Though he initially claimed to be fine, he was hospitalized and later died on October 8, 1923, from internal hemorrhaging.
The stadium, which opened in 1975 as Cyclone Stadium, was renamed in 1997 following persistent student requests. It remains the only Division I FBS stadium named for an African American individual. The facility has undergone extensive evolution since its inception, growing from an original capacity of 42,500 to its current official capacity of 61,500. This expansion included the 2015 enclosure of the south end zone, which added significant seating and a premium club level.
Beyond its namesake, the stadium serves as a hub for Iowa State athletics, integrated into a larger complex that includes the Richard O. Jacobson Athletic Building and the Bergstrom football complex. The site has seen continuous investment, including a $90 million project for the Stark Performance Center initiated in 2019. The stadium's history is marked by both its modern infrastructure and the somber legacy of the man it honors, whose funeral in 1923 was attended by 4,000 students and faculty members.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Jack Trice Stadium
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