Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium
Skelly Field at HA Chapman Stadium (often shortened to HA Chapman Stadium) is a football stadium located on the campus of the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is primarily the home of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team. The stadium currently seats 30,000.
Skelly Stadium | |
 The University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane against the Bearkats of Sam Houston State, September 26, 2009 | |
  H. A. Chapman Stadium Location in Oklahoma  H. A. Chapman Stadium Location in the United States | |
| Former names | Skelly Field (1930–1947) Skelly Stadium (1947–2007) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3112 East 8th Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Coordinates | 36°8′55″N 95°56′38″W |
| Owner | University of Tulsa |
| Operator | University of Tulsa |
| Capacity | 30,000 (2008–present) 35,542 (2005–2007) 40,385 (1965–2004) 19,500 (1947–1964) 14,500 (1930–1946) |
| Surface | Grass (1930–1971) Tartan Turf (1972–1981) Astroturf (1982–1990) Stadia Turf (1991–1999) FieldTurf (2000–present) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 11, 1930 |
| Opened | October 4, 1930 |
| Construction cost | $275,000 (all in tax money) (approximate, original) ($4.21 million in 2019 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | Smith & Senter Architects[2] |
| Tenants | |
| Tulsa Golden Hurricane (NCAA) (1930–present) Tulsa Roughnecks (NASL) (1978–1984) Oklahoma Outlaws (USFL) (1984) Tulsa Tornados (USL) (1985) | |
History
Skelly Field (as it was originally known) was built in 1930 as a 14,500-seat stadium. It was named for its primary benefactor, William Skelly, the founder of Skelly Oil. Tulsa defeated Arkansas 26–6 at the opening game on October 4, 1930.[3]
In 1947, the north stands were added and the stadium was renamed Skelly Stadium. In 1965, the track was removed, the field was lowered, the west stands were expanded and the south stands were added, bringing the total capacity to 40,385 seats. In February 2005, the north stands were demolished to make way for the new Case Athletic Complex, reducing the seating capacity to 35,542.[3] In 2007–2008, the stadium was renovated, reducing capacity to 30,000 [4]
The stadium, located on historic U.S. Route 66, hosted the Oklahoma Outlaws of the USFL in 1984. Skelly was once the principal home field for two American football legends – future NFL Hall-of-Famer (and later U.S. Congressman) Steve Largent when he played for the University of Tulsa and Doug Williams of the Oklahoma Outlaws, who later was a Super Bowl MVP for the Washington Redskins. The stadium was also home to the Tulsa Roughnecks of the North American Soccer League 1978–1984 and the short-lived Tulsa Mustangs of the AFA.
The stadium's attendance record was established on September 26, 1987, when 47,350 fans watched Tulsa lose to Oklahoma, 65–0.[3]
On April 26, 2007 it was reported that, with a renovation project underway, the stadium was renamed as Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium after the primary benefactor of the renovation.[5]
The stadium is also used for Union Public Schools versus Jenks Public Schools football games.
Largest attendance
The record attendance of Skelly Field is 47,350 when #1 Oklahoma visited Tulsa on September 13, 1986.[6][7]
| Rank | Date | Attendance | Winner | Result | Loser |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 16, 1987 | 47,350 | #1 Oklahoma | 65–0 | Tulsa |
| 2 | September 13, 1986 | 41,235 | Tulsa | 27–23 | Oklahoma State |
| 3 | September 9, 1989 | 40,785 | Tulsa | 20–10 | Oklahoma State |
| 4 | September 18, 1993 | 40,385 | Oklahoma State | 16–10 | Tulsa |
| 5 | September 20, 1997 | 40,385 | Missouri | 42–21 | Tulsa |
| 6 | September 12, 1998 | 40,385 | Tulsa | 35–20 | Oklahoma State |
| 7 | September 9, 2000 | 40,385 | Oklahoma State | 36–26 | Tulsa |
| 8 | August 30, 2002 | 40,385 | #1 Oklahoma | 37–0 | Tulsa |
| 9 | November 17, 1990 | 40,385 | Tulsa | 20–2 | Montana State |
| 10 | September 29, 1984 | 40,385 | #10 Oklahoma State | 31–7 | Tulsa |
Renovation
The stadium was renovated following the end of the 2007 football season. The project included new seating, a new pressbox, club and loge seating, and a new scoreboard. With the removal of the upper section of the west stands, seating capacity dropped to approximately 30,000, which made Chapman Stadium the smallest stadium in Conference USA.
References
- Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
- "Leon Bishop Senter, FAIA (1889–1965)". Tulsa Architecture. Archived from the original on January 22, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- "Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium". Retrieved October 21, 2007.
- "TU Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium". Retrieved August 14, 2009.
- Eric Bailey (April 26, 2007). "TU's stadium changes titles, but Skelly name not forgotten". Tulsa World.
- https://tulsahurricane.com/sports/2015/4/21/GEN_201401017.aspx
- http://www.soonerstats.com/football/seasons/schedule.cfm?seasonid=1987