Built in 1997, Princeton Stadium is a facility simplistic in goals and complex in structure. Princeton Stadium was built with more than just football Saturdays in mind; it stands as an extension of the campus, integrated into the daily life of the University. The stadium concourses are always open, and the facility has served as a meeting and banquet place for many constituents.
Princeton Stadium seats 27,800 with room for up to 30,000.
Through a generous gift from alumnus William C. Powers ’79, FieldTurf was added to the stadium to provide an ideal playing surface for both games and practices. The new “Powers Field” at Princeton Stadium was dedicated in the fall of 2007. A video board was later added and a new turf surface was installed prior to the 2016 season.
Princeton Stadium stands on the site that was once Palmer Stadium, though the new stadium is approximately 70 feet closer to Nassau Street than its predecessor. Palmer Stadium was the home to Princeton football for 82 years – from the time it was built in 1914 until it closed after the 1996 season. Princeton Stadium rises 15 feet higher from the turf to the top point of the stadium than Palmer did. There are fall mums planted around the old Palmer Memorial Stadium stone, which has been preserved and placed in the center of the northern concourse.
The wall-building, which surrounds the seating area on three sides, is one of the most unique features of the stadium. It was built from 3,500 precast pieces of concrete, the heaviest of which weighs 80,000 pounds, or the size of 56 offensive lines.
There are two main purposes of the wall-building. First, it helps the stadium maintain Palmer’s historic horseshoe design while still allowing seating on four sides. Second, the wall-building houses the press box, a lounge, concession stands, rest rooms and an auxiliary scoreboard.The lighting provides 80 foot-candles uniformly over the playing area, which allows for night games.
Palmer Stadium
Palmer Stadium was the home of Princeton football for 82 years from 1914-1996. The second-oldest football stadium in the United States prior to its demolition, the venerable horseshoe housed both the football and track and field teams.
Palmer Stadium opened (on Oct. 24, 1914) and closed (on Nov. 23, 1996) with football games between Princeton and Dartmouth. In all, Princeton played 461 football games in the stadium – which was built in a four-month period in 1914 – and had a record of 283-161-17. The stadium opened to the south, facing Lake Carnegie, and the main grandstand entrance was at the north.
Palmer also played host to memorable moments in many other sports, most notably track and field. The end of the stadium ensures that Jesse Owens will forever have the Palmer record for the long jump, which he set in 1936. Other Olympians to have competed at Palmer include Al Oerter, Edwin Moses, and Lynn Jennings. Palmer Stadium also hosted the 1981 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship.
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