Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Stadium of the US Naval Academy / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is an open-air stadium located off the campus of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Opened in 1959, it serves as the home stadium of the Navy Midshipmen college football and lacrosse teams, and was the home of the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse. The stadium is also the host of the Military Bowl.[2]
Address | 550 Taylor Avenue Annapolis, Maryland |
---|---|
Coordinates | 38.985°N 76.507°W / 38.985; -76.507 |
Owner | Naval Academy Athletic Association (Private Enterprise) |
Operator | U.S. Naval Academy |
Capacity | 34,000 |
Record attendance | 38,803 (vs. Air Force, October 21, 2023) |
Surface | FieldTurf (2005–present) Natural grass (1959–2004) |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1958 |
Opened | September 26, 1959 65 years ago |
Renovated | 2004 |
Construction cost | $3.1 million[1] |
Architect | 360 Architecture (formerly CDFM2) 2004 renovations |
Tenants | |
Navy Midshipmen (NCAA) 1959–present Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) 2007 Chesapeake Bayhawks (MLL) 2009–2020 Military Bowl 2013–present Annapolis Blues FC (NPSL) 2023–present | |
Website | |
navysports.com/stadium |
The stadium's opener was a 29–2 win over William & Mary on September 26, 1959,[3] and its current seating capacity is 34,000.[4] The attendance record is 38,803, set in 2023 during Navy's 17–6 loss against Air Force on October 21.[5] Prior to 1959, Navy played its home games at Thompson Stadium, which seated only 12,000. Its site on campus is now occupied by Lejeune Hall, the venue for USNA water sports.
The stadium hosted soccer games as part of the 1984 Summer Olympics.[6] In April 2018, D.C. United of Major League Soccer played a regular season game versus the Columbus Crew.[7] Annapolis Blues FC of the National Premier Soccer League started playing home games at the venue in 2023, including setting a league regular season attendance record in their first game.[8][9]